Lofoten Links – A Golf Course Like No Other
Guide to Lofoten Links, the links course on Gimsøya ranked among Norway's top 10 golf courses. Green fees, the best holes, midnight sun golf and practical travel info.
What Is It About Lofoten Links?
Lofoten Links sits on Gimsøya, one of the islands in the Lofoten archipelago, at 68° north. Well above the Arctic Circle. The course opened with 6 holes in July 1998, was expanded to 18 and redesigned by Jeremy Turner in 2015. It is a true links course. Not a parkland course calling itself links because it gets a bit windy, but an actual links course with sand dunes, white beaches serving as natural bunkers and the Norwegian Sea pressing in from all sides.
What makes the place special is not just the golf. There are Viking burial mounds on the course, two ancient graves sitting right there between the fairways. White sand beaches that look like they belong in the Caribbean, except the water is around ten degrees and the wind blows sideways. The views are 360 degrees of mountains, ocean and the kind of nature that makes one forget they are in the middle of a round.
The course is ranked number 10 among Norway's best golf courses, with 4.6 stars on Google from 279 reviews. Internationally it is ranked number 66 in the world by Golf Magazine. That people travel all the way up here and still give top marks says quite a lot.
The Course — 18 Holes, Par 71 and Plenty of Wind
Lofoten Links measures 6,092 metres from the back tees, with par 71. Course rating is 73.5 and slope 136. Not a course one simply strolls around without thinking.
There are four tee options:
Tee options
| Tee | Length |
|---|---|
| Tee 61 | 6,092 m |
| Tee 55 | 5,499 m |
| Tee 48 | 4,804 m |
| Tee 42 | 4,216 m |
From the shortest tees it is 4,216 metres, and then it becomes more about enjoying the experience than fighting the length. The course is more accessible than one might think.
4 par-3 holes, 11 par-4s and 3 par-5s. Seven of the greens sit on or close to the coastline, mostly at the start and end of the round. The holes in the middle take one up into the higher terrain inland on the island, with rock, heather and boggy ground.
Then there is the wind. It shifts direction during the round. A hole that played straightforward on the way out can become an entirely different beast on the way in just because the wind has turned a few degrees. Several players report the wind can swing 180 degrees during a round, and that gusts can blow the trolley away. That is not an exaggeration.
Bring extra balls! The rough is dark, boggy soil where balls disappear as if in quicksand. The rocks in the terrain look like golf balls in the low light, so one spends time searching for balls that turn out to be stones. A group of eight friends who played five rounds here in early July summed it up well: "As soon as the ball ends up off the short grass it's gone 9 out of 10 times."
The Best Holes — Hole by Hole
Every hole at Lofoten Links has its own name, named after places and natural features on Gimsøya.
Hole 1 "Tore Hjort" — Par 4
Doglegs left around a bay. The tee shot is visually intimidating. Too cautious and one risks rocks in the middle of the fairway, too aggressive and the water awaits. Sets the tone for the round immediately.
Hole 2 "Arholmen" — Par 3
The hole everyone talks about. Called "Scandinavia's most photographed golf hole", and one understands why the moment one stands on the tee. The green sits out on a rocky promontory that is almost an island, with white sand beach and waves from the Norwegian Sea on all sides. Too short, too long, too far left or right, everything ends in trouble.
Not actually far. A short wedge on a calm day. But with wind behind it is nearly impossible to hold the green. Several players rank this hole among the very best par 3s in the world, and it is hard to disagree. A player who has played some of the world's finest courses, including Cabot Cliffs in Canada, wrote that he could not decide whether Lofoten Links or Cabot was better, but that Lofoten perhaps edged it. That says quite a lot.
Someone actually proposed on Arholmen. In a snowstorm. That is the kind of hole it is.
Hole 3 "Makkleirstranda" — Par 4
One must carry the ball over beach and rocks from the tee. The alternative is to lay up with an iron, but then the approach is long with water along the left side of the green. Requires a decision already on the tee.
Hole 6 "Småhaugan" — Par 3
Roughly 160 metres uphill. All one sees from the tee is a strip of green amongst grey, brown and black rocks. It looks impossible. When one reaches the green there is more room than expected, but that does not help with the pulse while standing down below.
Hole 12 "Skuvingan" — Par 3
250 metres from the back tees. The ball must be carried over boggy terrain to a raised green with the sea behind. Several reviewers call this the most difficult single shot on the entire course. From the regular tees it is around 225 metres. That is far enough.
Hole 13 "Titsneset" — Par 5
A dogleg left with views towards the Gimsøy maelstrom. One of those holes where one stops for a moment and simply looks around.
Hole 16 "Arvikflesa" — Par 4
Many consider this the best hole on the entire course, better than Arholmen. 470 metres from the back tees as a par 4, downhill from the tee, then a long approach into a green with water behind. One must hit two good shots to have any chance of par.
Hole 17 "Hoven" — Par 3
160 metres over a lagoon that flows in from the sea. The green is carved from the coastline on a small patch, right next to hole 3. Nature does more for the experience here than anything a course designer could draw on paper.
Hole 18 "Alkosletta" — Par 4
Back towards the clubhouse with one of the better birdie opportunities on the course. A fine closing hole with rock formations as a backdrop.
Midnight Sun Golf
This is what many travel up here for. From late May to mid-July the sun does not set on Gimsøya. 55 consecutive days of unbroken daylight.
Lofoten Links offers dedicated midnight rates from 19:15 to 02:00. It costs a supplement of NOK 300 in low season and NOK 500 in high season, on top of the regular green fee.
People who have done it describe roughly this timeline:
- 20:30–21:00: The round starts. The sun sits low, the light is soft and warm.
- 23:00: The sun lies low behind hole 2. Still full daylight.
- 00:00: As bright as midday. Almost surreal.
- 01:30: The sun dips slightly but begins to rise again without disappearing.
- 02:30–03:00: Still just as bright. Dew starts settling on the grass. The pro shop stays open until midnight.
Some end up playing 36 holes in a row because it never gets dark and they cannot stop. A group who visited in late June started with an evening/night round on the day they arrived, and had the entire course virtually to themselves. They played five rounds over a few days. Even with people behind them nobody wanted to play through, everyone just stopped and enjoyed the views instead. That says something about the pace the place sets.
The other end of the season is also worth noting. In September and October, when the darkness returns, one can experience the northern lights over the course. Golf and the aurora on the same trip is a combination very few places in the world can offer.
There is also a TrackMan simulator for those who want to "play the course" without being there physically. The course is available in several VR golf games, and several who tried it virtually first say it is not remotely close to playing it for real. Most relevant off-season. Peter Finch has a YouTube video where he tries to birdie all 18 holes within 24 hours under the midnight sun.
Green Fees 2026
Lofoten Links is not cheap.
Regular visitors (non-resort)
| Period | Green fee 18 holes |
|---|---|
| Low season (9–22 May, 5–18 Oct) | NOK 2,000 |
| High season (23 May – 4 Oct) | NOK 3,000 |
| Midnight supplement (19:15–02:00) | +NOK 300 / +NOK 500 |
Resort guests (staying on-site)
| Type | Price |
|---|---|
| 18 holes | NOK 1,400 – 2,500 |
| Extra round | NOK 700 – 1,250 |
| 24-hour pass | NOK 2,800 – 5,000 |
| 9 holes | NOK 700 – 1,250 |
Regional members (Nordland, Troms or Finnmark)
| Type | Price |
|---|---|
| 18 holes | NOK 650 – 1,150 |
Equipment hire
| Equipment | Price |
|---|---|
| Golf cart | NOK 800 |
| Electric trolley | NOK 300 |
| Bag hire | NOK 650 |
| Pull trolley | Included in green fee |
Juniors under 19 receive a 40 per cent discount.
For comparison, most other courses in the top 10 list charge between NOK 400 and 900 in green fees. Lofoten Links costs three to four times as much. But it is not a normal course either. It is the location, it is one of the world's top 100 courses, and it is the Norwegian Sea, Viking graves and white beaches surrounding one for 4–5 hours. For many this is a once-in-a-lifetime trip, and then the price is easier to accept.
Staying at the resort brings the price down significantly. Being a member of a golf club in Northern Norway makes it suddenly very affordable with the regional discount.
Full pricing and updated information is available on the course page for Lofoten Links.
Practical Information
Lofoten Links is located on Gimsøya, roughly halfway between Svolvær and Leknes. The address is Tore Hjorts Vei 389, 8314 Gimsøy.
Flights: One can fly to Svolvær (SVJ) or Leknes (LKN), both roughly 40 minutes by car from the course. There are also flights to Harstad/Narvik (EVE) which is further away, around 3 hours driving, but may offer better connections and lower fares depending on when one travels. From Oslo it is around 1.5 hours flying to Narvik/Harstad or Bodø, plus onward connection.
Car: The course sits right on the E10 and one cannot miss it. A rental car is recommended to get the most out of the Lofoten trip.
Accommodation: Lofoten Links has its own lodges right by the course. Nordic-style cabins with three bedrooms, bathroom and shared kitchen and living room, with sea views. Staying there brings reduced green fees and one can quite literally roll out of bed and onto the first tee. There are also private rental cabins nearby that sit almost as close to the course. Otherwise there is accommodation in Svolvær and Leknes.
Season: 1 May to 21 October. Off-season the reception is open at Låven Restaurant.
Facilities:
- Driving range, putting green, chipping area and practice bunker
- Pro shop (open until midnight during midnight sun season)
- Restaurant "Låven"
- Changing rooms with showers
- Golf lessons with a pro
- Conference and event rooms
Book in advance. June and July are peak season. Players who visited in early July say it was not difficult to get a time, and that the course felt almost empty. But it can vary, so book via GolfBox to be safe.
Bring extra balls. The rough swallows everything and the rocks look like balls. A dozen extra is the minimum. Dress for all weather — it can be sunny at the start and raining with wind by hole 9. Layers.
Wind is the norm. It is almost always windy. Have a plan for playing into the wind and downwind, and be prepared for it to shift mid-round. Early season greens can be a bit sandy and slow, but there are fewer people and lower prices. The drive is part of the experience — whether one flies to Narvik, Svolvær or Leknes, the drive through Lofoten is something one remembers.
Who Is Lofoten Links For?
Experienced golfers looking for a proper links challenge. Slope 136 and constant wind means one should have a certain level to enjoy it. That does not mean single-figure handicap, but complete beginners may find it frustrating. Play from the shorter tees and accept that some balls will be lost.
Tourists visiting Lofoten anyway. Many who visit Lofoten do not even know there is a golf course there. If one plays golf and is going to Lofoten, it is almost foolish not to. Even at NOK 3,000.
International visitors. The course draws people from all over the world. It shows in the reviews, many in English, Swedish and German. A golf writer who has played courses around the world for 40 years wrote that he could not recall a better golfing experience.
Golf groups planning a trip. A typical setup that works well is to fly up with the group, hire a car, stay in the lodges and play three to five rounds over a few days. A group of eight friends who did exactly this called it the best rounds of golf in their lives. Consider combining with Bodø Golfpark which is ranked number 7 in Norway, or Tromsø Golfklubb which is the world's most northerly 18-hole course. See our complete guide to golf in Northern Norway for all 18 courses in the region.