WATCH: Three great links tips: legends Jack Nicklaus and Paul McGinley reveal ocean secrets

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Golf on the linksland of Britain and Ireland is the oldest and best way to play the game.

It can also be very annoying.

As the DP World Tour takes on the brutal Royal County Down for the Irish Open, we look at three great tips that everyone can use to improve their golf by the seaside.

Tip 1 – Jack Nicklaus: “Stay in control”

Despite eventually winning 18 majors, Jack Nicklaus struggled in the first round of his Open Championship debut, shooting an 80 at Royal Troon in 1962.

But he cut through, finished the T34 and fell in love with the British and Irish coasts.

Over the next 18 years he recorded a ridiculous 17 top Open finishes and lifted the Claret Jug three times.

He knows what he’s talking about, then, when he insists during the 150th Open at St Andrews in 2022 that discipline is essential in this style of the game.

“If you’re really playing smart at St Andrews or other beach courses,” he said, “you’re playing away from the bunkers. You will probably take a few chances during the week, but most of the time you don’t take them.

“When I won at Muirfield (in 1966), I planned my way out. I beat four drivers a day. Then on the last day I had a little wind in my face at 14, and instead of hitting the 3 wood (as I had planned) I hit the driver right there in the hot room, and it almost cost me. the competition.

“Discipline is an important part of playing here. You get frustrated. When you get frustrated, then say, ‘Bye-bye, see you next time,’ because that’s what happens. You have to be patient. Take in what the golf course has to offer. You will not try to take anything else.”

Tip 2 – Paul McGinley: “Use the wind as your friend”

Paul McGinley is not only a four-time European Tour winner, the man whose putt sealed the 2002 Ryder Cup, and the captain who led Europe to victory in 2014.

The Irishman was also the middle leader of the 1996 Open at Royal Lytham & St Anne’s, was third in 18 holes at Carnoustie in 2007, and won the Irish PGA Championship in County Louth, one of Ireland’s greatest treasures.

He’s not exactly a ‘Golden Bear’ but he also knows a thing or two about links golf and gave the DP World Tour communications team three tips on how to use the wind as a friend rather than an enemy.

He started by shooting in the air and insisting that we should hold the club down near the iron of the hole.

“Do that, take two more clubs and the ball will come out low,” he said. “After that, just take a normal swing.”

Then he turns to the issue of how to use side spirits.

“If the wind is from the right,” he says, “use left-to-right spin on the ball and take two more clubs to catch it in the wind and there’s two things about that. First, it creates a positive image. Second, when it comes to the deck it goes down a bit.

“In the opposite wind, we will hit right to left, or hook, and rotate.

“So with the spin fade, point to the left and meet the ball a little bit and keep the club face open. On the contrary, I just want the team against the team to close a little and the most important thing is that I go in and out.”

Tip 3 – Me and My Golf: “How to escape potholes”

Professional golfers Andy Proudman and Piers Ward are better known as the stars of social media Me and My Golf.

But their work goes beyond the Internet. They also coach DP World and PGA Tour star Aaron Rai who won the 2020 Scottish Open on the beach at the Renaissance Club and was fourth in the same event this summer.

They headed to the par-3 12th hole at Royal Birkdale to explain how they escaped the sand traps.

“I need a loft and I need to use it well,” said Andy. “I need loft in setup and in my swing.

“So I open my face before I catch it. Then in the setup I make sure I lower the handle and I do that by taking a wide stance. Really wide stance, really low handle.

“The loft is now almost in my face. A little extra weight on the lead leg and swing will make sure I accelerate past the hands to maintain top position. I need speed to pick it up and pass the lip.

“Remember. Wide stance. Hold down. Speed ​​and loft.”

READ MORE: How will the 14-handicapper fare at Royal County Down? Our own Matt Cooper found out