Have you heard of a golf tournament called the ARCTIC OPEN? No, it’s not played in Greenland or in the Siberian winter.
This tournament is a 36 hole (two days of 18 holes each) played in Akureyri, Iceland, the third week in June every year from Wednesday through Sunday, on the certified, (by the St Andrews golf registry) northernmost 18 hole golf course in the world.
Guests playing in this tournament from other than in Iceland can only tee off after 8:00 PM so they are sure to be on the course playing Golf at MIDNIGHT under the midnight sun.
Play is governed by the Stableford golf points system. There are divisions for scratch and net players, for male, female and seniors (over 62) with three top awards in each division. It gets better still. You arrive in Iceland early Wednesday morning (you can come earlier if you like) but whenever that is you are met at the international airport, assuming it’s on the Wednesday then driven from there to a special “get-acquainted” Viking breakfast. from there a brief tour of the world’s coolest capital city, then to the domestic airport for a 45 minute flight to Akureyri, home of this tournament now in it’s 28th year.
For those interested in attending next year, it’s a seamless trip. You met at the airport in Akureyri, taken to your hotel, guesthouse or apartment and then off you go to the mountainside gold course for a practice and familiarization round of 18 holes. On the Thursday, the tournament starts but not before you are registered, have a chance at a welcome social to meet all other players and golf staff and just about 4 PM, “let the tournament begin” Stableford scores are posted as teams finish, 24 hours a day. Your tee off time the second day is determined on how well you did the first day. Most often there are two beautiful midnight suns and temperatures in the sun are about 60° degrees, absolutely beautiful for golf, anywhere in the world but especially in northern Iceland. The winners are known early Saturday, a great day for a tour of the area before the Grand Banquet and awards ceremony in the early evening. Mark your calendar golf lovers: late June every year.
Renee Blodgett is the founder of We Blog the World. The site combines the magic of an online culture and travel magazine with a global blog network and has contributors from every continent in the world. Having lived in 10 countries and explored nearly 80, she is an avid traveler, and a lover, observer and participant in cultural diversity.
She is also the CEO and founder of Magic Sauce Media, a new media services consultancy focused on viral marketing, social media, branding, events and PR. For over 20 years, she has helped companies from 12 countries get traction in the market. Known for her global and organic approach to product and corporate launches, Renee practices what she pitches and as an active user of social media, she helps clients navigate digital waters from around the world. Renee has been blogging for over 16 years and regularly writes on her personal blog Down the Avenue, Huffington Post, BlogHer, We Blog the World and other sites. She was ranked #12 Social Media Influencer by Forbes Magazine and is listed as a new media influencer and game changer on various sites and books on the new media revolution. In 2013, she was listed as the 6th most influential woman in social media by Forbes Magazine on a Top 20 List.
Her passion for art, storytelling and photography led to the launch of Magic Sauce Photography, which is a visual extension of her writing, the result of which has led to producing six photo books: Galapagos Islands, London, South Africa, Rome, Urbanization and Ecuador.
Renee is also the co-founder of Traveling Geeks, an initiative that brings entrepreneurs, thought leaders, bloggers, creators, curators and influencers to other countries to share and learn from peers, governments, corporations, and the general public in order to educate, share, evaluate, and promote innovative technologies.
