Fire & Ice, And All Things Nice, In The Golf World Of Iceland
- Details
- Category: Inside Golf
- Published: 2024-09-06
By Gord Montgomery, Senior Writer, Inside Golf
When one thinks of Iceland as a golf destination, well, truth be told, that thought is classed as out-of-bounds almost instantly, if not quicker. This place is known as The Land of Ice and Fire, so take it from there. Be advised — this is a place to tee it up and experience golf in a dramatically different manner.
Iceland isn’t all about manicured fairways, luxurious resorts, and course upon course like its neighbours to the far south. Here, where the landscape is largely built on a volcanic plateau backed by mountain ranges and, of course, ice fields, there is golf. It’s simply just not the resort style of play many of us are accustomed to. This though, is golf with a twist.
While Iceland’s landscape is a total area of just over 108,000 square kilometres, arable land, forests, and ice-free areas comprise about 92% of that area, so yes, there is room for golf courses. Some interesting courses for that matter.
One top play likely has to be Hvaleyrarvöllur at Keilir Golf Course, located only a short distance from Reykjavík. It’s an 18-hole layout where lava fields dominate the front nine stretch of holes, while the homeward end heads toward the Hafnarfjörður harbour, changing the eye-candy here from wasteland views to waterfront vistas.
A second great play is demonstrated by the fact this layout is home to the Arctic Open tournament. At the Akureyri Golf Course, which is known as the most northerly track in the world, you’ll find a real twist to booking a tee time. For a couple of weeks each year, around the end of the summer solstice, this is the spot to tee it up at 3 p.m. or 3 a.m. — the choice is yours as daylight hangs around for 24 hours at this time of year.
If that’s not enough to whet your appetite, try the Volcano Open at the Westman Islands Golf Club, which sits off the south coast of Iceland. This gem, which sits between the Atlantic Ocean and an extinct volcano, has its world-famous tourney in early July.
If you’re still not satisfied with the challenges you’ve experienced and the sights you’ve seen, well, we have one more spot for you. How about the Geysir Golf Course, where you are right next to an actual geyser that erupts continually every few minutes? Talk about water hazards!
While these are great spots to visit and play, you still have to get to the Keflavík airport in Reykjavík, and with direct flights on Icelandair from Vancouver, Toronto, and Halifax, that is easily accomplished no matter where you begin your journey. Icelandair’s Fly & Drive deal, where flyers can add a car rental with unlimited mileage to their flight package is a great way to go. Travellers can land at the airport, pick up their rental car, and drive straight to the first golf day of their vacation!
If you’ve never considered Iceland as a place to tee it up, or have dismissed such an idea quickly, take the time to reconsider your options. Chances are, you’ll be fired up to go!