Royal Copenhagen
Founded in 1898, Royal Copenhagen, properly Kobenhavns Golf Klub, is the oldest golf club in Scandinavia, routed since 1899 across the royal deer park of Dyrehaven north of the city. The present par 71 is the work of Colt, Alison and Morrison, and red deer still wander the fairways.
Photo: Royal Copenhagen Golf Club via Google.
The verdict
Kobenhavns Golf Klub, widely known as Royal Copenhagen, was formed in 1898, making it the oldest golf club in Scandinavia and one of the most atmospheric places to play in northern Europe. Since 1899 the course has occupied part of Dyrehaven, the former royal hunting forest north of Copenhagen, a UNESCO listed parforce landscape where herds of red and fallow deer graze among 200 year old oaks.
The firm of Colt, Alison and Morrison designed the layout in 1926, and in 1928 it became the first 18 hole course in Denmark. A par 71 of about 5,800 meters, it is not long by modern standards, but the ancient trees, the wildlife and the sense of history make a round here unlike any other in the region. There is nowhere quite like it for a memorable day's golf near a great European capital.
Royal Copenhagen at a glance
- Founded
- 1898
- Designer
- Colt, Alison and Morrison
- Type
- Forest parkland
- Par
- 71
- Yardage
- About 5,800 m
- Green fee
- Visitor rates apply
Founding year, designer and par verified June 2026 from Kobenhavns Golf Klub and leading course databases. The club was founded in 1898 as the oldest in Scandinavia, with the present layout designed by Colt, Alison and Morrison in 1926 and becoming Denmark's first 18 hole course in 1928. It is a par 71 of about 5,800 meters in the Dyrehaven deer park. Visitor green fees vary by season and require a current handicap, so always confirm rates and access directly before booking.
The holes worth the trip
Royal Copenhagen plays through one of the most extraordinary settings in golf, the open woodland and meadows of Dyrehaven, where deer move freely across the course and the Hermitage hunting lodge stands on a rise above the trees. The ground is gently rolling, the fairways framed by ancient oaks and beeches.
The Colt, Alison and Morrison routing is a study in classical restraint, using the natural folds of the old deer park and the mature trees as its defense rather than length or water. The greens are subtle and the lines off the tee matter, but the round is as much about atmosphere as it is about score, with the wildlife and the history at every turn.
It is not a championship test in the modern sense, and it is the better for it. A round at Royal Copenhagen is a walk through living Danish history, a par 71 in a royal forest a short drive or train ride from the heart of one of Europe's most likeable cities.
How to get on
| What to know | Detail |
|---|---|
| Access | Private members club that welcomes visitors with a current handicap; book tee times through the golf shop, busiest in the long summer days |
| Green fee | Visitor green fees apply and vary by season; confirm the current rate when booking (indicative, 2026) |
| Booking | Reserve ahead in the short Nordic summer; a current handicap certificate is required to play |
| On the day | Walking through a working deer park; give the deer space and follow the local rules on the wildlife and the forest |
| Getting there | Dyrehaven at Klampenborg, about 20 minutes north of central Copenhagen by car or a short ride on the coastal train |
| Best months | May to September for the long northern days; high summer brings the warmest, driest conditions |
Access arrangements verified June 2026; the club is private and policies change, so always confirm rates and tee availability directly before planning a visit.
Where to stay nearby
Most visiting golfers base themselves in central Copenhagen, a short drive or train ride south, where the hotels, harbor and restaurants of one of Europe's most stylish capitals sit close to the airport and the wider region. A city base puts Royal Copenhagen and the coastal courses within easy reach.
For a quieter stay nearer the first tee, the leafy coastal suburbs of Klampenborg and Charlottenlund along the Oresund offer calm and sea air. The area suits a relaxed city and golf break, pairing the historic forest golf of Royal Copenhagen with Copenhagen's design, food and culture.
Looking for a base? See our recommended hotels and resorts near Royal Copenhagen.
Build a Copenhagen golf trip
We book the Royal Copenhagen tee times, pair them with the best of the region and arrange the lodging around them. Tell us roughly when and who is travelling and one concierge costs it to the head, with no obligation.
Royal Copenhagen questions
When was Royal Copenhagen founded?
Kobenhavns Golf Klub, known as Royal Copenhagen, was founded in 1898, making it the oldest golf club in Scandinavia. It has occupied the Dyrehaven deer park since 1899.
Who designed Royal Copenhagen?
The present 18 hole layout was designed by the firm Colt, Alison and Morrison in 1926, and in 1928 it became the first 18 hole golf course in Denmark.
What is the par and length of Royal Copenhagen?
Royal Copenhagen is a par 71 of about 5,800 meters, routed through the woodland and meadows of the Dyrehaven royal deer park north of the city.
Can visitors play Royal Copenhagen?
Yes. The club welcomes visiting golfers who hold a current handicap. Tee times are booked through the golf shop and are busiest during the long summer days.
Related
The Tee Sheet
Tee time windows, course access changes and the trips worth taking. Every other week.
Researched and written by the GolfForKings editorial desk. Founding year, designer and par verified June 2026; access and indicative fees verified June 2026. Last reviewed June 2026.