Links golf is the purest form of golf that there is. It occupies a central position in the history of golf. It has been estimated that there are less than 200 true links golf courses in the world today and it is highly unlikely that there numbers will increase.  Happily some 50 of these links courses are located in Ireland – a unique resource and one of the reasons that Ireland ranks so highly in the world of golf. Golfers want to come to Ireland to experience golfing history – our links courses.

In 2008 a number of Irelands links courses, conscious of their unique position in golf, came together to set up the Irish LInks Initiative with the express aim of ” Preserving, Protecting and Promoting Links Golf in Ireland” .At the heart of their initiative was a wish to preserve and protect the unique nature and playing characteristics of a true links course .

The ILI – which is recognized and supported by golf’s governing body the R&A –  believes that it is vital that this wonderful resource is preserved and protected for future generations of golfers, and that golfers get a better understanding of what links golf is all about. Links Golf is special. The ILI is a ‘not for profit’ organisation set up by Irish links clubs to ‘preserve, promote and protect’ Irish links golf.

As the great Tom Watson, one of line golf’s greatest fans, once wrote – “no golf course is more sensible, both economically and ecologically, than a links – or more fun to play.”