Golf isn’t the easiest game to master at the best of times but for the more adventurous golfer, the challenges of avoiding the rough, escaping from bunkers and holing those pesky three footers simply aren’t enough. Luckily for you golfing adrenaline junkies, Your Golf Travel are here to help. After a recent piece on the North Korean Open we thought we’d have a look at the world’s most extreme golf courses. Here’s what we found…
In the far reaches of South Australia’s outback, Coober Pedy Opal Fields Golf Club lies in wait for any golfer who likes to play with the sun on their back. A sandy course without a single trace of grass – or any other life form for that matter – Coober Pedy is essentially a giant bunker with holes sculpted into it. And what keeps the holes and the course’s definition from blowing away?
A rather ironic sign at Coober Pedy.
Well…the greens, known as browns in this part of the world, and the rest of the course are slicked with oil that prevents the bunkers and fairways from getting blown out of shape. In this part of the world, the day time temperatures soar to such heights – record temperatures in Southern Australia have exceeded 50 degrees Celsius – that residents have taken to living underground! Needless to say then that it’s pretty hot…not for the fair skinned golfers out there!
As the phrase goes, “If you can’t stand the heat, get the hell out of the kitchen”. Well with this in mind we thought the coldest golf course in the world would appeal to those who don’t like the sound of the fiery Coober Pedy. Located north of the Arctic Circle in Greenland, which is in fact white as it’s covered in snow and ice, Uummannaq is the coldest golf course in the world where temperatures can fall as low as 50 degrees below freezing when wind chill is brought into the equation. Be sure to pack your mits, handwarmers and fluorescent golf balls…a hip flask with a wee dram might come in use as well!
From the extreme to the downright dangerous here are some where there is more to worry about than the odd stray golf ball…
Camp Bonifas is the closest military base to North Korea and one of the most heavily fortified international borders in the world. The course is comprised of a solitary par 3 measuring 192 yards and you had better dig out the range finder you got in your Christmas stocking as missing the green may have more extreme penalties than doing so on your local course…but that’s only because it is surrounded by land mines on three sides. Playing three from the tee might be the most sensible option if you hit a wayward tee shot here!
Golf is stressful enough without playing it in a warzone!
Anything North Korea can do Afghanistan can do better is the message from Kabul Golf Club. Situated on the outskirts of the city, the course opened in 2004, after the fall of the Taliban and after a thorough operation to rid the land of mines. Patrolled by armed forces, the course is a strange reminder of the fact that Afghanistan is one of the, if not the most dangerous country in the world. Not only is this a dangerous golf course, but the lack of flags and greens makes finding the hole and scoring pretty tough too!
From one type of danger to another, we head to South Africa and the Skukuza Golf Course. Golf courses all over the world have to deal with some pesky wildlife but few have signs dotted around the entire course warning players of dangerous animals. Located next door to the famed Kruger National Park, this golf course is seriously terror-inducing.
Stroke index 16? With lions as a hazard this has to be wrong!?
Warning signs read like they have been written while running away from “Lions, elephants, leopards, rhinos and buffaloes”, although running away isn’t advised. “Do not run away! … If you run, the animal will believe that it has gained the advantage and it will be more likely to give chase.” We imagine Skukuza attracts golfers because of its remarkable setting and the fact that you are effectively combining a round of golf with a safari when you play there but those who have done so often point out that the test of golf presented by Sukuza isn’t even very good! We suppose where it lacks in challenging holes it more than makes up for in killing you.
If the sound of dangerous wildlife and warzones are just too much for you then perhaps a relaxing round in the heart of California gangland appeals? Head to The Compton Par 3 Course to catch some Crips vs Bloods Ryder Cup action.
If all of the above sounds a bit too wild for you then fear not as 2013 is here and as usual we will be offering the best golf break packages available on the web today…oh and a FREE Cleveland Wedge for January bookings as well!