Golf course hit by’direct hit’ by ban on meetings of 5 or more people… Only 3,000 cancellations per day

Input 2020.12.23 06:00 | Revision 2020.12.23 06:44

4 players, 1 caddy… Violation of’No Meetings of 5 People’
Golf course enjoyed specially in Corona… Some golf courses are’closed in winter’ due to reservation cancellation
Inquiries about the possibility of changing 3-player play and no-caddie play also continued

As the government decided to apply a special quarantine measure for coronavirus infection (Corona 19) nationwide starting on the 24th, a domestic golf course was hit directly.

Less than a day after the government announced an administrative order to ban private meetings with more than 5 people in the metropolitan area, booking reservations for golf courses nationwide are being canceled one after another. According to XGOLF, the largest golf booking service in Korea on the 23rd, more than 3,000 booking reservations were canceled only in the metropolitan area of ​​Gyeonggi-Incheon, just one day after the government’s executive order was announced.

Amid the Corona 19 incident this year, domestic golf courses enjoyed a special experience. This is because, as overseas travel was restricted in the aftermath of the corona, golfers visited the domestic golf course instead of overseas golf travel. In addition, as golf gained popularity as a sport enjoyed by small groups outdoors, the number of’golins’ who were introduced to golf increased significantly.

It was a golf course that was a doldrums amid the coronavirus outbreak, but a direct hit was inevitable as the government issued an’administrative order to ban private gatherings for more than 5 people’. Golf is usually played by 4 players and 5 players including 1 caddy. It means that you will be caught in the “five-person rule” set by the government. For this reason, inquiries about whether’no-caddie play’ and’two-player play’ are possible, along with cancellation and refund requests are being continued at golf courses and golf reservation companies nationwide.

Currently, the golf course is establishing operating guidelines based on the government policy, but it is reported that there is confusion in some areas. According to an official letter sent by the Korea Golf Course Management Association to golf courses nationwide on the 22nd, the metropolitan area was’prohibited’ for meetings of five or more people, while non-metropolitan areas’recommended to refrain from’. In this case, even if a resident of the metropolitan area plays a round with a team of 4 people at a golf course in the non-metropolitan area, interpretation may differ depending on the region.

According to the current administrative order, it is possible to play 3-player and no-caddie 4-player at a golf course in the metropolitan area. The detailed guidelines for government administrative orders issued by the Gyeonggi Provincial Government to local golf courses also state that’must not exceed 4 people, including sports assistants (caddies).’

Accordingly, it is reported that most golf courses in the metropolitan area are responding in a cancellation/refund method when the 3-player play is changed or cannot be changed. No-caddie play is not possible in consideration of safety issues, except for some golf courses such as Newsspring, Yangji Pine, New Korea, and Ireland.

Some of the golf courses that had no plans to close during the winter season have changed their plans and decided to close until the administrative order period (from 0 o’clock on the 23rd to 24 o’clock on the 3rd of next month). In the Gyeonggi area, Hwaseong Sangnok, Pine Creek, and Sky Valley decided to close.

Golf booking companies were also busy with sudden government orders. XGOLF communicates with over 300 affiliated golf courses nationwide, grasps the operation policy and situation, and informs its members. An official of XGOLF said, “We have fixed pop-up notices on the official app and homepage, and provide information on the 3-person round golf course through text messages and phone calls for reservation members.” Policy.”