"‘Woo Young-woo Popularity’ but Even Exclusive Golf Course Thresholds Are High for Disabled Golfers"

Despite a 5-Year Increase in Disabled Park Golf Population, Related Facilities Are Severely Lacking
Exclusive Stadiums Exist but Lead to Further Exclusion... No Customized Facilities Cause Inconvenience

Disabled golfer participating in a golf tournament for the disabled [Photo by Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Seohee] Although the number of golfers with disabilities continues to increase, there are still concerns that the number of golf courses and infrastructure for them remain insufficient. In fact, there are frequent cases where a ‘role reversal’ situation occurs, with a large influx of non-disabled elderly people crowding the park golf courses operated by disability organizations, pushing the actual disabled golfers to the sidelines.

Disabled Park Golf Clubs Have Steadily Increased Over the Past Five Years

According to the Korea Paralympic Committee, the population of golfers with disabilities has steadily increased over the past five years. Checking the number of newly registered park golf clubs on the Korea Paralympic Committee’s website, the number rose from 88 in 2018 to 121 in 2021.

The types of disabilities among members are also diversifying. In 2018, clubs composed of physically disabled individuals accounted for 70% of the total, but by 2021, this ratio decreased to 62%, while the proportions of visually impaired and hearing-impaired members gradually increased. On the surface, golf is becoming a popular hobby among people with disabilities due to its popularization.

‘Disabled-Only’ Park Golf Courses... Disabled Golfers Feeling Marginalized

However, the domestic golf infrastructure for disabled golfers is grossly insufficient to accommodate the increased population of disabled players.

According to the Korea Disabled Golf Association, disabled golf is broadly divided into ‘park golf’ and ‘field golf.’ Field golf refers to disabled individuals using general golf courses. In contrast, park golf is played at park golf courses that are modified nearby parks adapted to the game’s format. Park golf attracts many disabled golfers due to its low usage fees and excellent accessibility.

The problem is that recently, a large number of general elderly people have been flocking to park golf courses. According to membership registration data released by the Korea Park Golf Association, the park golf population increased from 16,728 in 2017 to 64,001 in 2021, nearly quadrupling in four years. The overall increase in the elderly population also influenced this trend.

Meanwhile, during the same period, the number of park golf courses only doubled, increasing from 137 in 2017 to 305 in 2021. Although the courses have been steadily expanded, they have not kept pace with the rapidly growing park golf population.

Given this situation, the industry explains that disabled golfers are currently being pushed out of courses nationwide. Although there are disabled-only park golf courses operated and managed by disability organizations, there are only a few dozen nationwide, which is far from sufficient to accommodate disabled golfers. Moreover, these disabled-only park golf courses allow entry to non-disabled golfers, making them practically no different from general golf courses.

Park Mingyun, Secretary-General of the Korea Disabled Golf Association, said, “Since there are generally more general customers than disabled ones, it is common for disabled customers to be pushed aside even at disabled-only courses. Currently, disabled park golf clubs are understood to divide course usage by days of the week and implement a two-shift system.”

Even When Playing Field Golf... Disabled Golfers Struggle with Courses That Do Not Consider Their Needs

Even when disabled golfers make up their minds to play field golf, the reality they face is challenging.

Most wheelchair-using disabled golfers are not allowed to enter general golf courses due to concerns about ‘damage to the grass.’ Although some courses allow entry, they often lack disabled-only carts that can accommodate wheelchairs, or the height of standard wheelchairs and the length of golf clubs do not match, causing inconvenience in game operation. This means that even if there are enough courses, there is a lack of detailed design that considers disabled players.

The situation is no different for ‘professional-level’ disabled golfers participating in tournaments. To participate in tournaments, disabled golfers must use electric scooters for the disabled rather than regular wheelchairs. However, these devices cost between 2 million and 5 million KRW, placing a heavy financial burden on disabled golfers, according to insiders. Additionally, many disabled golfers struggle because customized sporting equipment tailored to their physical conditions is not widely available in the market.

Experts emphasize the need for overall improvement in the number and infrastructure of domestic golf courses, considering the rapidly increasing number of disabled golfers. Park Mingyun, Secretary-General of the Korea Disabled Golf Association, advised, “Above all, the number of park golf courses frequently visited by disabled golfers must be expanded, and general golf courses should pay attention to customized designs that consider disabled players. Developing disabled-only carts is necessary so that disabled individuals do not experience inconvenience while playing golf.”

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