A number of the other Tees were situated at the edge of geos (ravines) and many a golf ball was lost forever. Anyone going on leave was likely to be asked to bring back more balls. The 9 hole course had to be maintained by servicemen in their off-duty time but most of us felt it was worth the effort to enjoy really exciting golf.

The golf course received a significant amount of attention in the press – especially after the decision to hold 24 hour golf matches at midsummer. Most people in UK don’t appreciate the Unst, at a latitude of about 61 degrees north, is only 300 miles south of the Arctic Circle. The Shetlanders call a period around the summer solstice (midsummer) the simmer dim. It is a short period when, if the weather is reasonable, you can stay up all night, read a newspaper at midnight or, in the case of golfers – play 24 hours non-stop.
I am uncertain how many years this event took place at Lamba Ness but I know that there were competitions at midsummer 1968, 1969 and 1970 - I actually took part in 1968. Copies of some of the coverage of these events is below…

From The Most Intimidating Golf Course in the World?, by Gordon Carle, published in A History of RAF Saxa Vord, 2009.