Golf Between the Lava and the Sea at Brautarholt

2026-03-28 - 14:22

This article is brought to you in partnership with Brautarholt Golf Club Just twenty minutes from downtown Reykjavík, golfers can find themselves standing on a tee box overlooking the Atlantic Ocean. At Brautarholt Golf Course, fairways run along volcanic cliffs and ancient lava fields, with sweeping views across Faxaflói Bay. Recently expanded to 18 holes, this championship course has, over the years, has become a popular destination for international golfers. The course sits on a dramatic stretch of coastline north of Iceland’s capital, where green fairways run alongside black volcanic rock and sheer ocean cliffs. The result is a round of golf that manages to feel both remote and elemental, despite being a short drive from some of the more popular urban hotels. A Wild Landscape Close to the City Photo: Brautarholt In many countries, reaching a course with scenery of this calibre would require hours upon hours of travel. Not so here. Within 30 minutes of leaving the city centre, players arrive at a landscape shaped by volcanic geology and the Atlantic Ocean. The contrast between manicured fairways and the dark lava rock surrounding them is one of the course’s defining visual features. Expect to take plenty of photographs in between swinging your driver... Standing on the opening tee, golfers look out across jagged cliffs and open sea, with seabirds circling overhead and waves breaking against the shoreline below. On clear days, the distant outline of Snæfellsjökull glacier can be seen across the bay, adding another iconic Icelandic landmark to the view. In total, the experience creates an immediate shift in atmosphere: the sounds of Reykjavík fade into the background, replaced by wind, water, and bird calls. The perfect soundtrack for you to focus, steady your grip, and play some of the best and most memorable golf of your life. A Course Designed by the Landscape Photo: Brautarholt Brautarholt’s layout is closely tied to the terrain it occupies. Rather than reshaping the land to fit a conventional course design, the routing follows the natural contours of the coastline and lava fields. Fairways curve between rocky outcrops, and greens appear to emerge naturally from the terrain. The cliffs themselves act as hazards, demanding careful play along several holes that run close to the ocean’s edge. In other words, it’s a design philosophy focused on minimal intervention. Instead of dramatically altering the environment, the course was shaped to work with the existing geology. The rugged character of the lava fields and the steep drop-offs toward the Atlantic remain central to the playing experience. For golfers, this creates a course that rewards strategy as much as power. Narrow landing areas, coastal winds, and unforgiving lava rock mean precision is often more important than distance. With all that said, you may well sacrifice a golf ball or two if you stray off course. A blend of rocky cliffsides and open ocean makes Brautarholt as challenging as it is picturesque. Ocean Views at Every Hole Photo: Brautarholt Throughout every round of golf at this course, the wide open sea remains a constant presence. Every hole offers views of the Atlantic, and the rhythm of the waves becomes part of the experience. Beyond that, the landscape encourages players to pause between shots, whether to watch seabirds nesting in the cliffs or to take in the wide coastal panorama. Wildlife sightings are common here. Arctic terns, eider ducks, and other seabirds are frequent neighbours on the course, particularly during the summer months. For many players, these details, small encounters with nature, are among the most memorable aspects of the visit. A quick look over reviews of Brautarholt online demonstrate that the first tee is often mentioned as a highlight. The opening drive, played out toward the cliffs and open water, sets the tone for the round ahead. Players who manage the rare feat of a hole-in-one also earn a small place in the course’s lore: Brautarholt celebrates the achievement by showcasing it on the club’s Facebook page. Golf Under the Midnight Sun Photo: Brautarholt One of the most distinctive experiences at Brautarholt takes place during Iceland’s long summer evenings. From late May through July, golfers can play well into the night under the Midnight Sun. Tee times late in the evening remain fully playable thanks to the lingering daylight, creating an atmosphere rarely experienced elsewhere in the world. For travellers exploring Reykjavík during the summer, an abundance of light offers unusual flexibility. For instance, a round can be scheduled after a full day of sightseeing, perhaps following visits to museums, restaurants, or the city’s harbour district. Instead of ending the evening indoors, players can find themselves teeing off as the sun hovers low over the Atlantic. Easy to Fit into a Reykjavík Visit Photo: Brautarholt As we’ve mentioned, accessibility is one of Brautarholt’s defining advantages for travellers. Because the course is located so close to the capital, it is possible to play nine or eighteen holes without dedicating an entire day to the activity. Many visitors combine a round with other experiences in Reykjavík or with excursions to nearby destinations. For those without a rental car, transport options make the visit straightforward. The course offers pick-up and drop-off services from Reykjavík, and taxis from most central hotels reach Brautarholt in around thirty minutes. Equipment is also easily arranged. Travellers who prefer not to fly with their golf clubs can rent premium sets on site, removing the need for additional baggage or logistics. The result is a golf experience that integrates easily into a broader Iceland itinerary. A Destination for Locals and Travellers Brautarholt attracts both Icelandic golfers and international visitors, though their experiences can differ slightly. Local members and regular players often approach the course with a competitive mindset, navigating its strategic challenges and adapting to Iceland’s famously changeable weather. Visitors, by contrast, tend to experience the course more visually. For many, a round at Brautarholt is a long-planned highlight of an Iceland trip. The dramatic setting encourages a slower pace. Cameras appear frequently, particularly along the cliffside holes where the Atlantic stretches uninterrupted to the horizon. In recent years, the course has also become one of the most visited golf destinations in Iceland for international travellers, contributing to the country’s growing reputation within golf tourism. A Course for All Levels Photo: Brautarholt The layout appeals to a wide range of players. Experienced golfers often appreciate the technical aspects of the course: shaping shots through coastal winds, judging distances against ocean backdrops, and weighing risk-reward decisions along cliffside holes. Beginners, meanwhile, tend to enjoy the round in a different way. Scores can be unpredictable when lava fields and sea cliffs are nearby, but the overall experience remains memorable regardless of the result. For many first-time visitors, the walk itself—accompanied by sea air and expansive views—becomes the highlight. A New Chapter: The Full 18-Hole Course Photo: Brautarholt Brautarholt recently completed a significant milestone with the opening of six new holes, transforming the course into a full 18-hole championship layout. This expansion marks an important step in the course’s development and strengthens its position within Iceland’s golf landscape. The focus now is on allowing the new holes to mature while ensuring the entire course maintains a consistent standard. Planned improvements to some of the original holes will gradually refine the layout over the coming years. At the same time, the clubhouse is undergoing expansion ahead of the new season beginning in May. The larger space will allow for additional services and improved amenities for both members and visiting players. Golf in an Icelandic Landscape Photo: Brautarholt In a country already famous for its dramatic scenery, Brautarholt offers a way to experience that landscape from a different perspective. Rather than viewing cliffs and volcanic formations from a roadside viewpoint, players move through the terrain step by step, hole by hole. The course invites visitors to engage with Iceland’s natural environment while enjoying a sport traditionally associated with more conventional settings. It is this contrast between the structured rhythm of golf and the raw coastal surroundings that defines Brautarholt. And so, for seasoned golfers, it offers something increasingly rare: a course where the setting is as memorable as the game itself. Book your round today. Photo: Brautarholt