Iceland is a destination rarely mentioned for golf enthusiasts, which is a shame because it’s an excellent option, not to mention vastly different from the usual recommendations. Iceland is home to unique tournaments like the Arctic Open, in association with Icelandair, and the Volcano Open, played between an extinct volcano and the Atlantic Ocean. The country also hosts 65 courses, several of which are standouts. Here are just 3 of them:
- Keilir Golf Course (Hvaleyrarvöllur) A short drive from the Keflavík airport in Reykjavík, the first half of this 18-hole course sits over lava fields, while the second half sits near Hafnarfjörður harbour, giving a waterfront challenge for golfers as well as stunning scenery. This course is great for golfers who love to challenge their accuracy and skill.This top-ranked course is also easy to get to with Icelandair’s Fly & Drive deal, where flyers can add a car rental with unlimited mileage to their flight package. Travelers can land at the airport, pick up their rental car, and drive straight to the first golf day of their vacation.
- Akureyri Golf Course is home to the Arctic Open. This is the most northern golf course in the world, open from mid-May until late-October. For a few weeks on either end of the summer solstice, golfers have the unique opportunity to play in 24-hour sunlight under the midnight sun!
- Geysir Golf Course is in close proximity to a geyser that erupts every few minutes. It’s also known for the quality of its greens and its location near Iceland’s Golden Circle. This nine-hole course is an excellent stop for a golfer’s tour of Iceland.
Canadian golfers who want to visit these amazing courses can not only fly direct from Vancouver, Toronto, and Halifax, but Icelandair also offers a discounted excess baggage rate for travellers who want to bring their own clubs. Flyers can also take advantage of their stopover program to visit a second destination for no additional airfare.