Narvik Golfklubb has an 18-Hole championship course in the arctic city of Narvik in the north of Norway. The arctic conditions produce a stunning golf experience in the Skjomen valley next to the dark blue glacier “Frostisen”.
The course is hard to find without a GPS assistance, as you go deeper and deeper into the beautiful Skjomen valley along its steep mountains that follow the fjord all the way to salmon river “Skjoma” and the course itself.
The woodland course plays a tough par 72, although not being particularly long with its 5884 meters from the yellow tee. The relatively low traffic on this hidden gem works to your advantage as you feel completely alone between the dominating mountains and in the midnight sun. From mid-June to mid-August you can play around the clock, as the midnight sun shines on the highest holes of the course between the massive mountains of the valley.
The 6th is a par four dogleg left and a decent tee shot will leave a medium approach to an inviting, albeit well bunkered, green. But don’t be short as there is another pond hidden just in front of the green, which is perhaps the reason why this short par four is stroke index 1. The 370-meter 7th is a devious hole as well, with three large cross-bunkers guarding a slightly elevated landing area. You need to be long enough from the tee, or you may need to play this hole as a three-shotter, as the green is tricky to find and particularly well bunkered.
11th, a difficult hole
Enjoy the tranquility of the pine forest as you play your way through a sequence of fine holes before facing the challenge of the 11th, a par four at 370 meters that doglegs sharp left. Again this is a hole for the precise hitter, as the slightly uphill teeshot needs to land at 190 meters to avoid firs and moss. You’ll then have to face a long approach of 170 meters to a very difficult green.
Fine hole after fine hole you’ll eventually reach the 18th, and what a cracking closing hole it is. Measuring 360 meters, this par four doglegs slightly to the right and at 200 meters there is a long fairway bunker on the outside sweep of the dogleg. We’re not sure whether the architect intended this to be a penal or a functional bunker. Mr Sederholm perhaps considered it to be a “pity” bunker and placed it there to prevent the greedy player from plonking the ball into the pond guarding the green. However, even with a perfectly positioned tee shot, the approach is still a challenge as the green is severely tiered and you’ll need to find the right plateau to avoid the prospect of a nasty closing three putt.
In conclusion, Narvik Golfklubb is one of the finest and challenging golf course in Norway.
