Borgarnes

Golf at Borgarnes started modestly in 1973 with a rudimentary course which was turned into a 9-hole layout by Torvaldur Asgeirsson and architect Hannes Thorsteinsson in 1998, before being extended to its current 18-hole, 5,338-metre configuration in 2007.

Located an hour’s drive north of Reykjavik, Borgarnes is the only golf resort operating in all of Iceland and it’s come a long way since club members built the initial 3-hole layout on a small piece of land acquired from the local municipal authorities. The modern-day course is now arranged as two loops of returning nines, with water coming into play at several holes on a largely flat property.

Highlight holes include short par fours at #9, #14 and #16, while the par four 3rd and par five 13th provide the most challenge; the first hole plays to an offset green that lies next to the road running through the layout and the second hole (stroke index 1) doglegs left then right to the green Star of the show is undoubtedly the 118-metre 8th, where an all-carry tee shot is required to an island green.

The following edited extract is from 150 Golf Courses You Need To Visit Before You Die by Stefanie Waldek:

“For a relatively young course, the Borgarnes has seen quite a few iterations over the years. The course as it now stands has accommodation and restaurants but there’s one thing that hasn’t changed at all over the past few decades, namely its gorgeous natural setting. Located outside of Reykyavik, the Borgarnes boasts dramatic mountain and water views.”