Golf in Northern Norway – Midnight Sun & Arctic Golf

Why Play Golf Above the Arctic Circle?

Imagine teeing off at 11 pm in full daylight, finishing your round after midnight, and the sun still hanging above the horizon. That is not a fantasy — it is a normal Tuesday evening in Northern Norway during summer.

Northern Norway sits above the Arctic Circle, a region of dramatic fjords, snow-capped mountains, glaciers and white sand beaches. It is also home to 18 golf courses, and two of them rank among Norway's 10 best — Bodø Golfpark at number 7 and the world-famous Lofoten Links at number 10.

From late May to mid-July, the midnight sun turns this into the only place on Earth where you can play a full round of golf in broad daylight at any hour of the day or night. Then in September and October, the northern lights return — and you can combine a round of golf with watching the aurora dance across the Arctic sky.

The courses are not novelty attractions propped up by latitude. They are genuinely excellent — links courses with Viking burial mounds, parkland courses with glacier views, championship tracks where every hole is a dogleg through birch forest. The scenery does the rest.

Tromsø Golf Club — The World's Most Northerly 18-Hole Course

At 69°39' north — roughly the same latitude as the northern tip of Alaska — sits the world's most northerly 18-hole golf course. Tromsø Golf Club is located at the foot of the Lyngen Alps, about 45 minutes from Tromsø city centre. The club was founded in 1996 and opened its 18-hole course in 2002, designed by Swedish architect Jan Sederholm. There is also a 9-hole par-3 course, bringing the total to 27 holes.

The course has been featured by CNN and other international media, and it is easy to see why. A 5,800-metre par 71 parkland course framed by the Lyngen Alps, where you can tee off well past midnight under the Arctic sun — that is a story that writes itself.

With over 550 members, the club punches well above its weight for a course this far north. The season runs from May to October, and during the brightest weeks you can play until 2 am in full daylight.

Facilities and Green Fees

The club has a driving range, putting green, chipping area and practice bunker. The clubhouse has a pro shop and café. There is also an indoor centre with TrackMan simulators (expanding to five in 2026). Motorhome parking with electricity is available on site.

For the world's most northerly 18-hole course, NOK 500 (around €45) on a weekday is remarkable value. By comparison, similar-quality courses in Scotland or Ireland would charge two to three times as much.

Bodø Golfpark — Northern Norway's Highest-Ranked Course

Just minutes from Bodø Airport and the city centre, Bodø Golfpark is an 18-hole course that combines coastal links golf with woodland sections. Established in 1992 (originally Salten Golfklubb), it is ranked number 7 among Norway's best golf courses — the highest-ranked course in all of Northern Norway.

The front nine wind through old cultural landscape along the shoreline. Ancient Viking burial mounds and a historic boat landing are literally in play. The views across the sea to the island of Landegode and the dramatic Lofoten Wall — the mountain ridge of the Lofoten Islands visible on the horizon — are breathtaking. The back nine shift into the forest: tighter, more technical, and with a stillness that contrasts sharply with the windswept coast.

This dual character — links and woodland in one round — is what sets Bodø Golfpark apart. With 4.7 stars from 70 Google reviews, players clearly agree.

Green Fees and Practicalities

Green fee is NOK 650 (approx. €58) for 18 holes, any day of the week. Juniors pay NOK 325. Club set hire with trolley is NOK 220. Facilities include driving range, putting green, pro shop, café and changing rooms.

Lofoten Links — World Top-100 Arctic Links Golf

Lofoten Links needs little introduction to the international golf community. Located on Gimsøya in the Lofoten Islands at 68° north, it is a true links course — sand dunes, white beaches, Viking burial mounds and the Norwegian Sea pressing in from all sides. It is ranked among the world's 100 best golf courses and draws players from across the globe.

With 4.6 stars from 279 Google reviews and green fees of NOK 2,000–3,000 (€180–270), this is not a casual round of golf. It is a bucket-list experience. Players travel from the US, UK, Germany and beyond specifically for this course, and most leave saying it was worth every penny.

We have a dedicated in-depth guide: Read our complete guide to Lofoten Links — best holes, green fees, midnight sun golf and travel tips.

More Golf Courses in Northern Norway

Beyond the big three, Northern Norway has 15 additional courses. Here is an overview by region.

Troms

Harstad Golf Club — 9-hole course (par 68 for 18) in Harstad, a coastal town midway between Tromsø and Narvik.

Midt-Troms Golf Club — 9-hole course (par 72 for 18) with 4.2 stars on Google. Situated between Tromsø and Narvik.

Nordland

Narvik Golf Club is a challenging 18-hole championship course in the Skjomen valley, 35 minutes from Narvik town. Designed by Jan Sederholm (the same architect as Tromsø Golf Club), the course stretches 5,884 metres with a slope of 141. Nearly every hole is a dogleg through birch forest, making accuracy far more important than power. The views of the deep blue Frostisen glacier are spectacular, and the salmon-rich Skjoma river runs alongside the course. Green fee: NOK 500 (€45).

Bleik Golfstrømbane on Andøya in the Vesterålen Islands is a 9-hole gem with 4.7 stars on Google. The course sits in a dramatic coastal landscape facing the open Norwegian Sea, with views towards the Bleiksøya bird island.

Other courses in Nordland:

• Polarsirkelen Golf Club — 9 holes (par 72 for 18) in Mo i Rana, right by the Arctic Circle marker. 4.6 stars.
• Bodø Golf Club — 9-hole short course (par 27) in Bodø. 4.6 stars. Great for a quick round.
• Helgeland Golf Club — 9 holes in the Mo i Rana area.
• Vesterålen Golf Club — 6-hole course in the Vesterålen Islands.
• Alsten Golf Club — 6-hole course on the Helgeland coast.
• Sleneset Golf Club — 6-hole course on the Helgeland coast.

Finnmark — Europe's Arctic Frontier

Alta Golf Club is a 9-hole course with four different tees per hole, giving 18 unique tee positions over two rounds. It is part of Alta Golf Park, which also features disc golf, footgolf and mini golf — all free for children and students. The course is open 24 hours a day during the midnight sun period. Green fee: NOK 420 (€38).

Other courses in Finnmark:

• Hammerfest og Kvalsund Golf Club — 6-hole course in Hammerfest, one of the world's northernmost towns. 4.4 stars. Golf at 70° north.
• North Cape Golf Club — 9 holes (par 72 for 18) near the iconic North Cape. Among the most northerly golf courses on the planet.
• Varanger Golf Club — 9 holes (par 70 for 18) in eastern Finnmark, near the Russian border. 4.2 stars.
• Karasjok Golf Club — 9 holes in the heartland of Sámi culture. Note: the club has faced challenges with course rights in recent years.

Midnight Sun Golf — When and Where?

The midnight sun is the defining experience of golf in Northern Norway. North of the Arctic Circle, the sun stays above the horizon 24 hours a day in summer — not twilight or "white nights", but actual daylight where you can read a book (or line up a putt) at 2 am.

The further north you go, the longer the midnight sun lasts:

| Location | Midnight sun period | Days | | ----------------- | ------------------------ | ---- | | North Cape (71°N) | approx. 14 May – 29 July | ~76 | | Hammerfest (70°N) | approx. 16 May – 27 July | ~72 | | Alta (69°N) | approx. 18 May – 24 July | ~67 | | Tromsø (69°N) | approx. 20 May – 22 July | ~63 | | Narvik (68°N) | approx. 27 May – 15 July | ~49 | | Lofoten (68°N) | approx. 28 May – 14 July | ~47 | | Bodø (67°N) | approx. 2 June – 10 July | ~38 |

Even outside these exact dates, the nights remain extremely light. In practice, you can play until midnight or later from mid-May through late July across all of Northern Norway.

Tips for Midnight Sun Golf

• Bring sunglasses. The low Arctic sun dazzles, especially between 10 pm and 2 am. A cap with a brim helps too.
• Book midnight tee times. Lofoten Links offers dedicated midnight rates (19:15–02:00). Tromsø Golf Club stays open past midnight in peak season.
• Expect dew. After midnight, dew settles on the fairways. Balls roll slower and the grass feels different. Bring a towel.
• You will not want to stop. The constant daylight makes it hard to call it quits. Many players end up doing 36 holes in a single stretch — because why not, when the sun never sets?

Season and Best Time to Visit

The golf season in Northern Norway runs roughly May to October — shorter than southern Norway, but longer than most visitors expect.

| Month | Conditions | Notes | | --------- | ------------------------ | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | May | Season opening | Most courses open. Occasional snow early in the month. Long daylight. | | June | Midnight sun | The ultimate month. 24-hour daylight, courses in full swing. | | July | Peak season | Warmest weather. Midnight sun through mid-month. Most visitors. | | August | Still excellent | Nights start getting darker but remain very light. Good weather persists. | | September | Autumn + northern lights | Fewer visitors, lower prices. Aurora season begins — golf + northern lights is a unique combination. | | October | Season's end | Most courses close mid-month. Cool but playable. Dramatic autumn colours. |

For midnight sun golf: Visit in June or the first half of July.

For northern lights + golf: Late September or early October. The courses are still open and the aurora can appear overhead in the evening.

Best all-round experience: The last week of June. Peak midnight sun, summer temperatures, courses in prime condition, and slightly fewer visitors than July.

Getting There — Travel Information for International Visitors

Getting to Northern Norway

From Europe: Fly to Oslo (OSL), then connect to Tromsø, Bodø or Lofoten. Flight time from Oslo is 1.5–2 hours. Norwegian, SAS and Widerøe operate domestic routes. Some low-cost carriers fly direct to Tromsø from London, Stockholm and other European cities seasonally.

From North America: Fly to Oslo via a European hub (London, Copenhagen, Amsterdam, Frankfurt), then connect northward. Total travel time from the US East Coast is typically 12–15 hours including the connection.

Regional Airports

| Destination | Airport code | Domestic flight from Oslo | Nearest course | | ----------------- | ------------ | ------------------------- | ---------------------------- | | Tromsø | TOS | 1 h 50 min | Tromsø GC (45 min drive) | | Bodø | BOO | 1 h 30 min | Bodø Golfpark (5 min drive) | | Lofoten (Leknes) | LKN | 2 h (via Bodø) | Lofoten Links (40 min drive) | | Lofoten (Svolvær) | SVJ | 2 h (via Bodø) | Lofoten Links (40 min drive) | | Narvik/Harstad | EVE | 1 h 40 min | Narvik GC (1 h drive) | | Alta | ALF | 2 h | Alta GC (10 min drive) | | Hammerfest | HFT | 2 h 15 min | Hammerfest GC |

Getting Around

A rental car is essential. Distances are large (this is a region the size of England), but roads are well-maintained and traffic is minimal. Key distances:

• Bodø → Lofoten Links: 3–4 hours by car + ferry (Bodø–Moskenes), or fly via Leknes
• Tromsø → Narvik GC: ~3 hours by car
• Narvik → Lofoten Links: ~3.5 hours via E10 through spectacular mountain scenery

Green Fee Comparison

Outside of Lofoten Links, Northern Norway is remarkably affordable by European golf standards. Playing the world's most northerly 18-hole course in Tromsø costs NOK 500 (€45) on a weekday — less than many municipal courses in the UK or mainland Europe.

Accommodation

Most courses are near towns with good hotels, Airbnb options and camping. Highlights:

• Lofoten Links has its own lodges right by the first tee, with reduced green fees for guests
• Tromsø has a wide range of city hotels (45 min drive to the course) plus motorhome parking at the club
• Bodø has centre hotels minutes from the golf park
• Cabins and camping are available throughout the region and are excellent budget options

Frequently Asked Questions About Golf in Northern Norway