Krossdalsvöllur

Few golf settings anywhere in the world match what Krossdalsvöllur offers: a course laid out in the volcanic highlands of northeastern Iceland, beside Lake Mývatn, one of the country's most extraordinary natural landscapes. The lake and its surroundings sit atop intense geothermal activity — lava fields, steam vents, pseudocraters, and moss-covered lava formations shape the horizon in every direction. Playing here feels less like a round of golf and more like teeing it up on another planet entirely.

Mývatn translates roughly as "midge lake," a nod to the clouds of insects that hatch seasonally from the lake's nutrient-rich waters — visitors in summer should come prepared. That same season brings Iceland's famous midnight sun, which means golf at 11 pm under full daylight is a genuine possibility, and the club takes full advantage of it.

As a rural Icelandic course in a remote highland setting, expect a modest, unpretentious layout where the surroundings do the heavy lifting. This is golf stripped to its essentials, worth every kilometer of the drive to get here.