One Year Until the World’s Top Golfers Arrive in Kerteminde and on Funen
In August 2026, some of the world’s top golfers will descend on Kerteminde, as Funen hosts the prestigious Danish Golf Championship on the DP World Tour for the first time. The event will take place on the exclusive Great Northern course.
This marks the highlight of an ambitious golf initiative on Funen and is being celebrated today with a charity tournament in Nyborg. Preparations for 2026 are already well underway.
Yesterday, the Mayor of Kerteminde Municipality officially received the ceremonial baton symbolizing the handover of hosting duties for next year’s Danish Golf Championship. The ceremony took place at the close of this year’s tournament in Furesø. As a world-class sporting event, the Danish Golf Championship is expected to attract between 60,000 and 80,000 visitors from Denmark and abroad over the four competition days. The tournament will be broadcast to over 60 countries worldwide.
“We are incredibly proud to welcome some of the world’s best golfers to Kerteminde—and just as importantly, all the guests we hope will enjoy their stay so much that they return to explore everything else we have to offer. This is a major tournament coming to our town, and together—across our municipality and all of Funen—we are celebrating the result of close collaboration,” says Kasper Ejsing Olesen, Mayor of Kerteminde Municipality.
With four major golf tournaments within just three years, Funen is rapidly establishing itself on the map as an attractive golf destination. These events showcase the broad spectrum of golfing opportunities on the island—from seaside courses close to forests and nature to urban facilities in and around Odense.
Today marks the start of the third tournament in the series, as the scenic Sct. Knuds Golf Club in Nyborg hosts the Players Foundation Charity Tournament. The event marks the one-year countdown until the golfing elite arrives in Kerteminde for the DP World Tour’s Danish Golf Championship. Nyborg, Kerteminde, Nordfyn, and Odense are working across municipal borders to create unique experiences that ensure visitors return home with unforgettable memories—whether from restaurants, accommodations, or cultural events in public spaces.
An Island in Top Form
Golf is just one of several strategic tourism initiatives positioning Funen as a dynamic region for events and experiences. Building on experience from the Tour de France start in Nyborg, the Tinderbox Festival in Odense, and major cultural events across the island, Funen has developed a professional event infrastructure and a strong cross-municipal tourism and culture network.
“When the Danish Golf Championship comes to Funen, we once again demonstrate our strength as an event destination—this time with golf at the center. On Funen, we succeed together through big ambitions and strong local roots, creating memorable experiences for residents and visitors alike. We look forward to welcoming golf tourists to Funen—and especially to Odense—now and in the future,” says Peter Rahbæk Juel, Mayor of Odense.
18 Tees to Guide Golf Fans Around Funen
To further strengthen Funen’s profile as a golf destination, project partners are launching the joint experience concept “18 Tees – 18 Experiences.” Each “tee” represents a unique experience that offers visitors a taste of what Funen has to offer: gastronomy, nature, culture, music, movement, and community. The 18 experiences form a route for locals and tourists alike to explore, while providing a platform for local businesses in Kerteminde, Odense, Nyborg, and Bogense to showcase their passions and products—from street food and wine tastings to children’s activities, concerts, and festivals.
“It’s great to see how municipalities and businesses across Funen are already stepping up, a year before the first tee-off in Kerteminde, to ensure visitors enjoy an all-encompassing Funen experience—even beyond the golf course. We’ve gotten really good at offering heartfelt local hospitality here on Funen—especially when we work together across municipal lines,” says Jakob Staun, Head of Events at Destination Fyn.
Experience from previous editions of the Danish Golf Championship also shows that it pays to go the extra mile for golf fans in the area surrounding the course.
“When we played at Lübker Golf Resort in Djursland last year, many guests also visited Aarhus. I’d estimate that at least half the visitors spent time in the city. Of course, golf fans come primarily to watch the world-class play we deliver at the Danish Golf Championship, but they also want good accommodations, food, and to enjoy the good life in the area,” says Flemming Astrup, Director at GolfPromote.
Facts About the Funen Golf Initiative:
- A collaboration between Destination Fyn and the municipalities of Kerteminde, Odense, Nyborg, and Nordfyn.
- GolfPromote is responsible for organizing all four tournaments:
- Danish Golf Challenge at Eventyr Golf in Odense, May 2024
- HotelPlanner Tour Danish Golf Challenge in Bogense, May 2025
- Players Foundation Charity in Nyborg, August 18, 2025
- Danish Golf Championship at Great Northern in Kerteminde, August 13–16, 2026
- The initiative also aims to increase golf tourism on Funen by 10,000 additional green fee guests after 2026.
For further information, please contact:
Kasper Ejsing Olesen, Mayor of Kerteminde Municipality, tel. +45 2465 9249
Peter Rahbæk Juel, Mayor of Odense Municipality, via Press Advisor Alexander Mose-Johansen, tel. +45 2437 3397
Jakob Staun, Head of Events, Destination Fyn, tel. +45 6168 7370
