Akureyri

The course at Akureyri Golf Club is called Jaðarsvöllur and it’s situated in the north east of Iceland at the head of the long Eyjafiordur Bay. The town of Akureyri has around fifteen thousand inhabitants and is known as “the capital of the north.” The club was formed in 1935 so it is the second oldest in Iceland.

Recent refurbishment work has included the reconstruction of all greens by Icelandic architect Edwin Roald, with the improved drainage encouraging the growth of more winter-tolerant grasses to hopefully extend the playing season on the course.

Future development includes further course drainage, new water features, re-grading of problem areas, tree transplantation and removal, overhaul of tee positions (with new championship tees adding a further 450 yards to the course) and installation of new service paths and roads.

The R&A handbook confirms that Akureyri Golf Club has the most northerly 18-hole golf course in the world with the actual location 65 degrees, 49 minutes north of the equator and Jack Nicklaus plays here when he is salmon fishing in Iceland. The Akureyri Golf Club hosts the Arctic Open Golf Championship every summer. Because there is daylight for almost 24 hours a day in June, golfers can tee off as late as midnight and finish in the wee sma’ hours around 4.00 am!

The Championship started in 1986 and is open to both professional and amateur players. It is a 36-hole Stableford competition with individual and team prizes on offer. Not that golf is only played here in the summer – it has been known for tournaments to be held in the winter with golfers using black balls to allow them to be spotted in the snow!