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What if you could play golf on an island or ski in the middle of the desert? These are the world's most spectacular sporting venues, constructed in places or in ways that you would never dream of! Don't let the view distract you as you play! |
1. Coeur d'Alene Golf Course, Idaho USA |
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The Coeur d'Alene Golf Course is part of a resort in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho located on the northern shore of a lake. The resort features a marina, convention facilties, and a spa, but don't forget it's world famous 18 hole golf course! |
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The course is best known for its par 3-14th holes, which feature the only movable green island in the world. Built on a barge with submerged tracks, the green can be moved daily by a computer in a range of 95-200 yards (87-183 m). |
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Water taxis are available to transport golfers to the island hole, which is moved to change the difficulty of the shot (if you have to swing from the mainland for instance). The designer of the course, Scott Miller, wanted the course to feel like a park and it has been ranked among the best resort golf courses in the United States. It’s definitely worth the visit to Idaho to tee up here! |
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2. Eidi Stadium, Faroe Islands |
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The Eidi Stadium is located on the Faroe Islands, an island chain that is part of Denmark located between the Norwegian Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean. The stadium is home to some of the Faroe Island’s semi-professional football (soccer) teams. |
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The standing room is limited in the stadium with the fans usually located on the side that faces the sea. However, the town of Eidi only has 669 inhabitants, so it’s worthwhile making a visit to cheer on the football players of Faroe Island in this stunning stadium. |
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3. Tennis Court at Burj al Arab, United Arab Emirates |
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Surely the world’s most spectacular, if not the most frightening, tennis court is located atop the fourth tallest hotel in the world. When there is not a match in process, the court doubles as a helipad. |
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The exact height of the tennis court is not known, but the hotel is 321 meters (1,053 ft.) tall and the court is located near the top. |
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The hotel stands on an artificial island that is 280 meters (920 feet) from the mainland, connected by a private curving bridge. |
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4. The Float at Marina Bay, Singapore |
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The Float at Marina Bay is the only stadium in the world that can float. With a length of 120 meters (394 feet) and 83 meters (272 ft.) wide, the floating football field is the largest in the world. |
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The football stadium is located on the Marina Reservoir in Marine Bay and has the capacity to seat 30,000 people. |
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The stadium was completed in the short time span of 13 months in April 2007, and since it has attracted tourists from all over the world to marvel in its architectural splendor! |
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5. Ski Dubai, United Arab Emirates |
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Ski Dubai is an indoor ski resort with 22,500 square meters (27,000 sq. yards) of indoor ski area. It is part of the Mall of Emirates, one of the largest shopping malls in the world located in Dubai. |
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The complex was opened in November, 2005 and features a 85 meter high (280 ft.) mountain with 5 slopes of varying difficulty and steepness, including a 400 meter long (1,300 ft.) run. This is the world’s first indoor back run. It also has a quad lift to carry skiers and snowboarders up the mountain. |
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For those looking for more winter fun, there is a Snow Park with sled rides, an icy body slide, giant snowballs and ice caves. |
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The complex is also home to a number of penguins that come out to play several times a day. You can even book your own encounter with a penguin! |
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6. Rooftop Mini Football Pitch, Japan |
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This football field is located on top of the Tokyu Toyoko department store in Tokyo, Japan. |
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Also called the Adidas Futsal Park, the field opened in 2001 as a precursor to the FIFA World Cup hosted by Japan and South Korea in 2002. Prices to use the field begin at $54 an hour and can run up to $205 an hour at peak times. |
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7. Ottmar Hitzfeld Stadium, Switzerland |
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This stadium is carved into a mountainside above 2,000 meters about sea level and overlooks the Alps. The stadium is just outside of the Zermatt resorts and above the valley of Saastal in the town of Gspon. |
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The stadium was named after one of Switzerland’s football prides, Ottmar Hitzfield that accumulated over 18 major titles in his career. The stadium has been ranked the highest in Europe, built on a piece of land that was actually not large enough to accommodate a full-sized stadium. The located is in fact too high up for vehicles to function, so the players and staff must arrive by cable car from the nearby village of Stalden. |
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8. Igraliste Batarija, Croatia |
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This is one of the world’s only football fields that is located between two protected monuments, Kamerlengo Castle and the Tower of St. Marco. It is home to the HNK Trogir whose fans get to enjoy the beautiful ancient scenery every time they come to see a game. |
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9. Angled Stadium, Ukraine |
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10. Grand Central Squash Court, New York City, USA |
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Located in Grand Central Station in New York City, the world’s most famous train station, is a squash court where a tournament takes place each year. The event is made public to increase awareness about the sport and to get more people playing. |
11. The Uummannaq Ice Golf Course, Greenland |
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If you thought it was impossible to play golf on ice, you were wrong! At this amazing golf course in Greenland, you can play your 12 holes completely on ice! The World Ice Golf Championships have been held at this course yearly since 1997. It is officially the world’s northernmost golf course and it is redesigned every year on a shelf of ice. |
12. Tornio Golf Club, Finland/Sweden |
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Also known as the Green Zone, 9 holes of the course are located in Finland and the other 9 in Sweden! You’ll need your passport to get through the whole course it seems because the course is located on the border along the Tornio River between Sweden and Finland. If you are looking for a unique chance to play golf in two places at once, Tornio Golf Club is the place. |
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Bonus: Piazza del Campo, Italy |
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Every summer in Sienna, Italy the Palio horse races are held in the town’s central square. The Palio di Siena is held twice a year in the summer and ten horses and riders ride bareback to represent the seventeen city wards. The course is constructed in the Piazza del Campo in the center of the city. |
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