Golf in Sweden dates to 1888 when the first course was opened at Ryfors Bruk in Mullsjö. The first 18 hole course was opened in Gothenburg in 1894, and Stockholm Golf Club was established along with the Swedish Golf Federation (SGF) in 1904. Today it is a popular sport with over half a million active players and close to 500 courses.

History In 1946, Prince Bertil, Duke of Halland became Chairman of the SGF. Sven Tumba was instrumental in promoting the game as a healthy activity for the masses, and in 1968 he organized exhibition matches at Lidingö Golf Club and Falsterbo Golf Club featuring Arnold Palmer, popularizing the sport further. By 1970 there were 110 courses.

The first notable Swedish professional golfers emerged in the 1970s, with Gunnar Mueller the first to play all four rounds in a major at the 1973 Open Championship. Kärstin Ehrnlund joined the Ladies European Tour in its inaugural season in 1979, and secured the first Swedish victory on the tour in 1980. In 1982, Charlotte Montgomery became the first to qualify as a member on one of the main U.S.-based golf tours when she succeeded at the LPGA Final Qualifying Tournament, soon followed by Pia Nilsson, who would later captain the European 1998 Solheim Cup team.

Golf boomed in the 1980s, and the number of courses almost doubled in a single decade to 271. In 1984, the Swedish Golf Tour was established, and a women's tour followed two years later. Corporate sponsorship of professionals emerged, and Team Saab supported by Saab Automobile, saw Ove Sellberg, Magnus Persson and Krister Kinell turn professionals in 1982 and be competitive on the European Tour, where the first victory came in 1986. Liselotte Neumann became the first LPGA Tour winner and major champion when she won the 1988 U.S. Women's Open.

In 1997, Gabriel Hjertstedt became the first to win on the PGA Tour and two years later the first two-time winner. Jesper Parnevik became the first three-time winner, with a total of five PGA Tour-titles 1997–2001. Between 1995 and 2005 Annika Sörenstam was a dominant on the LPGA Tour, with a career record of 72 LPGA Tour titles, including 10 major victories. By the time Anna Nordqvist won her third major in 2021, she and her compatriots had the third most LPGA major championship titles of any nation, behind only the United States and South Korea. The first Swedish men's major victory came at the 2016 Open Championship through Henrik Stenson, after Parnevik, Niclas Fasth and Jonas Blixt had all recorded runner-up finishes.

Courses

As of January 2024, the number of golf clubs organized by the Swedish Golf Federation (SGF) was 445.

Top ranked courses Golf Digest has continually ranked Swedish courses since 1993. Svensk Golf, a monthly publication attached to the Swedish Golf Federation, in 2020 published an updated ranking using the same methodology.

Visby GC Bro Hof Slott GC – Stadium Course Kristianstad GC – Åhus Östra Ullna GC Falsterbo GC Halmstad GC – Norra Vallda G&CC Österåker GC – Öster by Stenson PGA Sweden National – Links Course Barsebäck G&CC – Masters Course Vasatorp GC – Tournament Course Ljunghusen GC – 1–18 Royal Drottningholm GC Bro Hof Slott GC – Castle Course Sand GC

Tours

The Swedish Golf Tour has operated continuously since 1984, and the Swedish Golf Tour (women) since 1986. Recently most tournaments also feature on the Nordic Golf League and LET Access Series, respectively.

Tournaments National championships The Swedish Golf Federation instituted the first national golf tournament in 1904. Notable tournaments include: Swedish Matchplay Championship (since 1904) Swedish International Stroke Play Championship (1945–2006) Swedish International (women) (1962–2007) Swedish PGA Championship (since 1970) Swedish PGA Championship (women) (since 1997) Swedish Junior Matchplay Championship (since 1939) Swedish Junior Strokeplay Championship (since 1977)

International tournaments Professional The Solheim Cup has been hosted twice: 2003 Solheim Cup at Barsebäck Golf & Country Club 2007 Solheim Cup at Halmstad Golf Club

The European Tour: Scandinavian Enterprise Open, played 1973–1990, rotated between Royal Drottningholm GC, Bokskogen GC, Vasatorp GC, Linköping GC and Ullna GC. PLM Open, played 1984–1990, mainly rotated between the links courses Falsterbo GC, Ljunghusen GC and Flommen GC. Scandinavian Masters, played 1991–2019, was typically hosted at Barsebäck G&CC, with stints at Kungsängen GC, Forsgården GC and Arlandastad Golf, before a new rota of Bro Hof Slott GC, PGA Sweden National and Hills GC was established in 2010. Scandinavian Mixed, played 2020–2024.

The Ladies European Tour: Scandinavian TPC hosted by Annika, played 1996–2008, was the longest running of over a dozen different LET tournaments hosted.

The Challenge Tour: Swedish courses hosted over a hundred Challenge Tour events 1990–2020.

Amateur The International Golf Federation or European Golf Association: Sweden has hosted over 40 IGF or EGA events starting with the 1962 St Andrews Trophy at Halmstad GC. Qualification event for the Junior Solheim Cup: Annika Invitational Europe (since 2012) Ranking event in the EGA's European Amateur Order of Merit: Swedish International Men's Amateur Championship (since 2026)

Golfers

As of October 2024, the number of active golfers organized by the Swedish Golf Federation was 506,000. This makes golf the third largest sport in Sweden in terms of active members, behind association football and athletics.

Swedish Golfer of the Year

Annika Sörenstam won Swedish Golfer of the Year nine times 1995–2005, and Henrik Stenson five times 2006–2016.

Swedish Golf Hall of Fame Members include Annika Sörenstam, Liv Wollin, Henrik Stenson, Liselotte Neumann, Sven Tumba, Jesper Parnevik, Pia Nilsson, Göran Zachrisson, Helen Alfredsson and Robert Karlsson.

Hall of Fame MembersMemberLifespanInductedDescription 1970– 2022 All-time great with 72 LPGA Tour victories including 10 majors. President of the International Golf Federation. 1859–1945 2022 The "father of golf" in the country. Built the first 18-hole course, founded the SGF in 1904. 1893–1978 2022 Amateur champion with over 22 national titles. Secretary of the SGF, Editor-in-chief of Svensk Golf. 1966– 2022 First major winner (1988 U.S. Women's Open) with 25 worldwide professional wins. 1976– 2022 First to win a men's major (2016 Open Championship). Olympic medalist, FedEx Cup and Race to Dubai winner. 1945– 2022 The nation's most accomplished female amateur golfer of all time (23 national titles). 1931–2011 2022 Champion of the game of golf. Brought the European Tour to Sweden in 1973 (Scandinavian Enterprise Open) 1965– 2023 First to make a name for himself on the PGA Tour (5 victories). Showman and personality with two runner-ups at The Open. 1958– 2023 Pioneering player (LPGA Tour) and National Team coach (men and women). First to captain the Solheim Cup (1998). 1938–2021 2023 The nation's most known and respected golf journalist. Covered The Open Championship for over 50 years. 1965 2024 LPGA Tour Rookie of the Year and major winner (1993). Senior major Grand Slam winner (2019). 1906–1991 2024 British pro, immigrated in 1929. Founded the PGA of Sweden. Prolific coach and course architect for over 6 decades. 1969– 2025 Eleven European Tour titles and first to win the Order of Merit (2008). Four Ryder Cup as player or vice captain. 1939–2024 2025 British pro, immigrated in 1962. Two European Circuit titles and chairman of the PGA of Sweden for almost two decades. 1967– 2026 Caddie, notable for caddying for Nick Faldo 1990–1999 and the first female caddie to win a men's major golf championship. 1939–2003 2026 Golf journalist, editor-in-chief of Svensk Golf for over two decades 1973–1994.

Caddie Hall of Fame Fanny Sunesson, who caddied for Nick Faldo 1990–1999 and is the first female caddie to win a men's major golf championship, was inducted into the Caddie Hall of Fame in 2003.

National Amateur Squad The Swedish Golf Team is the national squad. Amateur players from the age of 13 are trained and selected by the SGF to represent the country in international tournaments. The first win came at the 1959 European Amateur Team Championship. Notably, the women's team won the European Ladies' Team Championship three consecutive years 2018, 2019 and 2020, with players such as Linn Grant, Maja Stark, Frida Kinhult and Ingrid Lindblad.

In 2023, Ingrid Lindblad and Ludvig Åberg briefly topped the World Amateur Golf Ranking simultaneously.

Achievements National Amateur Squad Team WinsOrganizer Event Years TotalIGFWorld Amateur Team Championship (Eisenhower Trophy)19901Women's World Amateur Team Championship (Espirito Santo Trophy)3EGAEuropean Amateur Team Championship4European Ladies' Team Championship10European Boys' Team Championship7European Girls' Team Championship8European Youths' Team Championship7European Lady Junior's Team Championship6European Young Masters1 Individual WinsOrganizer Event Years TotalEGAEuropean Amateur4European Ladies Amateur4R&AThe Amateur Championship1The Women's Amateur Championship4Ladies' British Strokeplay Championship1Boys Amateur Championship5Girls Amateur Championship3 RankingOrganizer Class #1 Players TotalWorld Amateur Golf RankingWomen2Men2023 Ludvig Åberg1European Amateur Golf RankingWomen5Men2

Notable touring professionals Updated as of 6 September 2026.

Swedish professional golfers have collectively won over a hundred European Tour titles and also over a hundred LPGA Tour titles. Notable golfers listed below are those with a win or runner-up finish on any of the principlal international tours.

Male tour golfers