Park Golf, Era of 100,000 Enthusiasts... "Best for Walking and Socializing"

Last Year Registered Members 106,505
Increased About 6 Times in the Last 5 Years
Low Cost and Risk Accelerate Middle-Aged and Senior Influx

Yeouido Park Golf Course

The number of park golf players in South Korea has surpassed 100,000. The population has grown about sixfold over the past five years. This is the result of the growing perception, especially among middle-aged and older adults, that it is effective for health management and socializing.

According to the Korea Park Golf Association on the 6th, as of last year, the total number of registered members by city and province was 106,505. This is a 66% increase compared to the previous year. The number of park golf enthusiasts has been rapidly increasing every year since official statistics began. The numbers rose from 16,728 in 2017 to 26,462 in 2018, 37,630 in 2019, 45,478 in 2020, and 64,001 in 2021, opening the era of 100,000 players in just five years.

As of last year, the city/province with the highest number of registered members was Gyeongnam, with 20,745 members, marking a 118% increase from the previous year. Daegu (18,696 members) and Gyeongbuk (11,261 members) also had over 10,000 members. Along with Gyeongnam, Gyeonggi (163%) and Ulsan (106%) saw their membership numbers more than double compared to the previous year.

Registered members start at local clubs under each local government, then move up to city/province membership, and finally to the central association. Upon becoming a central member, a joining fee of 5,000 KRW per person is charged. Local clubs also collect membership or operating fees independently. When including the grassroots-level enthusiasts, the actual number of park golf players could be much higher.

Park golf is a sport combining "park" and "golf," played in small green spaces like parks. It uses only one club, making it easy to hit the ball, allows players to be close to nature, and walking on grass puts less strain on the body. Since the ball is not lifted, the risk of accidents is low. The Park Golf Association explains that it is a sport that people of all ages and abilities, including those with disabilities, can enjoy together. Playing 18 holes costs about 10,000 KRW, so the financial burden is low.

A representative from the Park Golf Association said, "Because of the advantage of being able to round together in local clubs and build friendships, many seniors aged 60 and above who have time and financial resources tend to participate. Playing 18 holes involves walking at least 20,000 steps, so it is very effective for health management."

According to a national sports survey conducted by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism targeting 9,000 citizens aged 10 and older, as of 2021, 32.7% of people in their 50s, 38% in their 60s, and 21.4% aged 70 and above reported being active in golf clubs, including general golf and park golf. When asked about sports clubs they would like to join in the future by age group, 24.3% of those in their 50s, 17.5% in their 60s, and 5.5% aged 70 and above chose golf, including park golf. Another notable feature is the high number of female players. According to the Korea Sports Council's statistics, as of 2020, among 52,770 park golf enthusiasts, 23,331 were male and 29,439 were female.

Lee Eun-hee (68), a housewife who has been playing park golf for six months, emphasized, "Walking on grass puts no strain on the body and helps improve concentration. It is the best exercise for middle-aged and older adults."

A limitation is the shortage of park golf courses compared to the rapidly increasing number of players. The Park Golf Association has counted 329 courses nationwide. Most operate on a first-come, first-served basis, and due to high demand, waiting times of one to two hours are common.

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