Heimaey Island,
902 Vestmannaeyjar, Southern Region
The Course:
18 holes. Open links-style.
Surroundings:
Volcanic hills and rocky shoreline.
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).
Westman Islands
Westman Islands Golf Club (Golfklubbur Vestmannaeyjar): 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 Westman Islands Golf Club (to use its anglicised name), is located on Heimaey, one of the Westman Islands off the south coast of Iceland.
The course features an intriguing mix of sharp and gentle contours, mirroring the undisturbed natural volcanic landscape. At times you play into the spectacular bowl of a now extinct volcano; at other times the layout 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.
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.
Contact club for full details, discounts, packages, etc. [Last updated: 2026].
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's 3rd best course (Golf Digest, 2022).
Continental Europe's 116th best course (Golf World, 2025).
Presidents Cup: Geoff Ogilvy’s International Team take on Brandt Snedeker’s USA Team at the revered Medinah Country Club, near Chicago. The Internationals are trying to halt a run of 11 consecutive American wins. (Sept 24-27).
French Open: Continental Europe’s oldest national championship, dating from 1906, is once again staged on the Albatros Course at Le Golf National, near Paris. Defending champion is America’s Michael Kim. (Sept 24-27).
Our visit last month included two rounds at Golf de Chantilly, one of France’s most prestigious clubs.
It offers two superb layouts: Le Vineuil, a five-star championship course with a rich history, and Longères, an excellent four-star course that provides a strong and enjoyable test.
The wider Paris region offers plenty more. Courses such as Fontainebleau, Golf de Saint-Germain, and several other top-rated layouts make this area one of Europe’s most rewarding golf destinations, offering a mix of woodland, heathland, and parkland designs.
The Dutch: "It's no' just a game", as they say in Scotland, and that's certainly true at The Dutch. With 5-star services throughout, a lavishly comfortable Loch Lomond-inspired clubhouse, and a superbly designed and presented golf course, one could not ask for more from this top-end private club.
Join us at The Dutch from August 21–24 for the Festival of Golf, featuring the HotelPlanner Tour. Experience four days of top-tier sport, live music, incredible food, and unexpected surprises. Explore the grounds, connect with others, embrace new challenges, and dive into an unforgettable celebration. Click here to buy tickets.
Here at Prince’s Golf Club you'll find 27 excellent holes of links golf. Just over the fence and sharing similar terrain is Royal St George’s; but Prince’s is far from overshadowed by its venerable neighbour. The three nine-hole loops at Prince's, laid out over gently undulating terrain, are sure to bring a smile of satisfaction to all lovers of links golf.
Stay&Play at Prince's: excellent onsite Lodge accommodation available
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