Ragnheiður Jónsdóttir | November. 19. 2012 | 18:30

Reflection on what happened in the week May 28th- June 3rd 2012 in Golf in Iceland

In the week May 28th-June 3rd 2012 the golfsummer in Iceland was starting and most Golf Clubs, which close during the winter time had by now opened anew.  There are many open golf tournaments in Iceland during the summer in which everyone, who has handicap 36  (unless otherwise mentioned) and pays the rather low tournament fee in most cases, can participate. Foreign golfers are welcome – and if you come to Iceland you should at least try to participate in 1 tournament, just to get the experience of having played in an Icelandic golf tournament.

Only a few of the huge variety of the golf flora tournaments in 2012 in Iceland can be mentioned here, for reflections sake – this is by no means a complete list of every tournament held this week in Iceland or what was happening during that week in Icelandic golf in general:

The most notable tournament this week from May 27th – May 28th was the 1st tournament on the Eimskip Series, a 6 tournament Series, including the Icelandic Championship in Stroke Play and the Icelandic Championship in Match Play. All and only the best golfers in Iceland take part.

The first tournament on the Eimskip Series this year took place in Golf Club Suðurnesja (GS) in Keflavík. There were extreme windy conditions so the tournament first got delayed and eventually shortened to a 2 day event, yet usually there are 3 rounds of golf.

The winners of this first tournament in the Eimskip Series were Birgir Leifur Hafþórsson, golf pro and Ólafía Þórunn Kristinsdóttir, who had just returned from North Carolina, where she studies and plays on Wake Forest´s golfteam and had to play in totally different conditions, a much colder and windier one than she had grown used in the former months.

There were 132 participants in this first tournament on the Eimskip Series, 106 men and 26 women. Among the highlights were that Einar Haukur Óskarsson, from Golf Club Keilir in Hafnarfjörður, who claimed 4th place, got a hole in one at the rather long par-3 13th at Leiran, the golfcourse of GS.

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On June 1st a 93 participant tournament was held on the Westmanna Islands golfcourse due to the Day of the Sailors (in Icelandic: Sjómannadagurinn), held festive around all of Iceland that week. Golfers were divided in groups of 3 according to handicap and played according to the Stabbleford system. The winners of the tournament were Huginn Helgason, Golf Club of the Westmanna Islands (abbrev. GV in Iceland). He had 40 points  (playing in the group of golfers with hcp. 0-10,4), Skúli Már Gunnarsson, GV (hcp 10,5-24,4) won in his group and Baldvin Þór Sigurbjörnsson, GV, (hcp. 24,5-36) had the most Stabbleford points in the tournament or 45.

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In Seyðisfjörður, in the Eastern Part of Iceland there was a golf tournament held June 2nd celebrating the Day of the Sailors. Unnar Ingimundur Jóspesson, GSF (Golf Club of Seyðisfjörður) won in the Stroke Play category, played the Haga golfcourse in Seyðisfjörður in 73 strokes and the Stabbleford Points competition was won by Stefán Jóhannsson, who had 43 points.

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In the North of Iceland, in the Golf Club of Siglufjörður (abbreviated GKS in Icelandic) there was a short 9 hole tournament held Saturday June 2nd. There were only 17 participants, 13 men and 4 women and the winner was Hulda Magnúsardóttir. She had 22 Stableford points in only 9 holes.

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Also on Saturday June 2nd in the South of Iceland there was the „Constantly Happy Sailor Competition” (in Icelandic: Sjóarinn Síkáti) held at Golf Club Grindavík (abbreviated GG in Icelandic) also commemorating the Day of the Sailors in Iceland. The one with the best score was Davíð Arthur Friðriksson GG – he used only 66 strokes and the Stableford Points Competition was won by Heimir Bergmann Hauksson, GR, who accumulated  41 points.

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At the same time i.e. in Oddur Golf Club in Garðabær, there was the annual Soroptimist female only golftournament. The participants were 184 and played by the Stabbleford point system in two categories hcp. 0-20 and hcp. 20,1-36

The winner of (hcp. 0-20) going by the Stabbleford system was Þórdís Geirsdóttir, GK (i.e. Golf Club Keilir in Hafnarfjörður) and in the category hcp. 20.1-36 Elínborg Sigurðardóttir, GR, i.e. from the Golf Club Reykjavík.

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On Saturday, June 2nd there was also the Húsasmiðja Open, held at GKB´s (the Golf Club at Kiðjaberg´s) scenic White River Golf Course (in Icelandic Kiðjabergsvöllur) in the South of Iceland. What was quite enjoyable was that the winner of the tournament was also the oldest participant, 87 yrs. of age and he played „his age” i.e. 87 strokes and received 43 points according to the Stableford points system and won the tournament!!! – Ragnheiður Karlsdóttir, won the women´s competition with 40 points.

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This was a competition weekend for Icelandic juniors. There are two Series – a 1st tier Juniors Tour sponsored by Arion bank and a 2nd tier Challenge Tour also sponsored by Arion bank.

The Juniors on both Tournament series are divided according into the following agegroups: Aged 14 yrs and younger; 15-16 yrs and 17-18 yrs.

The main difference between the Arion Junior Tour and the Challenge Tour is that the latter only play 18 holes i.e. 1 round of golf while the first mentioned play 2 rounds.

On Saturday June 2nd the juniors on the Challenge Tour played at the Golf Club of Sandgerði (abbreviated.: GSG) and the juniors on the Arion Junior Tour  played their first round at Þverá golfcourse i(in Icelandic: Þverárvöllur) in Hellishólar by Hvolsvöllur, in the South of Iceland.

To make a long story short the winners on this 2nd tournament of the Challenge Tour were: Kinga Korpak, GS (girls aged 14 yrs and younger); Axel Daði Reynisson, GK (boys aged 14 yrs and younger); Salvör Ísberg Jónsdóttir, NK (girls aged 15-16); Úlfur Þór Egilsson, GS (boys aged 15-16) and Jökull Schiöth (boys 17-18). There was no one competing in the agegroup girls 17-18.

The winners at the 1st tier Arion bank Juniors Tour were: Þóra Kristín Ragnarsdóttir, GK (girls aged 14 yrs and younger); Henning Darri Þórðarson, GK (boys aged 14 yrs and younger); Gunnhildur Kristjánsdóttir, GKG (girls aged 15-16); Aron Snær Júlíusson, GKG (boys aged 15-16); Guðrún Pétursdóttir, GR (girls 17-18) and Ragnar Már Garðarsson (boys 17-18).

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Ólafur Björn Loftsson, Golf Club Nes (NK in Icelandic) participated in the Carrick Neil Scottish Open Stroke Play Championship, June 1st through June 3rd 2012.  Ólafur Björn had a combined score of 292 strokes (71 74 77 70), and the venue was Kilmarnock golfcourse in Scotland. He finished in 15th position which is quite good, considering that the tournament had a strong field. To see the final results at the Carrick Neil Scottish Open Stroke Play Championship  CLICK HERE: 

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On Sunday, June 3rd 2012 the Sailor Golf Tournament Ísinn Open was held in Ísafjörður in the Western part of Iceland. Anton Helgi Guðjónsson from the Golf Club in Ísfjörður (abbreviated GÍ) won, played Tungdals golfcourse in Ísafjörður in 77 strokes.

Bjarney Guðmundsdóttir, GÍ, won the women´s part of the tournament.