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LPGA Golf in Iceland? Olafia Kristinsdottir asked, ‘why not’?

By Elizabeth Bethel

REYKJAVIK, ICELAND - APRIL 07: Mountains appear in the distance of the landscape surrounding the geothermal waters at the Blue Lagoon close to the Icelandic capital of Reykjavik is seen on April 7, 2014 in Reykjavik, Iceland. Since the financial meltdown of 2008 which saw the Icelandic economy come close to collapse the island has been slowly recovering and unemployment levels are beginning to return to normal. (Photo by Matt Cardy/Getty Images)
REYKJAVIK, ICELAND - APRIL 07: Mountains appear in the distance of the landscape surrounding the geothermal waters at the Blue Lagoon close to the Icelandic capital of Reykjavik is seen on April 7, 2014 in Reykjavik, Iceland. Since the financial meltdown of 2008 which saw the Icelandic economy come close to collapse the island has been slowly recovering and unemployment levels are beginning to return to normal. (Photo by Matt Cardy/Getty Images) /
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If Tour rookie Olafia Kristensdottir has anything to say about it, LPGA golf could be heading to Iceland for a summer event.

An LPGA golf tournament in Iceland? It’s probably not the first destination you’d pick for a golf vacation, let along a pro golf tournament, but that could be changing.

In the interregnum between the Ricoh Women’s British Open and the Solheim Cup, LPGA rookie Olafia Kristinsdottir, the first Icelander to play on the LPGA, and KPMG put together a children’s hospital charity golf tournament in the Land of Fire and Ice.

It was a first for Iceland and probably a first for LPGA players Sandra Gal, Vicky Hurst, Tiffany Joh, and Gabby Lopez as well. They all signed on. In addition to playing some golf and raising some money for the children’s hospital, judging by the social media postings they all had a terrific time.

So rethink that golf trip. There are 65 golf courses in Iceland – more per capita than any other country in the world. During the summer months you can actually play golf 24 hours a day. In fact, any number of Iceland’s golf courses stay open around the clock during the summer months!

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You can play some golf in fairly spectacular venues. Consider rolling your putts on greens surrounded by lava fields with majestic mountains in the distance and the sea crashing below.

Book an 11pm tee time and let the wee hours of the morning slide by easily and gently. Take a soak at the end of your round in one of the endless thermal pools Icelanders enjoy, have a nice breakfast,  and indulge yourself with a morning nap. You can be back on the links for another round by mid-afternoon.

Although you’ll need to compute air fare and lodging into your expenses, golf in Iceland is competitively priced. For example, at Keilir, a 9-hole seaside links course outside Reykjavik, greens fees are €84, cart rental €42, and club rental €38. That works to less than $200 US, in range with premium courses in the United States and Scotland.

Next: Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail

As LPGA Commissioner Mike Whan continues his quest to take women’s pro golf to every corner of the planet, I hope he takes a long look at Iceland. I’ll get in line to volunteer for that tournament, and then stay a while for some golf of my own.

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