Arctic Golf Challenge – Play your way to Lofoten Links
​
Do you want a golf experience like no other? The Arctic Golf Challenge is Scandinavia’s largest amateur tournament, where golfers from Norway, Sweden, and Denmark come together to compete—and have a lot of fun along the way! The tournament is played in Texas Scramble Matchplay, a social and fun competition format where both team members contribute.
And the grand finale? It takes place in July 2026, when the midnight sun lights up the course around the clock. You’ll have to search far and wide to find a more spectacular golf experience!
​
How does the Arctic Golf Challenge work?
It’s easy to join, and anyone can sign up—as long as you have a partner and are a member of a golf club! Here’s how it works​
​
Sign up and form a team (deadline, May 25 2025)
-
You and a partner sign up as a 2-person team.
-
The maximum handicap for participation is 28.
-
Players with a higher handicap can of course participate but will be adjusted down to 28.
-
You can play as a men's team, women's team, or mixed team.
-
Registration is done via arcticgolfchallenge.com
​
Play up to 6 matches to qualify for the final at Lofoten Links (May–September 2025)
-
Your team will be matched against another team in your area and play Matchplay on a nearby golf course. One of the teams will be drawn as the home team and select the course.
-
Teams agree on the date and time within the given timeframe.
-
Play format: Texas Scramble Matchplay – both players tee off, choose the best ball, and continue from there. This continues until the ball is in the hole.
-
The winner advances to the next round. If you won as the home team, you will likely be the away team in the next round.
-
For each round, the number of teams is halved, from a maximum of 1536 teams in the 1st round to 24 final teams after the 6th round.
​
The Final at Lofoten Links! (July 23–26, 2026)
The 24 best teams will travel to Lofoten Links, one of the world’s most spectacular golf courses.
Three rounds of golf under the midnight sun – an experience you'll never forget!
Round-trip flights, accommodation, meals, a festive dinner, and fantastic prizes are included.
​
Important Dates
In addition to the registration deadline May 25, here are the dates you should be aware of:
​
-
Round 1: May 30 – June 17 2025
-
Round 2: June 18 – July 6 2025
Summer holiday -
Round 3: July 28 – August 10 2025
-
Round 4: August 11 – August 24 2025
-
Round 5: August 25 – September 7 2025
-
Round 6: September 8 – September 21 2025
All matches must be completed and reported by the end date of each round. AGC will set up the next round based on geographical distance, making it easy for everyone to participate.
​​
​​​
Versatile and uncomplicated golf
This is a competition that is uncomplicated and versatile. For example, it’s possible to play from an alternative tee than the standard men’s or women’s tee if both teams agree. Choosing the golf course is, as mentioned, up to the teams, so they can agree that neither team plays on their regular “home course”—if desired. Use of distance measuring devices is also allowed, so you can bring your rangefinder without having to turn off the slope function.
If you’re unlucky enough to get an injury or similar, it’s also possible to use a substitute player to complete the round. In other words, this is set up to be a competition for everyone, grassroots level, and easy to participate in.
​​​​​​
Included for the winning teams:
-
Round-trip flights from Oslo, Stockholm and Copenhagen to Lofoten
-
Transportation to/from Evenes Airport - Lofoten Links
-
Three rounds of golf at Lofoten Links
-
Fantastic Hole in One prize
-
Festive dinner
-
Great prizes
-
Lofoten Links Lodges Accommodation
-
Breakfast, lunch and dinner every day
-
Exclusive goodie bag
-
Magical experience of a lifetime
Photo: Pitchmarkmedia
"The game of golf is meant to be fun, but it is also meant to be played by the rules. The rules are what make the game fair for everyone."
Jack Nicklaus
Rules for AGC
​
1. Knockout Rounds: The tournament begins with 64 teams placed into groups based on geographical proximity to minimize travel distances. AGC actively works to plan matches in a way that reduces travel time as much as possible. However, all teams must be prepared for the possibility of longer travel distances in certain regions.
The tournament requires a minimum number of registered teams to proceed. If sufficient registrations are not received in a particular area, AGC reserves the right to cancel the tournament in that area. In such cases, the participation fee will be fully refunded.
​
2. Teams: The competition is played with 2-person teams, which may consist of men, women, or mixed teams in a single open category for all amateurs. Each team may use a substitute player in the event of illness, injury, or similar circumstances. There is no age limit for participation in the tournament. However, if a participant under 18 qualifies for the final at Lofoten Links, they must be accompanied by a guardian. Travel and accommodation for the guardian are not covered by AGC.
​
3. Handicap (HCP): Participants must be affiliated with a golf club and have an official handicap. The maximum HCP for participation is 28. Players with a higher HCP may also participate, but their handicap will be adjusted to 28.
​
4. Deadlines: Each round in the knockout stage has specific deadlines for when matches must be played. Both teams are responsible for coordinating the date and time of their match within the round’s time frame. If a match is not played within the deadline, AGC will conduct a draw to determine which team advances to the next round. If a team fails to show up for an agreed match, the opposing team wins by walkover.
​
Round Dates:
-
Round 1: May 30 – June 17 2025
-
Round 2: June 18 – July 6 2025
Summer holiday -
Round 3: July 28 – August 10 2025
-
Round 4: August 11 – August 24 2025
-
Round 5: August 25 – September 7 2025
-
Round 6: September 8 – September 21 2025
-
​
5. Choice of Golf Course: As this is a knockout competition, ensuring equal distribution of play across all teams’ home courses is challenging. AGC will do its best to balance this, but all teams must understand that complete fairness cannot be guaranteed. For the first round, a draw will decide which team plays on their home course. Matches will be played from the standard men’s and women’s tees, though teams may agree to alter this.
​
6. Tee Box:
-
Men: Play from what is normally the men's tee on the respective course (e.g., 58/59)
-
Women: Play from what is normally the women's tee (e.g., 48)
-
Mixed: Men play from the men's tee, and women play from the women's tee
Teams may mutually agree to play from a different tee box.
​
7. Score Registration: The winning team is responsible for registering the match result on the AGC website under "Register Score" within 24 hours.
​
8. Format of Play: The format is Texas Scramble for 2-person teams. Both players hit their own ball from the tee. The team then selects the best-placed ball, and the other ball is picked up. Thereafter, the players place themselves in any order within one scorecard from the selected ball, but not closer to the hole. On the green, the balls are placed at the same spot as the selected ball, and in the bunker, they are placed within one scorecard, but not outside the bunker. Each player on the team must have 6 counting tee shots each.
​
9. Percentage-Based Handicap Reduction: For the tournament, the team's playing handicap is adjusted to 25 % of the sum of the individual handicaps of the players on the team. Calculation example:
​
Player 1: HCP 18,0
Player 2: HCP 24,5
Total HCP: 18.0 + 24,5 = 42,5
Adjusted team HCP: 42,5 × 0,30 = 10,62 (rounded to the nearest decimal: 10,6)
​
10. Tie Matches: If a match is tied after 18 holes, it proceeds to "Sudden Death." If this is not possible due to daylight, course availability, or weather conditions, the match will be decided by the scorecard method: Back 9, last 6, last 3, hole 18. If still tied, the comparison continues with hole 17 and so on until a winner is determined.
​
11. Use of Aids: All types of rangefinders, including those with slope functions, are permitted in the tournament.
​
12. Local Rules: The game must follow the local rules that apply to the specific course.
This includes:
-
Dropping the ball.
-
Rules for "out of bounds" (OB).
-
Any areas under repair (GUR) and other specific course conditions.
​
The local rules are stated on the scorecard or available in the clubhouse.
​
13. Disqualification: Teams may be disqualified for violations of the above tournament rules, manipulation of HCP, or breaches of sportsmanship and behavior standards. All participants must adhere to official golf rules and conduct themselves with respect and integrity to ensure a fair and positive tournament experience.
​
​
​
Scramble your way to Lofoten Links