Golfers cry at the soaring golf course water…weekday nights and local expeditions

Input 2021.04.04 06:00 | Revision 2021.04.04 09:03

Golf course price index increased by 4%
“If the four go, it costs 1 million won, including green peas and caddy peas.”

Golf course prices are soaring. People who are unable to travel abroad due to the coronavirus infection (Corona 19) are rushing to golf, an outdoor exercise that can be done while keeping social distancing.

According to the National Statistical Office on the 4th, the price index for golf course fees last month was 113.88, up 4% from last March (109.59). This index was calculated by the National Statistical Office by examining the green fee, cart fee, and caddy fee of 25 members and public golf courses nationwide, and the 2015 price is reported as 100.

Golf was once recognized as a high-end sport, but after the coronavirus, the golf population has rapidly increased and has spread as a public leisure. According to X Golf, an online golf reservation site, about 10 golf courses in Seoul and Gyeonggi Province are full for weekend reservations until the 18th of this month. There are over 230,000 golf course user reviews.

The problem is that prices are also rising in line with the growing golf population. According to the’Golf Course Fees Soaring After the Corona Crisis’ released on the 23rd of last month by the Korea Leisure Industry Research Institute, the weekday admission fee for public golf courses increased by 13% from 135,000 won to 153,000 won from May last year to last month. It increased by 10% from 181,000 won to 200,000 won.

During the same period, weekday entrance fees (non-members) of member golf courses rose 6% from 174,000 won to 184,000 won, and admission on Saturdays rose 5% from 223,000 won to 235,000 won.

The weekday usage fee per person, including admission, caddy, and cart fee, rose 11% from 186,000 won to 207,000 won, and the Saturday usage fee increased 9% from 233,000 won to 254,000 won. In addition, the weekday usage fee per person for member golf courses increased by 5% from 228,000 won to 240,000 won, and Saturday usage per person per person rose 5% from 277,000 won to 290,000 won.

As the situation is like this, golfers who go on expeditions to the provinces are also emerging. Yu Jin-ho (30), an office worker in the financial sector, said, “If you go to the net, it costs about 1 million won to a caddy, but it is a burden for newcomers in society.” Said.

Seung-won Jeong, 28, who works in the construction industry, said, “Some of the bosses at work are burdened with green blood on weekends, so some go home on weekdays and play golf at night.” Said.

Professor Jeong Yong-cheol of the Department of Sports Psychology at Sogang University said, “It is difficult for companies to raise prices to make a profit, although golf, an outdoor sport, is booming due to the paradox of the corona pandemic. He pointed out, “We need self-rescue on how to capture the people who entered the golf course even after the coronavirus is over.”