Heimaey Island,
902 Vestmannaeyjar, Southern Region
The Course:
18 holes.
Designer:
Icelandic course architect Hannes Thorsteinsson extended the course to an 18-hole layout (1994).
63.436623
-20.297684
On Heimaey Island; reached by ferry from Landeyjahöfn to Vestmannaeyjar; then 1.5 km SW of ferry terminal.
You can fly from Reykjavík airport, about 20 minutes flight. Alternatively you can drive or take a bus to Landeyjahöfn, then the ferry onto Heimaey Island (about 30 minutes).
Vestmannaeyar
The Vestmannaeyar Golf Club (Golfklubbur Vestmannaeyja): Founded in 1938 by 36 keen amateur golfers, Vestmanneyjar is the third oldest golf course in Iceland, behind Reykjavik GC (1934) and Akureyri (1935). The Western Islands Golf Club (to anglicise its name), is located on Heimaey, one of the Vestman Islands off the south coast of Iceland. The course stunningly plays into the bowl of a now extinct volcano; at other times it simply hugs the rocky shoreline of the Atlantic Ocean!
Teeing off against volcanic backdrops, into changing wind directions, and playing alongside and over the sea are all features of a round at Vestmannaeyar. Not content with having some of the best scenery in golf, the layout also boasts some of the best greens in the country.
The course features an intriguing mix of sharp and gentle contours, mirroring the undisturbed natural volcanic landscape. When the club expanded the course to eighteen holes in the early 1990s, it did so by reaching out along the dramatic cliff-top shoreline. Here the "tiger-line" often involves playing over the crashing waves of the North Atlantic. So if you like a little golf with your scenery, look no further!
Visitors welcome on weekdays and weekends during the golf season (generally late-May thru early-Sept).
Must book in advance. Tee-times available until 10pm, and midnight golf in June/July on request.
Credit cards accepted. Contact club for full details, discounts, packages, etc. [Last updated: 2020].
When the Eldfell volcano on Heimaey island unexpectedly blew in 1973, it buried the then nine-hole golf course under a thick coat of ash. Resolute members embarked on a tough four year program of clearing the ash, and re-establishing turf. Most of this work was carried out by manual labour. Not content with "recovering" their beloved course, the members then decided to extend it to a full 18, which opened for play in 1994.
Vestmannaeyar is home to the Volcano Open Golf Championship, an interesting and enjoyable golf event that attracts golfers from various parts of the world. The course has also hosted the Icelandic National Championship on several occasions.
Iceland: 3rd best course in Iceland (Golf Digest, 2022).
Ryder Cup: Rome plays host to the first ever Ryder Cup to be staged in Italy, with the USA defending golf’s greatest team trophy at Marco Simone Golf & Country Club (Sept 29-Oct 1).
Solheim Cup: also in September, also in southern Europe, the 18th Solheim Cup will be contested at Finca Cortesin on the Costa del Sol, with Europe defending after their surprise win in Toledo, Inverness Club (Ohio) in 2021 (Sept 22-24).
To secure the best rates and ensure availability, it's recommended to book your rental car in advance, especially during peak golfing season.
Car Rental in Belgium, Europe & Worldwide – Avis
Céline Boutier: with many successes as both an amateur and professional golfer, Boutier added a major championship title to her impressive résumé at this year’s Evian Championship.
Alex Cejka: buffeted by rain and high winds, especially on the high-scoring final day, Čejka prevailed over Pádraig Harrington in a playoff at Royal Porthcawl, to scoop the Senior Open Championship title.
Marco Simone Golf & Country Club: With a clubhouse that might befit a Roman Emperor, and a golf course to match, you can be sure of a memorable outing at Rome's most talked about golf facility.
Jim Fazio's original layout was much changed to create a modern Ryder Cup course ... now one of the Eternal City's (and Italy's) most revered.
You can subscribe to the Where2Golf channel on YT if you like to see more video content. You'll find a "Subscribe" button on any of our YouTube videos. Or if you want a quick and direct access subscribe here. Once done, any new published videos will show up in your Subscriptions feed.
