Just some photos of Lofoten Links

[Tommy Williamsen]

These are just photos taken at the course. I didn't take any. My wife and daughter took them, so they are just pictures from the course, not about hole design. It gives a feel for the setting. If you are looking for a course tour these shots will be unsatisfying.



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[Tommy Williamsen]

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[Tommy Williamsen]

   My best shot of the day was here. Had a tap in birdie.



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[Tommy Williamsen]

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[Tommy Williamsen]

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[Tommy Williamsen]

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We finished about 9:30.


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[Peter Flory]

It's hard to believe this course exists.  It is good to see real photos of it. 

[Charlie Goerges]

Very spectacular surroundings. Looks great to me!

[Peter Sayegh]

Tommy,
Please continue to enjoy golf courses with your wife and daughter...on the condition you all share photos like these.
Thank you to the Williamsens.

[Tommy Williamsen]

The golf course is on the 68th parallel within the arctic circle.


The water is COLD. This beach is a 1/4 mile from the course.


But these skinny girls didn't mind the cold.
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[Paul Rudovsky]

Tommy--


Thanks for the memories.  I was there 6/25-26/2023 and played it 2x. I would guess these pics of yours were not taken this past week...the place must be covered w snow by now.  When were you there?


It is really a spectacular site and IMO only the Tara Iti/Te Arai area on New Zealand's North Island is clearly more spectacular.  In fact I thought there were real similarities between these two sites (probably separated by about 12,000 miles)...such as off shore rocky islands.  I also think building this was a real accomplishment...BUT, I do not think it belongs on a World 100.  The fairways are somewhat narrow and the first cut lining both sides of the fairways tends to be about 5-7 yds wide.  Beyond that is thick weed and bush growth that literally swallows any ball reaching beyond the first cut.  No chance to find anything hit there. Many of us heavily criticize courses such as  Doral-Blue Monster (correctly IMO) because so many holes are lined with water ofter on both sides.  Hell...if Lofoten replaced this growth with water it would be much easier...one stroke instead of stroke & distance penalty!


My sense was that Lofoten could be modified to correct this but it would take some heavy $$...this is not an easily accessible site to put it mildly.  But it does have the potential to be both spectacular and and outstanding course architecturally.

[Tommy Williamsen]

Holy smokes, Paul. I played June 27, 2023. Then you know how spectacular the weather was that week.

What was I thinking. I was there June 27, 2021.

After the first couple of holes, I began hitting a hybrid so I could stay in the fairway. I reluctantly agree that it is not a top 100 course in the world. It is very narrow in spots and the greens are not as interesting as they could be. I did birdie number two.


Daryl Boe was there in 2022 and has pictures of every hole. May we can post some of them.

[Paul Rudovsky]

very small world. 

[Charlie Goerges]

If the off-fairway areas are that level of unplayable and water would be preferable, can't there be a local rule to play those areas as a lateral hazard? If your ball goes in, take a stroke, drop, and move on? Plus, I have no idea if it's some kind of sensitive tundra or something like that.

[Adam Lawrence]

As I said in the other thread, _by far_ the most spectacular place I have ever gone to play golf.

[Tony_Muldoon]

Holy smokes, Paul. I played June 27, 2023. Then you know how spectacular the weather was that week.


After the first couple of holes, I began hitting a hybrid so I could stay in the fairway. I reluctantly agree that it is not a top 100 course in the world. It is very narrow in spots and the greens are not as interesting as they could be. I did birdie number two.

When even the Editor of the Golf Architecture Magazine is touting this for its spectacular location, it's good to be reminded this place was once where you came for some critical thought about what's really important. Yes location can add value, but everywhere we get social media that favours lovely pictures that don't tell you much about golf. There's more need than ever for critical debate.

Thank you both.

[Daryl "Turboe" Boe]

I have a pretty good amount of photos from my 7/2019 visit, unfortunately I apparently have more apathy, procrastination genes, and lack of knowledge of how to post pictures!  All of which have  combined to keep me from doing what I wanted to do on here which was do a hole by hole report. 


Maybe admitting this in public will be the motivation I need to make me finally do it.


Some well natured chiding will probably help...

[Niall C]

Consider yourself chided

[Charles Lund]

Thanks for posting the photos.


Two of my grandparents came from Bodo, a small city that is long ferry ride from the outer stretches of the Lofoten Islands.  I'm flying to Helsinki in late May on a mileage redemption with a couple of weeks to fill in, so the Finnair route to Tromso allows an extended road trip up in the north of Norway, which will include a multi-night stay at the Lodge at Lofoten Links, some golf, and trekking.


Charles Lund 

[Adam Lawrence]

Charles — just fyi there is a golf course in Bodo, designed by Robin Hiseman of this parish. I haven’t seen it, though I would like to.

[Tommy Williamsen]

Thanks for posting the photos.


Two of my grandparents came from Bodo, a small city that is long ferry ride from the outer stretches of the Lofoten Islands.  I'm flying to Helsinki in late May on a mileage redemption with a couple of weeks to fill in, so the Finnair route to Tromso allows an extended road trip up in the north of Norway, which will include a multi-night stay at the Lodge at Lofoten Links, some golf, and trekking.


Charles Lund

We flew from Oslo to Bodo to change planes, but SAS went on strike when we got there, and our flight was canceled, so we took the Hurtigruten to Svolvaer that evening and no one was sorry. It is a stunning ride. We were in Svolvaer for a week and were sad when we had to leave. We then took the Hurtigruten boat to Bergen. I'd recommend it. It was great.

[Charles Lund]

I'm posting a few comments about the circumstances of my trip next May and June and some logistical details.  Hope this helps with someone considering travel to Lofoten Links.  I wasn't considering it until  found I could get a decent mileage redemption from Helsinki to Tromso and a rental car that was comparable in price or lower than what is often available here in the U.S.

I opted to get a Hertz rental car at Tromso Airport and return it there due to the costly upcharge for one way rentals.  The rental car was under $800 USD for 11 days.  I fly in on May 30th and fly out on June 9th.  I'll have three nights in Helsinki on arrival and on my return I got another rental car and found a stay and play at Kytaja, which has two 18 hole courses, among Finland's best.  Linna is also in the area but they may have a European Women's Tour event at the time I would want to play golf.  I have five potential days for golf.  Thomas McBroom, the Canadian designer, did work on Kytaja. 


I'm familiar with the Bergen area and have a relative in that area that I haven't met.  I started out with plane tickets paid for with miles wanting to see Helsinki.  The best redemptions in terms of comfort were three weeks apart.  I've traveled and played golf quite a bit all over the world and once played outside of Oslo. I've played golf on two trips to Sweden.  I was looking at transportation options and just happened to find that Finnair has quite a few flights with various Norway options.  The pieces seemed to fit together.  The Lofoten Islands has become a popular destination for walkers and there are pricey walking tours.  It's hard to figure out the lodging situation, being sparsely populated.  I looked on the website and saw the Lofoten Links Lodge with stay and play packages for various lengths of stay and number of rounds of golf.  With 24 hours of daylight in early June, there are a lot of options for how to spend time.  The Lodge was fine with the option of five nights lodging with three rounds of golf and offered club rental. Having discovered the availability of stay and play at Kytaja, bringing my own clubs seems realistic.  I looked up the course at Bodo and the web site showed photos that made it look like and appealing place to play., so I appreciated the comment from Adam Lawrence.  I was planning on taking the ferry to Bodo on the day I leave Lofoten Links and spend a night in Bodo.  Narvik is about halfway between Tromso and Lofoten Links and halfway between Bodo and Tromso so I will stay there twice.  I'll spend my last two nights in Tromso and have some relatives in that area.  Tromso has the northernmost university in the world.


I was in Stockholm about a year ago and played Visby Golfklubb and The Stadium and Castle Course at Bro Hof Slott.  Arlands is a Finland course that is more readily accessible from Stockholm and not workable with my time schedule on this trip.


I haven't posted much here for the past year or two, but saw Tommy's photos and thought I would share a bit about how I came to making the plans after I had plane tickets and was looking for how to fill up the time.  Viktor Hovland recently drove 24 hours from Oslo to play Lofoten Links and set the new course record.  His ascension high into the World Rankings will probably help golf in Norway. 


Charles Lund