What to Pack for a Links Golf Trip
A links round is decided as much by the wind and the rain as by your swing, and the golfers who enjoy it are the ones who packed for it. This is the kit that survives an exposed coast: proper waterproofs, thin layers you can add and shed, two pairs of shoes, a fistful of gloves and the small things that keep grips and hands dry. Below is our complete links packing list, item by item, with the verdict on what actually earns its place in the bag.
Photo: Royal County Down Golf Club via Google.
Why a links trip is different
Pack for a links trip the way you would for a hill walk, not a sunny resort round. The great links of Scotland, Ireland, England and Wales sit on exposed coast where the weather changes fast, the wind is almost always a factor and the ground is firm and often damp underfoot. A glorious still morning can become a horizontal squall by the turn, and the difference between a memorable round and a miserable one is usually what you put in the bag the night before. The guiding principles are simple: layers over bulk, waterproofs whatever the forecast, and a dry spare of anything that gets wet.
The list below is built from those principles. It assumes the typical April to October links season, when conditions can still be cold and wild, and errs on the side of being ready for weather rather than caught out by it. Take the essentials as non negotiable, add the comfort items to taste, and you will play every round in the conditions the course was built for without suffering them.
The complete links packing list
| Item | Take | Our verdict |
|---|---|---|
| Waterproof jacket and trousers | One quality set | Non negotiable. The single most important kit on the coast; buy good ones and keep them in the bag every round. |
| Golf shoes | Two waterproof pairs | Essential. One soaks through, the other dries overnight. Spiked or hybrid soles grip firm, sloping ground best. |
| Gloves | Three to four, incl. rain and winter pairs | Essential. Leather gloves are useless once wet; rain gloves grip better the wetter they get. Bring more than you think. |
| Base and mid layers | Several thin, breathable | Essential. Layers you add and shed beat one thick jumper every time as the wind and temperature swing. |
| Windproof or sweater mid layer | One or two | Highly recommended. The wind, not the cold, is what gets you. A windproof layer transforms a breezy round. |
| Warm hat and peaked cap | One of each | Recommended. A bobble hat for cold mornings, a cap to keep rain and low sun off; a snood or neck warmer too. |
| Towels | Several, plus a few spare | Essential. Dry towels keep grips and hands usable through a shower; you cannot have too many. |
| Umbrella | One sturdy, wind resistant | Recommended. A cheap umbrella will not survive a links gust; take a proper double canopy one. |
| Golf balls | Plenty of spares | Essential. Gorse, dunes and blind lines swallow balls; bring far more than for a parkland round. |
| Sun cream and lip balm | One each | Recommended. Wind and cloud hide a surprising amount of sun; the coast burns you when you least expect it. |
| Soft, well broken in spikes and spares | A few spare spikes and laces | Useful. Small failures are easy to fix on the road if you packed the spares; impossible if you did not. |
| Casual layers for the clubhouse | Smart casual, plus a jacket | Useful. Many great links have a dress code in the clubhouse; pack a collared shirt and tidy trousers. |
A practical guide based on typical links conditions. Pack to the forecast and the season, and check each club's dress code before you travel. Browse links tee time availability.
Layering, shoes and the small things that matter
Get the layering right and everything else follows. Start with a thin technical base layer, add a mid layer such as a light sweater or a quarter zip, and finish with a windproof or waterproof shell, so you can read the conditions and adjust at the turn rather than overheat or freeze. Avoid loose, flapping clothing that catches the wind and choose darker, quick drying technical fabrics over cotton, which holds water and chills you once damp.
On the feet, two waterproof pairs is the rule, not a luxury, because a single morning on dewy or wet links turf will soak a pair through and leave you starting the next round in cold, damp shoes. Rotate them, stuff the wet pair with newspaper overnight, and pack a shoe bag to keep the mud off the rest of your kit. The same logic applies to gloves: carry several, including a couple of rain gloves that grip better as they get wetter and a winter pair for cold mornings, since nothing ruins a round faster than a slick, soaked glove on a tight tee shot.
Finally, do not skimp on the small things. Dry towels, a sturdy umbrella, plenty of spare balls and a little sun cream weigh almost nothing and save many a round. Keep a dry bag or a few zip seal bags in the bag for phones, wallets and a spare glove, and you will be the player still smiling when the squall blows through and everyone else is heading for the clubhouse.
Plan your links golf trip
Now you are packed, let us handle the rest. We secure the marquee links tee times, sequence the rounds to keep the driving short and sort the caddies, the cars or driver and the hotels. Tell us roughly when and who is travelling, and one concierge costs it to the head, with no obligation.
Links packing questions
What should you pack for a links golf trip?
Pack for wind and rain whatever the forecast. The essentials are a quality waterproof jacket and trousers, thin breathable layers you can add and shed, two pairs of waterproof golf shoes so one can dry, several gloves including a couple of rain or winter pairs, a warm hat and a peaked cap, plenty of dry towels, an umbrella and spare balls. A windproof mid layer and a snood or neck warmer make a cold, breezy round far more comfortable. The rule is simple: layers, waterproofs and spares of everything that gets wet.
Do you need waterproofs for links golf?
Yes, always. Even in summer a links round can turn wet and windy in minutes, and being caught without waterproofs on an exposed coast is miserable and can end your round. A good waterproof jacket and trousers and a pair of waterproof shoes are the single most important items in the bag. Bring rain gloves too, since ordinary leather gloves are useless once soaked, and pack enough dry towels to keep grips and hands usable through a shower.
How many pairs of golf shoes should you take on a links trip?
Take two pairs of waterproof golf shoes. Links turf is often damp underfoot and a morning round can soak a pair through, so a second pair lets one dry fully overnight while you play in the other. Spiked or hybrid soles give the best grip on firm, sloping links ground. Pack spare laces and a few extra spikes if your shoes take them, and a shoe bag and newspaper to help wet pairs dry between rounds.
What clothing is best for windy links golf?
Thin, breathable layers beat one thick jumper every time, because you can add and shed them as the wind and temperature change through a round. Start with a base layer, add a mid layer and a windproof or waterproof shell, and carry a warm hat and a snood for the cold. Avoid loose, flapping clothing that catches the wind, and choose darker, technical fabrics that dry quickly. The wind, not the temperature, is what makes or breaks comfort on a links.
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Researched and written by the GolfForKings editorial desk. Practical packing guidance reviewed June 2026. Last reviewed June 2026.