Golf Courses "Fall Booking Is Too Difficult"

Impact of COVID-19 and Gollini on 'Explosive Growth in Golf Demand': 10% Increase in Booking Rate and 18% Decrease in Cancellation Rate Compared to Late October

Golf courses are fully enjoying the 'COVID-19 boom'.

[Asia Economy Reporter No Woo-rae] Office worker Mr. A.

He planned a golf outing with friends after getting a vacation for the first time in a while. However, he faced disappointment. Booking a tee time was like "catching stars in the sky." The "acquaintance chance" brought little benefit, and he ultimately gave up on the round. This is a phenomenon caused by COVID-19. With overseas travel restricted, domestic golf demand has exploded, and even "Gollini (Golf + Children)" have joined in, making it difficult to secure tee times. We are living in a time when it is not easy to step onto the field even if you want to.

Recently, as the government implemented a phased return to daily life related to COVID-19, golf course reservation rates increased by 10% compared to the end of October. According to data from XGOLF, a golf reservation service company, the domestic golf course reservation rate was 46.1% in the last week of last month but rose sharply to 57.6% in the first week of November. The analysis is that "the lifting of restrictions on the number of people and operating hours at golf courses due to the phased return to daily life caused customers to flock."

Golf courses were included in the list of facilities with shower usage restrictions in July, but since the phased return to daily life began on the 1st, shower facilities have been available regardless of vaccination status. Also, golf courses in the metropolitan area can hold gatherings of up to 10 people, and outside the metropolitan area, up to 12 people. Despite the "surprise cold wave" last month, golf courses heated up. Usually, when a cold wave warning is issued, the cancellation rate of reservations rises, but this year, tee times remained scarce.

During the first cold wave warning in 2019, the cancellation rate was 40%, 38% last year, but this year it unusually dropped to 18%. It is difficult to wait for booking cancellations. With the easing of social distancing, the second time slot and night rounds can be used normally, so golf courses are operating additional time slots. XGOLF explained, "Metropolitan area golf courses are fully booked as soon as they open," and "Golfers, finding it difficult to secure tee times, are instead flocking to night rounds."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.