Why Are They Playing in a Sandbox? My Guide to Links Golf

Next week, the eyes of the sports world turn to England for the Open Championship at Royal Birkdale. As a Boston University media major who is still very much in the "aggressively memorizing the rules" phase of this sport, analyzing how this tournament gets broadcasted is going to be fascinating.

THE TELEVISION ILLUSION vs. REALITY

Before this summer, if you asked me what a golf course looked like based on television, I’d picture neon-green fairways, manicured ponds, and towering trees. But during my recent reporting trip to the U.S. Open at Shinnecock Hills, my entire visual framework of the sport was completely shattered. I was introduced to an entirely different broadcast universe: links-style golf.

To the untrained eye looking at a screen, traditional links golf looks like playing a major championship on Mars, or inside a giant, windswept sandbox. There are no trees to frame the shot. The grass looks brown and dormant. And the bunkers look like literal volcanic craters dug out of the earth.

It is the oldest, most unpredictable form of the game, and it completely flips the media script on how golf is supposed to "look."

Coastal, linksland influences are everywhere at Red Tail

DECODING the NEW ENGLAND FOLIAGE

I know, I know. "But Emma, links courses don’t have trees. Red Tail is in a literal forest." Yes, of course it is. Look again, only this time, see it without the trees.

Behind that New England foliage, the core terrain architecture matches that classic overseas style. You don’t need a passport or a television screen to experience that rugged, classic visual style. It’s hiding right in our own backyard at Red Tail.

If you want to watch the broadcast next week like a seasoned media insider—or channel that classic energy into your own round this weekend—here are three things to look for:

• The Illusion of the "Dead" Grass: On a standard TV broadcast, green equals good. But links golf introduces a different aesthetic. The fairways are kept lean, firm, and fast. When you watch the ball land next week, notice how it doesn't just stop—it bounces and rolls forever. At Red Tail, our fairways feature those exact same dramatic, sweeping contours. You rarely get a flat stance, forcing you to play the slopes rather than just aiming for a green target.
  

• The Glacial Sandbox: Traditional links courses were built on "linksland"—the sandy soil connecting the beach to arable inland fields. While we aren't on the British coast here in Devens, Red Tail’s famous, massive waste bunkers mimic that exact raw, rugged topography. It breaks up the traditional visual field and forces you to play tactical, ground-game golf. Hole #17 anyone?
  

• The Low-Angle "Bump and Run": When TV cameras track a standard shot, they look for a majestic, high-flying arc. In links golf, that's a recipe for disaster because the coastal wind will swallow the ball alive. To survive, players use a low-burner shot called a "bump and run." They intentionally punch the ball low to skim the contours of the earth. Check out the approach on Hole #6—it's your absolute best chance to play one of these shots this weekend!

LET'S SETTLE IT

Are you a fan of the rugged, unpredictable "ground game" you see overseas, or do you prefer perfectly flat, predictable fairways where you can just launch it high? Drop a comment below and let me know your favorite hole at Red Tail that feels like a trip overseas! 👇

WANT TO TEST YOUR GROUND GAME THIS WEEKEND?

The rainy weather is officially clearing out and the weekend forecast is looking spectacular. Our fast, sweeping fairways are dry, open, and ready for you to practice your best low-ball punch shots against our own mini-dunes.

👉 Book Your Next Tee Time at Red Tail

SKIP THE WASTE BUNKERS & HEAD STRAIGHT TO THE DECK?

If you'd rather leave the sand traps to the pros next week, skip the scorecard entirely and join us on the deck for a cold drink and a phenomenal meal.

👉 Check Out our Menu

🚨 Don't Forget: Our biggest, loudest event of the season is just two weeks away! Boardshorts & Birdies officially tees off on Friday, July 24. If you haven't locked in your crew yet, don't wait until the bracket completely fills up. Grab your team and secure your slot right here before registration locks down!