Ragnheiður Jónsdóttir | November. 14. 2012 | 13:00

Introducing: Þórður Rafn Gissurarson

Þórður Rafn Gissurarson is one of Iceland´s most talented golfers. At the time being he is participating in the NGA Pro Tour – Bridgestone Winter Series in Florida.

He played a.o. in the German EPD Series this past year and also on the Eimskip series, here in Iceland this past summer. The EPD Series venues were a.o. in Turkey, Marocco, in Germany and Austria.

The Eimskip series comprises 6 tournaments, where the best in Iceland compete. Þórður Rafn won on the 2nd tournament 2012, the Egils Gull tournament, which was held in the Westmanna Islands.

He also received a stipend from the newly founded Fund for outstanding golfers in Iceland, Forskot.

Þórður Rafn Gissurarson, GR. Photo: Golf 1

Golf 1 interviewed Þórð Rafn this past summer:

What is your name?: Þórður Rafn Gissurarson.

Member of which Golf Club in Iceland are you?: The Golf Club of Reykjavík, GR and the White River Golf Club, (in Icelandic: Golfklúbbur Kiðjabergs , abbrev.: GKB)

Where and when were you born?  Reykjavík, September 8th 1987.

Where did you grow up?  In the city. In the Selja-neighbourhood in Reykjavík.

What is your family status and does anyone in your family play golf?  Both my parents play golf, but both my siblings are to occupied to start playing.

When did you start playing golf? When I was around 5 years old. I was also playing soccer to start with, but then golf took over.

Þórður Rafn on the golfcourse of the Westmanna Islands on June 9th 2012 at the Egils Gull tournament, where he won! Photo: Golf 1.

Why did you start playing golf?  I was thrown into a golf clinic in Korpa (one of the three golfcourses of GR) when I was 7 years old and from then on I´ve never looked back.

What is your occupation?  I play golf competitively.

How much do you practice each day? It differs and goes by weather, but on a usual day I practice about 6-8 hours including play. Aside from that I workout in a Gym – that´s not included.

Can you tell us an embarrasing story of yourself from on the golfcourse?  Once I was practicing at the old practice area by Korpúlfsstaðir. My friend was collecting golfballs in an old tractor, which was used for that purpose at that time being and there was little protection for him in that contraption. I was the only one practicing and somehow I managed to hit a ball with my 3-tree about 200 meters and directly in his head. He was drousy and drove the tractor off the road. Fortunately this incident wasn´t serious and we got the tractor again on the practice area.

What do you prefer parkland courses or linkses? I like both. I have played alot of golfcourses abroad ad I have always a hard time choosing between them.

What do you prefer match play or stroke play?  I think match play is more fun. One plays different golf and often the score is better than in stroke play.

What´s your favorite golfcourse in Iceland? Grafarholt (one of the 3 golfcourses at Icelands biggest Golf Club, the Golf Club of Reykjavík (GR) ); White River Golf Course (Icelandic: Golfvöllur Kiðjabergs) and the Westmanna Islands Golf Course.

The 7th green on the White River Golf Course in the South of Iceland; one of Þórður Rafn´s favorite golfcourses in Iceland. Photo: Golf 1.

What is your favorite golfcourse anywhere in the world except for Iceland?  TPC Sawgrass in Florida, Seddiner Am See in Berlin, Germany and Kingsbarns in St. Andrews, Scotland.

Golf Country Club Seddiner am See-by Berlin, one of Þórður Rafn´s favorite golfcourses abroad

What is the most special golfcourse you have played on and why is it the most special? Tot Hill Farm Golf Club in North-Carolina.  One might think that the golfcourse arcitect was on a different planet when he designed the course.

What is your handicap? -1.4

Tot Hill Farm golfcourse

What is your lowest score in golf and on what golfcourse did you achieve it?  That´s  63 strokes (9 under par) in the Potsdam Golf Club E.V., in Germany.

What is your longest drive?  That was around 350 meters. Very windy, on a spongy golfcourse.

What is your greatest achivement in golf to this day?  To have won on the Icelandic Tour (Eimskip series) and to have gotten the 2nd place in the European Golf Club Championships along with my team from the Golf Club Reykjavík (GR).

Have you hit a hole in one? Unfortunately not. That will happen before I reach 50 years. I´m absolutely sure!

What snack do you have in the bag? I always have a bottle of mineral water (Blue Crystal in Iceland) and then I have a banana, a sandwich, an apple or nuts. One has to have alot to eat in the bag.

Þórður Rafn Gissurarson on the Golf Course in the Westmanna Islands. Photo: Golf 1

Have you participated in any other sports?  I have tried everything, I think. Soccer, european handball, basketball, squash, chess a.s.o. I was very active when I was younger.

What is your favorite food, your favorite drink, your favorite music, your favorite movie and your favorite book? My favorite food is  beef with sauce bearnaise and a baked potatoe, my favorite drink is mineralwater (in Iceland Blue Crystal), my favorite music is anything with Mumford & Sons and Coldplay; My favorite movie is The Green Mile and Tuesdays with Morrie is a book I can always read again along with most books on Golf.

What is your favorite golfer name 1 female and 1 male? Male: Craig Stadler is without a doubt my favorite golfer. It is always fun to see the walruss play.  Female: Anna Nordqvist is my favorite female golfer. She´s great.

What would be your dream foursome? Me and…. Craig Stadler, Bobby Jones, Ben Hogan. And I would like Tiger Woods, Luke Donald, and Miguel Angel Jimenez to be their caddies.

What´s in your bag and what´s your favorite club?

Titleist D3 9.5°(Graphite Design DI6X shaft)
Titleist 910F 15° (Graphite Design DI7X shaft)
Titleist 712 MB 3-PW with True Temper Dynamic Gold X-100 shafts.
Titleist SM4 52°, 56° and 60° wedges.
Nike Method 004 putter.

My favorite club is my putter. It has to be.

Þórður Rafn Gissurarson, GR on the 1st tournament in the Eimskip series, on May 27th 2012. Photo: Golf 1

Have you taken golflessons/who is your coach? Brynjar Eldon Geirsson has been my coach these past years.

Are you superstitious? No, not at all.

What is you maingoal in golf and in life? To get on the topp-100 of the Official World Golf Ratings and to play at a major. One has to have big dreams.

What is the best thing about golf? Self-dicipline, the company and the respect towards the ones you´re playing against.

How high a percentage do you think the mental part is of your game when you´re competeing? I would say about 50%. The mental part is very importand and I practice it regularly.

Að last: Do you have some good piece of advice you can give golfers?   To hit it straight off the tee and practice your short game alot if you want to lower your score.