Iceland's Stunning Golf Venues in Spotlight
Golfing in Iceland's Stunning Landscapes
Iceland, a land of fire and ice, offers more than just geothermal wonders and dramatic landscapes. It's also home to a growing number of golf courses that provide unique challenges and breathtaking views. Here's a tour of some of the most notable golf courses in this Nordic island nation.
Geysir Golf Club
Located near the famous geothermal area of Geysir, Geysir Golf Club offers a distinctive golfing experience. Surrounded by geysers and rolling fields, the course presents a moderate challenge due to the variable Icelandic weather and the terrain around geothermal features. Each hole is named after a hot spring, adding an extra layer of Icelandic charm to the game.
Akureyri Golf Club
Nestled in Iceland's north, Akureyri Golf Club is renowned for its stunning views of fjords and mountains. The course, an 18-hole, par-71 layout, is challenging due to windy conditions typical in northern Iceland and its hilly layout, testing both precision and power. From the 4th and 5th golf tees, golfers can enjoy breathtaking views of the surrounding landscape.
Brautarholt Golf Course
Situated in Reykjavik's outskirts, Brautarholt Golf Course offers a unique blend of parkland and lava field landscapes. The course presents a technical challenge with several holes surrounded by rough lava terrain and strategically placed bunkers. The first hole, an elevated hole with a green sitting on top of a cliff overlooking the sea, sets the stage for the beautiful challenges that await.
Westman Islands Golf Course
Known as Vestmannaeyjar, this golf course is located on a volcanic island, offering ocean views and rugged terrain. The challenge comes from strong coastal winds, fast greens, and elevation changes across volcanic rock formations. The course is home to a variety of wildlife, making each round a memorable experience.
Borgarnes Golf Course
Borgarnes Golf Course, an 18-hole, par-71 parkland golf course, boasts fairways lined with trees, rocky hills, and water hazards. The course's uneven terrain and exposure to coastal weather make club selection and shot control crucial. The 8th hole, a short par-3 with an island green, is a particular highlight.
Among these courses, the Westman Islands Golf Course and Akureyri Golf Club stand out for their dramatic natural surroundings and varied weather conditions. Geysir Golf Club offers a unique geothermal ambiance, while Brautarholt and Borgarnes provide a mix of parkland and volcanic landscapes with strategic challenges typical of Icelandic golf environments.
The distinctive Icelandic landscapes—volcanic rock, geothermal activity, fjords, and coastal cliffs—make all these golf courses visually striking and demanding in different ways, offering memorable experiences for golfers seeking both beauty and challenge.
In addition to these courses, the Arctic Open Golf Championship takes place at a golf course in Iceland, allowing players to golf at midnight while the sun is still shining, making for an unforgettable golfing experience.
- The Westman Islands Golf Course, also known as Vestmannaeyjar, located on a volcanic island, presents a challenging experience due to strong coastal winds, fast greens, and elevation changes across volcanic rock formations.
- Situated in the outskirts of Reykjavik, Brautarholt Golf Course offers a unique blend of parkland and lava field landscapes, with several holes surrounded by rough lava terrain and strategically placed bunkers.
- In contrast, Akureyri Golf Club in Iceland's north is renowned for its breathtaking views of fjords and mountains, but is challenging due to windy conditions and a hilly layout, testing both precision and power.
