5 best golf courses on the Reykjanes peninsula

If you’re a fan of golf, then you’ll most likely want to indulge your favourite pastime when you’re away. The good news is that some of Iceland’s best golf courses can be found on the Reykjanes peninsula and are located within easy reach of Keflavik airport, so you can be playing within no time. Here’s a roundup of the five best golf courses on the Reykjanes peninsula.

Hólmsvöllur-Leira, Suðurnes

Hólmsvöllur-Leira golf course at Suðurnes is right on the peninsula’s north coast. You can reach it in under ten minutes from Keflavik Airport. This eighteen hole course boasts extraordinary views across Faxaflói Bay which is lovely, if distracting to players. That could be a problem once you reach the Hólmsvöllur-Leira course’s notoriously tricky third hole. Known as the Bergvik, you’ll need to hit your ball 200 metres over the sea and back onto the green – or watch it plop into the ocean. If you don’t think you’re quite up to the challenge, first hit a few balls on the Joel, Hólmsvöllur-Leira’s practice course.

Kirkjubólsvöllur

The course at Kirkjubólsvöllur is home to the Golfklúbbur Sandgerðis. You’ll find it at the far north western tip of the Reykjanes peninsula in Sandgerði. Sandgerði Golf Club was founded back in 1986. However, it would be another ten years before Kirkjubólsvöllur would be inaugurated as a nine hole course. The course is open through the winter as well as the warmer summer months and it’s that year-round surface which makes it a popular choice with visiting golfers.

Húsatóftavöllur, Grindavik

Golfklúbbur Grindavíkur, founded in 1981, is based on Reykjanes’ south coast, a short distance west of Grindavik. This eighteen hole, par 70 course was enlarged a decade or so ago. It enjoys a dramatic location overlooking the ocean – five holes enjoy sea views – and lava fields too, as it’s close to the tectonic plate boundary. Its windswept location can make playing a little tricky but this extra challenge is more than compensated for by the remarkable setting. A spacious modern pavilion means there’s always a warm welcome for visiting players.

Golfklúbbur Vatnsleysustrandar

At Golfklúbbur Vatnsleysustrandar, situated on the north coast of Reykjanes at Kálfatjarnarvöllur, well maintained fairways are surrounded by lava fields. Players enjoy incredible views out over the ocean and on the other side of the bay, to snow-capped mountains. This well located nine hole course is only a 20 minute drive from Keflavik Airport and also lies within easy reach of attractions such as the Blue Lagoon.

Visiting golfers will enjoy a warm welcome in Iceland, so why not add a round or two to your holiday itinerary?