Reykjavik (Korpa)

Hannes Thorsteinsson, the prolific Icelandic architect, designed the second course at the venerable Reykjavík Golf Club and the Korpa opened its eighteen tees for play in 1997. Routed across former farmland, the Korpa has a distinct split personality with the front nine looping out and along the Atlantic coastline while the back nine plays further inland, dissected by the River Korpa from where the course takes its name.

Measuring 6,600 yards, the Korpa represents a stern test for the 2,500 members of Reykjavik Golf Club and, coupled with the Grafarholt course – located a kilometre or so to the south of the Korpa – makes a terrific 36-hole Icelandic twosome.

Perhaps the signature hole on the Korpa is the tough 226-yard one-shot 3rd that features three deep bunkers and out of bounds to the right. When the wind blows off the sea, as is often the case, many golfers are happy to card a bogey on this particular hole.