Travel bucket list idea:
Uummannaq Island, Greenland, Denmark
You think you’ve played in chilly conditions? Now tee it up at on this small island in Greenland, 350 miles north of the Arctic Circle. Temperatures regularly drop to -45°C; there’s no fairways or bunkers to speak of, and the greens are called ‘whites’ because, yes, you’re playing on a frozen course of snow and ice – that shifts every year.
There are hazards to be avoided, including seal dens, crevasses and even polar bears; players here are given tips on how to spot the early signs of frostbite.
But people still come to play, including the competitors in the World Ice Golf Championships that take place here every year and are open to golfers with a handicap of 36 or better: do you have what it takes to compete over 36 holes? You’ll need a lot of faith – and a lot of fleece.
To get there, you’ll have to take a boat from the mainland. The course is next to the Hotel Uummannaq, which would be your base.
You can play any time of year – but you’d want to be a little bit crazy to show up in winter.
Round-ups that include this experience
Multiple countries
Golf expert, journalist and avid player Fionn Davenport rounds up fifteen of the most extraordinary and unusual golf courses in the world, to play once in your lifetime.
