76–100 Golf Courses

Lofoten Links is remarkable. It took 12 hours to get there but it was well worth it. 2 flights from Dublin plus a 3 hour drive. The drive was memorable. It reminded us both of driving across New Zealand with all the stunning scenery. Would we recommend making the effort to get there? Definitely. You’ll love it but don’t expect to play to your handicap.

Is Lofoten links the most unique quality golf course in the world? Quite possibly. The Arctic Circle begins at 66 degrees north and Lofoten Links is 68 degrees north. To put that in context, Lapland and Santa Claus are 67 degrees north. To think of investing money and putting a golf course here would seem crazy and a huge challenge. But that is what Tor Alfred Hov did on his father’s land. There are many great documentaries about the course on YouTube and are well worth checking out.

The course designer was Jeremy Turner and the course began as a 6 hole course in 1998 but in 2015 it became a full 18 holes. He deserves huge credit for what he achieved here. Jeremy unfortunately passed away in January 2026. The course condition deserves a pass. The fairways were very good with robot mowers in action all day. The greens and tees could have been better, that’s for sure, but you must remember where the course is located. This is not Florida. By all accounts they had a severe winter. Don’t forget the sun doesn’t rise for a fair portion of the winter months.

The course itself is quite the test. By the way, the scorecard we had on the day said yards but the course is definitely measured in metres. If you can go around Lofoten Links and not lose a ball then you deserve an award. I know I left a few golf balls in northern Norway. The first hole is interesting as it is 301 metres off the back tee and you have a decision to make. A driver or a mid-iron? It plays around the water and the rocks to the left. The 2nd hole is the most picturesque hole on the course. It only measures 138 metres but the green is set on a wee headland and the green is surrounded by more rocks and water. It’s beautiful.

You may start with two pars and think this is going to be a straightforward day on the scorecard but that may not last long. I played the next hole from the back tee and it was 230 yards to clear the water and reach the fairway. I just about managed that but the approach shot caught me out. It is a tight approach to a small green with much trouble short and left.

There are two par 5’s towards the end of the front nine and the 8th is a belter. It is double dogleg and a par is a great score if you can manage it. The thing about the rough here is that it is made up of rock, bog land, wasteland, heather, furze and long grass. In many parts, if you hit into the rough then there is no point in looking for your ball. Also, you must remember that because the course is far north there is usually a strong wind to contend with.

The 9th, 10th and 11th are fine par 4’s where you simply must be straight off the tee. They are all less than 400 yards from the amateur tees but they are not easy. The 12th is a stunning par 3 that played 201 metres for us. There are 2 bunkers guarding the front and the green itself has plenty of slopes to grab your attention. The 14th and 16th have water and rocks in play and they are two fine par 4’s.

The 18th looks tight off the tee but there is more room down the right than you think. If you can play to your handicap round here then you have done extremely well. Don’t judge this course until you have finished it as your first impressions may be misplaced. This is a great golf course and what the management team has achieved here is staggering. The clubhouse facilities are basic but that’s not the end of the world. My wife and I stayed in one of the Lodges on site for 2 nights and they were more than adequate. We loved our trip to Norway.