Höldur Open x Skógarböðin

Akureyri Golf Club

Akureyrarbær, Iceland

Akureyri Golf Club is an 18-hole, par 71 course measuring 6,006 yards, situated at Jadar on the southern edge of Akureyri in northern Iceland. Confirmed by the R&A as the world's most northerly 18-hole golf course, it sits at 65 degrees 49 minutes north, just short of the Arctic Circle. The club was established in 1935 and settled at its current Jadar location in 1970, when the front nine was laid out by Magnús Guðmundsson, Iceland's first golfer of international standing. The back nine was added in 1980, developed largely from Guðmundsson's plans with input from Gunnar Þórðarson. More recently, Icelandic architect Edwin Roald oversaw a renovation that included the reconstruction of all greens and improvements to drainage. The par 71 layout meanders over broad ridges and undulating moorland terrain, broken up by small clusters of trees and rock outcroppings that are used as tee sites at several holes. Compared to many Icelandic courses, Jadar has a notably greener and more varied appearance, with more trees, shrubs, and vegetation than the lava-field settings found elsewhere in the country. The 4th and 5th holes offer particularly striking views over the Eyjafjörður fjord. The course is open from late May to early September, with the extreme northern latitude meaning virtually continuous daylight around the summer solstice. The club hosts the annual Arctic Open Golf Championship, held at the summer solstice and featuring organised rounds played under the midnight sun, attracting international players since 1986. It is one of Iceland's most distinctive and best-known golf venues.