To my great relief, my golf partner was as ready as I was, whatever the weather. "Let's book it!" he said firmly, and with that all doubt was gone. The date was set, and expectations were at their peak. The experience that awaited turned out to be even better than I could have hoped for.
The drive there
Not everyone visiting us that weekend was equally keen on Lofoten Links, but we still got the logistics sorted — thanks to the two early birds who set off with us so early that morning. The drive from the cabin in Sørvågen to Lofoten Links takes under two hours, and the route itself is an experience: past rows of the small red fishing cabins typical of Lofoten, some of the whitest beaches around, and several small communities in western Lofoten. As the course gets closer, the landscape alternates between steep mountainsides and open, rolling ground. Where the course itself sits, the terrain flattens out, though the peaks are still clearly visible all around.
We didn't want any stops that day — we wanted plenty of time before tee-off, and simply taking in the changing scenery was a great way to start the day. The route follows the main road from the cabin towards Leknes, then on towards Henningsvær and Svolvær. Not far before the turn-off to Henningsvær, the signs for Lofoten Links appear, and just a few minutes after leaving the main road you're in the car park outside the clubhouse. Tip: anyone not playing golf can spend the day in charming Henningsvær — a great combination. Another option is the hike up Hoven (367 m), which starts from the driving range and is easily done before the rest of the group finishes their round.
Competition rules and golf bags
After swapping videos that ramped up both our excitement and our fear of the challenges ahead, my golf partner and I agreed on the day's competition: the winner would be whoever lost the fewest balls. The course is narrow in places and throws in plenty of hazards — sea, beaches, rocks, water — so the rule felt fitting.
The clubhouse facilities are simple but cover the essentials. Drinks and snacks are available, though it's worth planning ahead with something to eat. We hadn't had breakfast and our bags weren't stocked with food, so the warm panini we got after the round tasted better than usual. The pro shop is well stocked with golf clothing, balls and other gear — several items carry the Lofoten Links logo, a nice souvenir to bring home.
We picked up the golf bags we'd pre-booked, and the equipment turned out to be excellent. With a fresh supply of balls and a warm hat for my golf partner — whose home course is otherwise in Northern Cyprus — we were ready to warm up on the driving range. The shots were, as always, a mixed bag, but we were confident it would be a great round. There's something extra satisfying about setting aside a whole day just to enjoy golf in spectacular surroundings and good company.
Tee off
The first hole has a blind tee shot, and it wasn't hard to feel the tension in our shoulders — but it was so much fun to finally be underway. By the second hole we were ready for one of the course's two signature holes: hole 2 has been ranked among the 20 most beautiful holes in Europe, and hole 14 makes the list of the world's 100 most beautiful. No wonder so many golfers have this course on their bucket list.
On hole 2 the tee sits well above the green. From tee 55 it's only 134 metres, so length isn't the challenge — almost anything but hitting the green is out of bounds, or on this hole: sea, beach or mountain (and then the sea). We both avoided trouble, and my partner carded his first par of the day.
The course was wonderfully varied and in excellent shape — the fine summer of 2023 had clearly helped, and some autumn rain had softened it up, making it even more enjoyable to play. Lush, well-groomed fairways wind around shoreline rocks and heather, as long as the ball stays in play. The course sits on both sides of the road up to the clubhouse and has two distinct characters: eleven holes run along the sea, where a slice is often the same as a lost ball — and these holes are also the most exposed when the weather turns rough.
The seven holes furthest from the sea are no less demanding: ponds and streams provide the hazards, and these holes felt tighter, with bigger elevation changes. The shifting backdrop of sea, peaks, plains and hills behind every hole is spectacular and adds an extra dimension to the round. We played from tee 55, and found several tee shots demanded a really solid carry — a challenge given my own limited distance, though the holes where the drive or approach came off perfectly made the day especially memorable.
The trail up Hoven starts from the same spot as the driving range, and on hole 10 we ran into hikers who'd neither found the right path nor shown much golf etiquette. My partner was standing ready with the driver when he heard footsteps behind him, and rightly held off his swing so as not to lose concentration. The hikers didn't seem to register they were in the wrong place and simply carried on down the fairway, thanking us for our patience as they passed, before finally realising their mistake after about a hundred metres and veering off to the right. A little disruptive, and not the ideal way to prepare for a tee shot.
The greens are large and quite undulating, so where you leave your approach shot matters a great deal. Viktor Hovland, who holds the course record of 63, has clearly shown how to read them — I only managed a handful of approaches good enough for one or two putts. But the same 'unfamiliar equipment' I'd like to blame also helped me chip one straight into the cup.
We happily admit we finished well behind the course record of 68 — but what a round! On a course so exposed to the weather, we were lucky. Right off hole 2 comes 'Greenland', and I can only imagine how tough that hole gets when the wind is really blowing into the green. The wind left us alone that day; we got sun, a rainbow and lovely autumn weather, with just a thin rain jacket needed on a few holes. As always in Lofoten, the weather can turn quickly, so something warm and a wind- and rain-proof layer in the bag is always a good idea.
Who lost the fewest golf balls?
Tallying up after the round, we actually had more balls left than we started with — meaning we'd strayed off the fairway more than once, though we felt we'd handled the course reasonably well. My partner used far fewer strokes and was clearly the day's winner. But what a fantastic golfing experience — we both had some great drives and well-placed approaches, and topped off with a chip-in for a laugh, I was thoroughly pleased with the day.
Booking equipment and green fees
Golfers with a Norwegian membership can simply book a round through Golfbox, or call the booking line on +47 76 07 20 02. Prices for equipment rental and green fees vary a little by season, but Lofoten Links offers good rates for booking three rounds — worth knowing if you're staying in Lofoten a while. Visit between late May and mid-July and you can play a round under the midnight sun, with golf possible around the clock.
The combination of Lofoten's spectacular nature, high-quality fairways and greens, and a well-designed, challenging layout makes a round at Lofoten Links something truly out of the ordinary — well worth experiencing. And afterwards, it's just a short drive back to the cabin for a relaxing evening with a sea view in the most magical of surroundings.