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A golf course is divided into 18 sections, called holes. The standard course is about 6,500 to 7,000 yd (about 5,900 to 6,400 m). The individual holes may vary in length from 100 to 600 yd (about 90 to 550 m). Each hole has at one end a starting point known as a tee and, imbedded in the ground at the other end and marked by a flag, a cup or cylindrical container (also called a hole) into which the ball must be propelled to complete the hole. The cup is usually made of metal or plastic, 4.25 in (10.8 cm) in diameter, and at least 4 in (10 cm) deep.

While no two courses are alike, many can be classified into one of the following broad categories:

The most traditional type of golf course, of which some centuries-old examples have survived in the British isles, located in coastal areas, on sandy soil, often amid dunes, with few artificial water hazards and few if any trees. Traditional links courses, such as The Old Course at St. Andrews, are built on 'land reclaimed from the sea,' land that was once underwater. Linksland 'links' the beach to the arable land. It was historically suitable primarily for grazing sheep

Parkland course is a typical inland courses, often resembling traditional British parks, with lawn-like fairways and many trees.

It is more open, less-manicured inland course, often featuring gorse and heather and typically less wooded than “parkland” courses. Examples include Woodhall Spa in England and Gleneagles in Scotland.

A rather recent invention, popular in Australia, parts of the USA and in the Middle East. Desert courses require heavy irrigation for maintenance of the turf, leading to concerns about the ecological consequences of excessive water consumption. A desert course also violates the widely accepted principle of golf course architecture that an aesthetically pleasing course should require minimal alteration of the existing landscape. Nevertheless, many players enjoy the unique experience of playing golf in the desert.

Akin to sand courses, but much more involved in terms of using layers of tar and gravel below the sandy surface layer, to give firmness and support and ensure a consistent bounce/roll. Common in arid parts of the Indian Subcontinent. The world's highest course of any type is a 9-hole browns course in Leh, Ladakh (J&K), maintained by the Indian Army. It is at 11,600 feet. Being beyond the Great Himalaya in an extension of the arid Tibetan Plateau, the region lies in a rain shadow, which would make a greens course impossible to water. Mixed courses that have both brown and green holes are called 'browns-greens' courses; e.g., the green and the central fairway may be grass, but the tee and rough may be brown.

Instead of a heavily irrigated 'green', the players play on sand; holes are less 'involved' than browns courses, and are for the casual golfer.

Snow courses are the recent invention; golf being played on snow, typically with an orange colored or another brightly colored ball, played in Arctic or sub arctic regions during winter.