Excavated Soil Finds New Life on Icelandic Golf Course

Soil excavated from the foundation of a new multi-purpose sports hall at KR-völlur in Iceland has found a new purpose at Nesvöllur, the home of the Nesklúbbur golf club. The material is being used to reinforce the edges of the golf course, offering better protection against weather elements.

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Once this is seeded, I think there will be beautiful green grass there in a year or two that will benefit the golfers and make the environment much nicer. It's better than having rocks.

Skarphéðinn Ómarsson, CEO of the contracting company Háhell, stated that it quickly became apparent that finding a new use for the soil nearby would be the most practical solution. "Once this is seeded, I think there will be beautiful green grass there in a year or two that will benefit the golfers and make the environment much nicer. It's better than having rocks," he told mbl.is.

Háhell managed the removal of the soil and the installation of gravel at the KR-völlur site. Ómarsson highlighted that his company did not charge the golf club for the soil, as they benefited from the shorter transport distance. "We were happy to move the soil a shorter distance and offered the golf club to benefit from this cost-free. We had machinery and personnel for two months, and this project alone cost over 10 to 20 million [ISK]," he explained.

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We were happy to move the soil a shorter distance and offered the golf club to benefit from this cost-free. We had machinery and personnel for two months, and this project alone cost over 10 to 20 million [ISK].

Haukur Óskarsson, CEO of Nesklúbburinn, welcomed the initiative, especially after last year's severe weather. "Primarily after the storm last winter, which destroyed the walkway around the golf course and scattered rocks over the greens and grass, we felt it was ideal to support this. When Háhell offered us to use the soil, we agreed," Óskarsson said. He added that the soil could reduce the risk of accidents by preventing golfers from hitting pedestrians in certain areas.

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Primarily after the storm last winter, which destroyed the walkway around the golf course and scattered rocks over the greens and grass, we felt it was ideal to support this. When Háhell offered us to use the soil, we agreed.