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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 an 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.

1. Visby GC
2. Bro Hof Slott GC – Stadium Course
3. Kristianstad GC – Åhus Östra
4. Ullna GC
5. Falsterbo GC
6. Halmstad GC – Norra
7. Vallda G&CC
8. Österåker GC – Öster by Stenson
9. PGA Sweden National – Links Course
10. Barsebäck G&CC – Masters Course
11. Vasatorp GC – Tournament Course
12. Ljunghusen GC – 1–18
13. Royal Drottningholm GC
14. Bro Hof Slott GC – Castle Course
15. 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.

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)

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, Erik Runfelt och Viktor H. Setterberg, Jesper Parnevik, Pia Nilsson, Göran Zachrisson, Douglas Brasier and Helen Alfredsson.

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.

National Squad Wins

Notable Touring Professionals

Updated as of 15 September 2024.

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

Female tour golfers

Golfers in Multisport and Professional Team Events

Between 2016 and 2024, ten different golfers represented Sweden at the olympics. Henrik Stenson won a medal at the 2016 Summer Olympics.

Ludvig Åberg was the 12th Ryder Cup player from Sweden, while Pia Nilsson, Catrin Nilsmark, Helen Alfredsson, Carin Koch and Annika Sörenstam have all been Solheim Cup captains.

Anders Forsbrand and Per-Ulrik Johansson won the 1991 World Cup. Liselotte Neumann and Helen Alfredsson won the 1992 Sunrise Cup World Team Championship.

Golf at the Summer Olympics

Participation at the Olympics
Golf at the Summer Olympics
Games of Olympiad II III XXXI XXXII XXXIII Year 1900 1904 2016 2020 2024 Host countryAthlete Men's Henrik Stenson DNP DNP David Lingmerth T11 Henrik Norlander T45 Alex Norén T16 T45 Ludvig Åberg T18 Women's Anna Nordqvist T11 T23 Pernilla Lindberg T31 Madelene Sagström T20 Maja Stark T10 Linn Grant T27 Total 10 — — 4 4 4
Golf at the Summer Youth Olympics
Year 2014 2018 2022 Host countryAthlete Men's Marcus Kinhult P O S T P O N E D Ludvig Eriksson T26 Women's Linnea Ström T12 Amanda Linnér 30 Mixed Team Marcus Kinhult Linnea Ström Ludvig Eriksson Amanda Linnér T23 Total 4 2 2 —
Competitor   Medalist in bold

Ryder Cup and Solheim Cup

Ryder Cup and Solheim Cup
Ryder Cup
1993 1995 1997 1999 2002 2004 2006 2008 2010 2012 2014 2016 2018 2021 2023 Host country Winning team Joakim Haeggman Per-Ulrik Johansson Jesper Parnevik Jarmo Sandelin Niclas Fasth Pierre Fulke Anders Forsbrand Robert Karlsson Henrik Stenson Peter Hanson Alex Norén Ludvig Åberg Total 1 1 2 2 3 — 2 2 1 1 1 1 2 — 1   Europe captain   Player – Automatic qualifier   Player – Captain's pick   Non-playing vice-captain   Winner in bold
Solheim Cup
1990 1992 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2003 2005 2007 2009 2011 2013 2015 2017 2019 2021 2023 2024 First year Last year Cups Matches Points Win % W L H Host country Winning team Helen Alfredsson 1990 2009 8 28 12 43% 11 15 2 Liselotte Neumann 1990 2000 6 21 8.5 40% 6 10 5 Catrin Nilsmark 1992 2000 5 16 8.5 53% 8 7 1 Annika Sörenstam 1994 2007 8 37 24 65% 22 11 4 Sophie Gustafson 1998 2011 8 31 16 52% 13 12 6 Charlotta Sörenstam 1998 1998 1 4 1.5 38% 1 2 1 Pia Nilsson Carin Koch 2000 2005 4 16 11.5 72% 10 3 3 Maria Hjorth McBride 2002 2011 5 21 8.5 40% 6 10 5 Linda Wessberg 2007 2007 1 2 1.5 75% 1 0 1 Anna Nordqvist 2009 2024 9 35 18.5 53% 17 15 3 Caroline Hedwall 2011 2023 5 17 9.5 56% 9 7 1 Madelene Sagström 2017 2024 4 12 5.5 46% 5 6 1 Linn Grant 2023 2024 2 9 3 33% 3 6 0 Maja Stark 2023 2024 2 8 4 50% 3 3 2 Total 2 3 4 4 6 6 5 4 4 4 4 3 2 2 2 2 2 5 4   Europe captain   Non-playing assistant captain   Playing assistant captain   Player – Automatic qualifier   Player – Captain's pick   Winner in bold

World Cup of Golf

World Cup
Men
World Cup World Cup of Golf WGC-World Cup World Cup (of Golf) Apps. Best finish Player 83 84 85 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 00 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 11 13 16 18 Magnus Persson 3 T10 Ove Sellberg 4 Anders Forsbrand 6 Johan Ryström 1 9 Mats Lanner 3 Per-Ulrik Johansson 3 Joakim Haeggman 4 Jesper Parnevik 2 Jarmo Sandelin 3 9 Patrik Sjöland 3 5 Mathias Grönberg 2 5 Pierre Fulke 1 T7 Niclas Fasth 4 Robert Karlsson 5 Carl Pettersson 2 Freddie Jacobson 2 T7 Henrik Stenson 4 Peter Hanson 2 T6 Alex Norén 2 5 Jonas Blixt 1 11 David Lingmerth 1 5 Alexander Björk 1 9 Joakim Lagergren 1 9 Total T11 T10 9 7 T19 T3 17 1 2 T13 3 9 13 WD T11 5 T7 16 T14 T7 T7 T2 3 T6 1 T2 25 11 5 9   Player   Qualified but did not play   Winner in bold
Women
S. Cup World Cup European Nations Cup International Crown 1992 2000 2005 2006 2007 2008 2008 2009 2010 2011 2014 2016 2018 2020 2023 Tours LET LPGA & LET LET LPGA Host country Winning team C A N C E L L E D Annika Sörenstam Liselotte Neumann Helen Alfredsson Carin Koch Sophie Gustafson Maria Hjorth Johanna Westerberg Lotta Wahlin Anna Nordqvist Caroline Hedwall Pernilla Lindberg Mikaela Parmlid Madelene Sagström Maja Stark Linn Grant   Seeded player   Unseeded player   Qualified but did not play   Winner in bold

Other international cups

International Cups
Alfred Dunhill Cup
Player 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 00 Apps. Best finish Mats Lanner 4 Ove Sellberg 5 T5 Anders Forsbrand 7 Magnus Persson 3 T5 Per-Ulrik Johansson 6 Robert Karlsson 1 T5 Jesper Parnevik 4 Joakim Haeggman 3 Gabriel Hjertstedt 2 Jarmo Sandelin 3 Peter Hedblom 1 Patrik Sjöland 4 Mathias Grönberg 2 T5 Total – T9 T9 T9 T5 T9 1 T5 T3 T9 T8 T3 2 T5 T3 T5 15 Win   Player   Winner in bold
Seve Trophy and Hero Cup
Seve Trophy Team Cup 2000 2002 2003 2005 2007 2009 2011 2013 2023 2025 Host country Winning team Robert Karlsson Jarmo Sandelin Niclas Fasth Freddie Jacobson Peter Hanson Henrik Stenson Alex Norén Jonas Blixt Total 2 2 2 3 2 3 2 — 1   Player – Automatic qualifier   Qualified but did not play   Winner in bold
Royal Trophy and EurAsia Cup
Royal Trophy EurAsia Cup 2006 2007 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2016 2018 Host country Winning team Asia Asia Tie Henrik Stenson Niclas Fasth Robert Karlsson Johan Edfors Peter Hanson Alex Norén Fredrik Andersson Hed Kristoffer Broberg Total 1 4 2 4 4 1 — — 1 2   Player   Qualified but did not play   Winner in bold

Notes

1. Players with or eligible for Swedish nationality that have chosen to represent other countries (e.g. Jenny Lidback, Carl Suneson, Camilla Hedberg) are not included. Players that have switched their nationality (e.g. Caroline Westrup, Paul Nilbrink) are included if they represented Sweden at the time of their achievement. Several players, such as Annika Sörenstam, have assumed U.S. citizenship, but continued to use Sweden as sporting nationality.
2. The principal tours in this centext are defined as the PGA Tour (USA), European Tour (EUR), Asian Tour (ASA), Sunshine Tour (AFR), Korn Ferry Tour (KFT), Challenge Tour (CHA) and LIV Golf League (LIV) for men, and the LPGA Tour (LPGA), Ladies European Tour (LET), LPGA of Japan Tour (JP), LPGA of Korea Tour (KR), Ladies Asian Golf Tour (AS), Epson Tour (EPS), WPGA Tour of Australasia (AU), and Sunshine Ladies Tour (AF) for women. In addition, the senior tours PGA Tour Champions (CMP) and European Senior Tour (EST) for men, and the Legends Tour (LEG) for women are included. A record of these wins is maintained by the Swedish Golf Federation.
3. Career best position in the Official World Golf Rankings.
4. M.E. is LET major only. Women's British Open turned LPGA major in 2001, The Evian in 2013.
5. Career best position in the Women's World Golf Rankings. Officially introduced in February 2006, hence not available for players active in prior years. Full list of all ranked players available at the official WWGR site and its archive.
6. Anna Nordqvist and Sophie Gustafson won the European Nations Cup together in 2010 and 2011
7. Stenson was named the 2023 European Ryder Cup captain, but his captaincy was terminated after 4 months when he signed with LIV Golf.

References

1. ^ "Golf - Den Stora Sporten" (in Swedish). Swedish Golf Federation. Retrieved 28 October 2024.
2. ^ "Statistik". 2017 statistics (in Swedish). Swedish Golf Federation. Retrieved 28 October 2024.
3. ^ Jansson, Anders (2004). Golf - Den stora sporten [Golf - The great sport] (in Swedish). Swedish Golf Federation. ISBN 91-86818007.
4. ^ "Blågula segrar" [Swedish Victories] (in Swedish). Swedish Golf Federation. Retrieved 24 April 2024.
5. "List of Golf Clubs in Sweden" (PDF) (in Swedish). Swedish Golf Federation. Retrieved 14 January 2024.
6. "Sveriges bästa golfbanor" (in Swedish). Svensk Golf. Retrieved 8 February 2021.
7. "Solheim Cup til Sverige også i 2007" (in Norwegian). Aftenposten. Retrieved 30 December 2020.
8. Jansson, Anders (2004). Golf - Den Stora Sporten' [Golf - the Great Sport] (in Swedish). Swedish Golf Federation. ISBN 91-86818007. Retrieved 30 December 2020.
9. "2017 Golf Data". 2017 statistics (in Swedish). Swedish Golf Federation. Retrieved 6 January 2018.
10. "Sveriges Golf Hall of Fame" (in Swedish). Swedish Golf Federation. Retrieved 28 October 2024.
11. "Välkommen till landslaget" (in Swedish). Swedish Golf Federation. Retrieved 29 October 2024.
12. "Official World Golf Ranking". Official World Golf Ranking. Retrieved 18 March 2022.
13. "Vil'lm Forsbrand". OWGR. Retrieved 22 June 2020.
14. Olympic Ranking - Men, International Golf Federation
15. ^ "2020 Olympic Golf Rankings".
16. Olympic Ranking - Women Archived 2016-07-20 at the Wayback Machine, International Golf Federation
17. "Statement from Ryder Cup Europe". Ryder Cup. 20 July 2022. Retrieved 20 July 2022.

External links

• Swedish Golf Federation