Golf in March/April 2012 in Iceland

You might not think it possible to be playing golf in Iceland as early as in March or April. But fact is that golf junkies in Iceland play golf all year round and don´t let bad weather bother them. In the winter some simply play winter golf (which will be introduced later) Icelanders are used to bad weather on the golfcourse, one is lucky when it doesn´t hail. It is probably best compared to golf in Northern Scotland or to some of the linkses in Scotland (where it can get pretty windy).

Icelanders talk about their „sample” weather; because often when you play golf in Iceland you get a sample of all types of weather: fog, wind, rain, snow, hail, sun to mention a few, all within the same hour.

Playing golf at Golfklúbburinn Þverá á Hellishólum (GÞH) in the South of Iceland, on the Saturday before Easter, April 7th 2012 in the fog and rain. Photo: Golf 1

As for the weather to play golf in Iceland in March/April 2012, it has been bad in the western, northern and eastern parts of Iceland, the courses are simply covered by snow and the only way to practice golf is indoors. Many travel to  Spain or other destinations in Europe, the US or even farther, where the climate is milder.

However in the south of Iceland it has been possible to play golf both in March and April. The golfcourses still have a yellowish tone to them and not the lush green golfers are used to and the greens aren´t as fast as during summertime, but for most that doesn´t matter in the slightest after having been confined to nonswing (on a golfcourse) for 6 months. Most golfcourses are still closed, and don´t open until May. It is in May that the Icelandic weekendgolfers´schedule starts, with a great variety of tournaments to choose between.  The season for many finishes early in September  (with the exception of the abovementioned golfjunkies) although it all depends on the ever so present weather. For example the Golf Club of Reykjavík (GR) was still having tournaments in October 2011 and so was the Golfclub of Selfoss (GOS) and a few others.

Four golfclubs (all of them with 18 hole courses) have held tournaments in March and April in South Iceland, when the weathergods have been in a good mood. These clubs are Golfklúbbur Grindavíkur (its golfcourse is called Húsatóftavöllur); Golfklúbbur Sandgerðis (its golfcourse is called Kirkjubólsvöllur); Golfklúbbur Suðurnesja (its golfcourse is called Hólmsvöllur í Leiru or abbreviated Leiran) and Golfklúbburinn Kjölur in Mosfellsbær (its golfcourse is Hlíðarvöllur) and are all located in the southern part of Iceland.

Whilst Golf 1 will introduce each of the 66 Icelandic golfcourses in detail later on, a glimpse of 4 golfcourses will be given here for starters, since they are the ones opening the golfseason in Iceland 2012:

From the golfcourse in Grindavík in March 2012. The clubhouse is old and golfers in Grindavík are having alot of early tournaments to collect money for a new clubhouse. Photo: Golf 1

1. Golfklúbbur Grindavíkur (abbreviated GG) : has already held 2 tournaments and the 3rd one will be held this coming Saturday, April 14th. The golfers in Grindavík are having those early tournaments to collect money for a new clubhouse.  Participating in a golftournament in Iceland doesn´t cost much, it´s usually around Icelandic kronas 3000-3.500 (approx € 18-21 or US$ 24-28) To drive to Grindavík you turn right when driving from Keflavík airport. En route to the golfcourse is a very popular tourist destination in Iceland, The Blue Lagoon.  There isn´t much that beats combining the two i.e. taking part in a tournament in Grindavík or for that matter in Keflavík or Sandgerði and then bathe in the beautiful and healthy Blue Lagoon afterwards to get the chill out if the weather hasn´t been up to its best.

By the entrance of the Blue Lagoon i March 2012. It´s en route to GG. Do as the Icelanders do! Play golf then take a relaxing bath in the Blue Lagoon. Photo: Golf 1.

2. Golfklúbbur Suðurnesja (abbreviated GS) is a links style golfcourse along the shores of the North-Atlantic, with plenty of seabirds to be seen. This is the golfcourse closest to Icelands’ only international airport (Keflavík Airport) and well suited for a quick round of golf shortly after landing or prior to take off, if you have some extra time to spare. GS has had a series of tournaments this spring called Gull mótaröðin i.e. the Gold Tour, where Egils Gull, an Icelandic beer manufactor is the key sponsor. The prizes are „golden” i.e. in the form of beer and the tournament has been very popular among Icelanders. This is the golfcourse that was closest to the American base and many in the American armed forces used to play and are familiar with this course. This course also features one of Iceland´s most challenging and beautiful par-3´s, the 3rd hole, called Bergvík, which is GS´s signature hole.

Bergvík, in March 2012, GS´s signature par-3 hole. Photo: Golf 1.

3. Golfklúbbur Sandgerðis (abbreviated: GSG).  The golfcourse is also a very short driving distance (7km) away from Keflavík Airport and has just recently been enlarged from a 9 hole course to a pleasant 18 hole course. This is a rather flat course, the only exception being the 7th hole, a short par-4, which is a favorite among many Icelandic golfers, since the score is usually good there. It lies up a little hill. Also by in a shed on the following 2 holes, the 8th and 9th live two of the more known inhabitants of GSG, the two bunnies, who especially love Prince Polo (the Icelandic national sweet – although imported from Poland). GSG has probably held most tournaments this winter/spring of theses 4 mentioned golfcourses here and the prizes are coupons to Golfbúðin in Hafnarfjörður (one of the better golfstores in Iceland)  the prize for 1st place worth Icelandic kronas 15.000,-(€ 90 – US$ 117).

The two cute bunnies by the shed at GSG´s 8th and 9th fairways. Photo taken February 11th 2012: Golf 1

4. Golfklúbburinn Kjölur (abbreviated: GKJ). This golfcourse has also only recently been enlarged to an 18-hole golfcourse. It offers beautiful views over the capital of Iceland, Reykjavík and Mount Esja, a 914 meters/2.999 ft. high, old volcano, which hasn´t errupted for millions of years.  It´s made up of basalt except for the eastermost mountaintops which are in a lighter, whitish-yellow color made from rhyolite and is clearly visible from the golfcourse at GKJ. The GKJ´s golfcourses signature hole is the par-4, 4th. Only a short driving distance away from GKJ, in Mosfellsdalur, is the home of the late Halldor Kiljan Laxness, Iceland´s only Nobel prize recipient in literature. His home is now a museum, so if you want to combine a round of golf in stunning nature with a dash of culture, GKJ would be your choice.

GKJ´s signature hole the par-4 4th hole at Hliðarvöllur. Photo: Golf 1