A Round of Golf at Glanni, West Iceland’s Waterfall Course
Most visitors drive past Norðurárdalur on Route 1 without knowing there is a golf course tucked beside one of West Iceland’s more photogenic waterfalls. Golfklúbburinn Glanni, a short distance from the village of Bifröst, is a legitimate reason to stop the car for a few hours.
The Course
Golfvöllurinn Glanni is a 9-hole course laid out along the Norðurá river in Norðurárdalur, right next to Glanni waterfall. Played twice around, the course measures 4,490 yards at a par of 70. The signature hole is the par-3 9th, which tees off over a small lake with a lava field behind the green — a reminder that the Grábrók crater row is only a couple of kilometres away.
What’s There
The clubhouse, Golfskálinn, serves basic food — sandwiches, burgers, soup, coffee — and rents golf clubs, so it’s possible to play without hauling your own set across the Atlantic. The course sits inside Norðurárdalur next to Bifröst village, home to Bifröst University, so a golf stop pairs naturally with a walk along the river to see the waterfall itself, even for non-golfers in the group.
Getting There
Glanni is reached via Route 1, turning off toward Bifröst in Norðurárdalur, north of Borgarnes. It’s an easy on-the-way stop for anyone driving the Ring Road toward Snæfellsnes or North Iceland.
- Course: Golfklúbburinn Glanni, Norðurárdalur, near Bifröst
- Holes: 9
- Length / Par: 4,490 yards, par 70
- Facilities: Clubhouse with food service, club rental
- Landmark: Adjacent to Glanni waterfall on the Norðurá river
- Access: Off Route 1 in Norðurárdalur, north of Borgarnes
Where to Stay
Base yourself at Hvítá Trucks, converted expedition trucks on the bank of the Hvítá river at Hvítárbakki — a novelty night that still puts you within easy reach of Norðurárdalur for a morning round at Glanni. Book direct on Ourhotels.is for the best rate.
Photo: Steven Lek via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0.