Scandinavia might not be a golfing destination, but there’s something special about teeing off in the midnight sun. Check out these courses, exploring golfing opportunities in Scandinavia. Teeing off in the midnight sun: Exploring golfing opportunities in Scandinavia.
Ever dreamt of teeing off under a sun that never sets? Imagine the golden glow of the midnight sun illuminating the vast greens, the crisp air kissing your cheeks, and the soft hum of nature as your only distraction.
Welcome to golfing in Scandinavia! A place where the allure of the game combines magically with Mother Nature’s whimsical wonders. Whether you’re a seasoned pro or a casual enthusiast, Scandinavia’s golfing landscape promises not just challenges and triumphs but a surreal experience that’s out of this world.
So, grab your golf clubs and join me as we venture into this Northern European golfing paradise. Trust me, it’s a journey you won’t forget anytime soon. Here are some of the best golfing opportunities in Scandinavia for golfers of all levels.
Sweden
They may have a long, cold winter, but when golfing season arrives in Sweden, you’ll be blessed with a vast array of golf course choices. Here are two we love.
Bro Hof Slott Golf Club – The Castle Course
With a scenic Scottish- links-style layout with what’s known as “playable waste areas”, you’ll be spoiled with a diverse range of holes on this course. Narrow fairways, small bunkers, and curvy greens up the challenge.
Falsterbo Golf Club
Located almost in the Baltic Sea itself, Falsterbo Golf Club is unique in both its atmosphere and its play. The wind blows off the ocean almost constantly, so you’ll need to adjust your game if you want to get a good score. You’ll also be playing inside a nature reserve, so bird life and wildlife add to the magical feeling of the course.
Norway
This modern-meets-old-school Viking country has otherworldly natural features and culture of its own, and it also happens to be an amazing place to play a round of golf.
Lofoten Links
Visit Lofoten Links in the summer, and you can play right through the night under the midnight sun. It’s also a spectacular viewing point for the Aurora Borealis, so it’s well worth putting on your golfing bucket list!
Aside from the once-in-a-lifetime natural wonders of the course, you’ll have rugged rocky ground and striking water hazards to contend with. Plus, you’re playing on Viking burial grounds… So there’s always a chance of a supernatural encounter too!
Kongsvinger Golf Club
Near the Swedish border, you’ll find this gem of a club hidden in a pine forest. The dense trees give it an intimate feeling, instantly calming a racing mind and bringing it into a state of quiet harmony.
Wind your way through the woods, going from one great hole to another. The layout ebbs and flows along with the natural landscape, making you feel like you’re a part of the forest itself as you play the lush green fairways and sizable greens.
Teeing Off in the Midnight Sun: Exploring Golfing Opportunities in Scandinavia, article continues below the image.
Read about expat Jordan Fuller rediscovering Scandinavian golf courses as gems for golfers by clicking the image below.
Denmark
The most metropolitan/medieval mix of a country, Denmark, is a worthwhile stop if you’re in Scandinavia. It’s also known as one of the happiest countries in the world… Maybe it’s the golf!
Great Northern Golf
A resort course on a small island, Great Northern, is a bit out of the way but an exciting play nonetheless… And the microbrewery on site is a bonus! The course itself is open and spacious, but half of it meanders up a sizable hill, adding to the test. Lightning-fast greens, intrusively-sized bunkers, and 7 man-made bodies of water make it an interesting round.
The Scandinavian Golf Club
Tee off on two exquisite 18-hole courses, each a masterpiece of design and challenge, set amidst enchanting forests, serene lakes, and rolling hills. Whether you’re a novice or a pro, an unforgettable golfing adventure awaits on this course and if you’re a nature-lover, you’ll revel in the unspoiled landscape.
Teeing Off in the Midnight Sun: Exploring Golfing Opportunities in Scandinavia, article continues below the image.
Check out these golf courses in the land of the midnight sun by clicking the image below.
Finland
Despite almost ⅔ of the country being covered in, Finland features some amazing golf courses built into those landscapes. It also boasts some of the happiest residents in the world… And with a strong sauna culture, it’s a great place to be if you want a little after-golf TLC.
Kytäjä Golf, North-West
The front nine of this course runs through fields and farmland before diving deep into the forest landscape for the back nine. Rocky cliffs, undulating ground, and visually intimidating holes throughout make it a spectacular course to play.
Pickala Golf Club – Forest Course
Similar to the above course, the Pickala Forest Course is split into a parkland nine and a forest nine. The holes run in a circle around a resort, so it’s an unusual layout. Trees, water, and sneaky bunkers will try and get in the way of a good score here.
Iceland
Play a round in the Land of Fire and Ice. While golf is only available for about 5 months of the year, if your visit happens to coincide, grab your chance.
Keilir Golf Club – The Hvaleyrarvöllur Course
Swing your clubs on a unique course here, with the front nine’s natural architecture carved from volcanic lava, giving it a distinctly different feel to most. Once you reach the back nine, you’ll be treated to picturesque views over the Alftanes peninsula and the Snaefells glacier, an ice-covered volcano.
As for golf, it’s more about accuracy and precision than power, so your iron game needs to be strong if you want to score well.
Brautarholt Golf Course
You’ll only be able to play here from May through September, but you can be on the course 24 hours a day, so there’s plenty of time for everyone to get a chance. Perched on rugged cliffs hugging the ocean, you’ll play through volcanic rock formations and past black sand beaches on your way to a decent score here. It’s just 12 holes right now, but it’s got 18 holes’ worth of action packed into it.
The Faroe Islands
With just one golf club, the Faroe Islands aren’t likely to be on your golfing list. But if you love a chilled, old-school way of life and the fact that there are more sheep than people in this territory, head out there for a day or two with your golf clubs.
Torshavn Golf Club
It may be the lone golf club in the Faroe Islands, but it’s worth traveling for. Craggy landscapes covered in green and dotted with sheep may deceive you into thinking there can’t possibly be a good golf course here, but you’ll be shocked at the quality of this little 9-hole course.
It’s about as rugged as they come, and you’ll feel like you’ve just set up an impromptu course in the middle of a shepherd’s field. But we guarantee it’ll be a golfing experience you’ll never forget… And you’ll definitely be back if you’re in the area again.
Teeing Off in the Midnight Sun: Exploring Golfing Opportunities in Scandinavia – Conclusion
Heading to Scandinavia soon? Explore the rugged Viking landscape, stay up all night just because you can, marvel at the Northern Lights, and enjoy the cuisine… But don’t miss your chance to get a round (or a few) of amazing golf in as well.
Teeing off in the midnight sun: Exploring golfing opportunities in Scandinavia, written dedicatedly for Daily Scandinavian by Jordan Fuller. Jordan s a retired golfer and businessman. When he’s not on the course working on his own game or mentoring young golfers, he writes in-depth articles for his website, Golf Influence.
Feature image (on top): © Guide to Iceland
Editor’s notes: Scandinavia consists of three countries only; Denmark, Sweden and Norway. Finland and Iceland is part of the Nordic region, but not one of the Scandinavian countries. This is a widespread misunderstanding, also among some Scandinavians.