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5 of the world’s craziest golf courses

Discover the most extreme courses the game has to offer.

27 August 2020 1 minute read 5 of the world’s craziest golf courses
Image credit: © GETTY

Freezing fairways, shark-infested water hazards and much more. Which of these courses are you most excited to visit?

The frozen course – Uummannaq, Greenland
Ever considered a golfing holiday to Greenland? Or more specifically Uummannaq Island, west of the mainland? Don’t worry if you’re not used to playing 500 miles north of the Arctic Circle; the club provides training in how to spot frostbite early and dealing with snow blindness. The World Ice Golf Championship is held on the ‘whites’ (not greens) here, every March. 
  

Image credit: © ADAM REEDER; FLICKR
Image credit: © ADAM REEDER; FLICKR
  
The hot course – Furnace Creek Golf Course, California, USA
During the summer, temperatures hit the 51°C mark in the suitably named Furnace Creek, but that’s nothing compared to the region’s highest ever temperature – a sweltering 93.9°C. The highest temperature on earth was recorded on the California course back in July 1972. Golfers keen to tick another extreme off their list will be glad to hear that Furnace Creek also happens to be the lowest golf course in the world, sitting 214 ft below sea level.

Image credit: © GETTY
Image credit: © GETTY
  
The high course – Legend Golf & Safari Resort, Pretoria, South Africa
If you fancy taking on the world’s longest par three, you’d better have a head for heights. The 19th hole at the Legend Course tees off from the top of Hanglip Mountain, a short helicopter ride 470 metres above the green. For £700, four players are given a ride in the chopper, a souvenir cap, glove and DVD, along with six balls fitted with tracking devices. Oh, and there’s a $1 million prize for the first player to make a hole in one.

Image credit: carbrookgolfclub.com
Image credit: carbrookgolfclub.com
  
The shark-infested course – Carbrook Golf Club, Queensland, Australia
Carbrook puts the hazard into water hazard thanks to the angry bull sharks that call the drink at hole 13 their home. The banks of the nearby Logan River flooded onto the course back in the ‘90s, moving an unconfirmed number of new residents in for good. We’d advise packing a few extra balls before making the trip to Brisbane.
  

The Top Secret Course Image credit: © ALAMY
Image credit: © ALAMY

The top-secret course – Pyongyang Golf Course, North Korea
Forget heading to North Korea’s only 18 holes with your sights set on breaking the course record. Kim Jong Il recorded 11 holes in one during his one and only round of golf here in 1994, finishing his game in an impressive 34 shots. The well-maintained greens remain empty for much of the year but welcome visitors who book a tour guide in advance. Rumour has it that the chaperones may struggle to find the confidential course, but that’s all part of the experience. 
  

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