Sweden and Finland have several brilliant options for golfers with excellent golf courses and top-quality nearby hotels. Here are our picks for a Scandinavian golf break.
Sweden
With some of Europe’s most beautiful and varied landscapes, Sweden is home to some truly exceptional golf courses. Many of these are located close to the country’s charming capital, Stockholm. You can enjoy the best shopping, restaurants and culture this cool and sophisticated city has to offer and also play at one of Europe’s best golf clubs only around 40 minutes away.
Bro Hof Slott Golf Club
Northwest from the city centre, Bro Hof Slott Golf Club is home to two incredible layouts. The Stadium Course opened in 2007, situated directly on Lake Malaren and crowned by Bro Hof Castle, while the Castle Course opened in 2010, designed to the same quality but with elements of Scottish links. Both were designed by Robert Trent Jones Jnr and the club hosted the Scandinavian Masters in 2010.
The Stadium Course is particularly daunting, stretching over 8,000 yards, making it one of the longest in Europe. It features large, undulating greens, expansive water hazards and strategic bunkering. The Castle Course is slightly shorter and meanders through parklands with natural bodies of water. It’s characterised by its beauty and the castle that enhances the scenic backdrop.
Ullna Golf & Country Club
Another world-class course around an hour from the capital, Ullna Golf & Country Club is located on the shores of Lake Ullna and is one of the most beautiful layouts in Scandinavia. Six of the 18 holes stretch along the waterfront. Re-designed by Jack Nicklaus in 2011, it hosted the 2023 Scandinavian Mixed, a DP World Tour and European and Ladies European Tour co-sanctioned event.
Bank Hotel, Stockholm
If you play at Bro Hof Slott or Ullna Golf & Country Club, Bank Hotel is a five-star luxurious boutique hotel in central Stockholm. It’s less than 600 yards from the Royal Palace and footsteps from the waterfront. There are 115 individually furnished rooms with several exclusive room categories, of which six are suites. There’s a spa and health club, a great choice of bars including a cocktail bar on the roof with fabulous views over the fashionable Ostermalm district, and three lovely restaurant areas.
Finland
With huge forests and lakes, Finland is home to some beautiful golf courses. The golf season normally starts in early May and ends in mid-October. Here are some of the best places to stay and play, all handily just minutes from each other.
Linna Golf
This top-quality course opened in 2005 around an hour’s drive north of the capital Helsinki, close to the city of Hameenlinna. It’s laid out through a pine and birch forest adjacent to the historic Vanajanlinna Hotel. It’s got gorgeous views of Lake Katuma with water coming into play on several holes and superbly maintained greens. This 18-hole championship course also has excellent practice facilities and a clubhouse with a pro shop, restaurant, saunas and spa.
Hotel Vanajanlinna
Less than a five-minute walk away from the golf club is this stunning four-star place to stay. You can choose between the luxurious rooms of Vanajanlinna’s main building or spacious apartments or golf suites set in an annexe of Linna Golf & Country Club. Golfers can enjoy the golf club restaurant during and after a round and then have dinner at the Vanajanlinna restaurant on the outdoor terrace. There’s a fitness centre, saunas and a spa.
Aulanko Golf
Only around 10km from Linna Golf is Aulanko Golf, home to nine-hole and 18-hole courses. Similar to English-style parkland courses, the short Hugo course is the oldest layout in Finland and provides a fun challenge, while the longer Eversti course opened in 2006 and hosted the European Senior Team Championship in 2018. The clubhouse is located approximately 2km from the four-star Aulanko Hotel.
Tawast Golf & Country Club
Only two minutes up the road from Linna Golf, Tawast Golf & Country Club is an 18-hole course surrounded by woodland on the shores of Lake Katumajarvi. Several greens are located right by the water’s edge at this beautiful and popular venue with locals.
