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Golf Alaska

Ever longed for night golfing? Wish the day hadn’t ended quite yet? Golf in the Land of the Midnight Sun. That’s right – ALASKA! Alaskan summers include a very comfortable climate and nearly endless daylight. On the summer equinox, the sun has just barely gone down on one horizon when it’s rising on the other, offering vistas of a pristine beauty seldom seen by modern man. Where else can you find local rules like "When a raven or fox steals a golf ball, a replacement may be dropped without penalty at the scene of the crime"? You’ll be surrounded by the richness of nature in this summer golfing paradise. Imagine sharing the course with eagles, hawks, moose, and some of the other seldom-seen creatures drawn to the open green course areas. Some are built on permafrost which causes the terrain to shift, and makes for some very interesting, playable greens.

Alaska might not be the first place you think of for golf, but the state does offer some unique opportunities. With courses in Anchorage, Fairbanks, Elmendorf Air Force Base, Forts Richardson and Wainwright, Healy, Homer, Juneau, Kenai, Kodiak, Palmer, Soldotna, Wasilla and Wrangell, you’ll soon realize that the vast state’s inhabited areas are covered in breathtaking courses!

Alaska is no newcomer to the game. The first course was developed in 1925! There is an Alaska Golf Association, and has been since the 1960’s. Interestingly enough, the first 18-hole golf courses were built by the military and technically off limits to non-military personnel. The Alaska Golf Association (AGA) gained permission to use Moose Run (which was on Fort Richardson) for tournaments. When the "Eagleglen" was built upon Elmendorf AFB, the tradition spread to that Robert Trent Jones designed course, and continues to this day. Shortly thereafter, the Anchorage Women’s Golf Association formed, and it remains an active golfing organization in Alaska. Amongst courses in that one region at the time were Settlers Bay, Palmer, Anchorage Municipal, and Russian Jack Springs. Today the AGA is USGA-authorized and rates the courses in accordance with those guidelines. The AGA hosts the Men and Women’s State Amateur and the State Senior Amateur.

In 1996, the Fishook Golf Course was developed as a private course in Matanuska Valley and its 9 holes have a par of 36. That same year, Tanglewood Lakes was developed with similar specifications. In the fall of 2003, Tanglewood Lakes opened an indoor driving range, so that people could practice all year long.

Tournaments include the Spring Opener, held at Moose Run Hill and Anchorage Golf Courses in June, and the State Amateur Handicap at Anchorage G.C., Moose Run Creek and Settlers Bay in July. August has three tournaments: the State Match Play Championship at Eagleglen, the State Seniors at Eagleglen, Moose Run Creek and Settlers Bay, and the Mayor’s Cup. In September, there’s a Fall 2-Person tournament held at Moose Run Hill and Eagleglen.

We know that there are going to be at least 4 months during the summer that offer exceptional golfing opportunities and hours. Put the Land of the Midnight Sun on your list of must-go summer golf destinations. The experience is extraordinary!