Domestic Golf Population 11.76 Million... Spending 260,000 Won Monthly

Korea Golf Association Releases 2021 Korea Golf Index
3 out of 10 Adults Participate...16% Increase Since 2017
Potential Active Population Also at 32.8%

As of 2021, the domestic golf population aged 20 and over was 11.76 million, indicating that about 3 out of 10 adults engage in golf activities. Excluding equipment costs, the monthly expenditure on golf activities was estimated at 260,000 KRW per person.

Visitors attending the '2022 X Golf Show' held at COEX in Gangnam-gu, Seoul, are trying out golf drivers. Photo by Jinhyung Kang aymsdream@

The Korea Golf Association announced the '2021 Korea Golf Index' including these results on the 26th. This survey, conducted jointly with Kyung Hee University's Golf Industry Research Institute, targeted 4,512 adult men and women aged 20 and over across 17 cities and provinces nationwide. The sample error margin was ±1.45 at a 95% confidence level.

According to the survey, the proportion of the golf-active population aged 20 and over accounted for 31.5% of the total. This represents a 16.4% increase compared to 2017. Among them, the sustained golf-active population was 23.2%, and the new golf-active population was 8.3%. Among the new golf-active population, males accounted for 65.2%, which was more than 30% higher than females (34.8%).

The average monthly expenditure per golfer on golf activities in 2021 (excluding equipment costs) was approximately 260,000 KRW. The average monthly spending by golf facility type was 575,000 KRW at golf courses, 240,000 KRW at indoor practice ranges, 239,000 KRW at outdoor practice ranges, and 189,000 KRW at indoor screen golf facilities. The most frequently used venue was screen golf courses at 45.5%, followed by indoor practice ranges at 25.7%, outdoor practice ranges at 15.8%, and golf courses at 13.1%. While screen golf courses have shown a continuous increase since 2007, golf courses decreased by 4.8% compared to 2017.

Although they currently do not know how to play golf, the potential golf-active population willing to learn golf in the future was 32.8%, a 5% increase compared to 2017. By age group, males in their 30s (68.5%) and 40s (66.2%), and females in their 20s (61.8%) and 40s (58.8%) showed a high willingness to learn golf.

2023 Korea Golf Association Awards Ceremony
[Photo by Korea Golf Association]

Meanwhile, the Korea Golf Association held its regular general assembly at The Plaza Hotel in Jung-gu, Seoul on the same day, where it approved new golf course memberships, the formation and appointment of the 19th Sports Fairness Committee for the second half of the term, the 2022 business results and financial settlement, and the appointment of auditors for the second half of the 19th term.

Additionally, the 2023 Korea Golf Association Awards Ceremony was held, where Vice President Anyang Ok of the Korea Elementary School Golf Federation, Executive Director Youngseok Ko of the Ulsan Metropolitan City Association, and Chief Referee Yangseop Ryu of the Korea Golf Association received commendations. Nine organizations including Daegu Country Club, Plaza CC, Yongin Country Club, New Seoul Country Club, Korea Country Club, Lakeside Country Club, Century 21 Country Club, Mauna Ocean Country Club, Gumi Apparel Co., Ltd., and Kane Co., Ltd. received audit awards. The Ulsan Metropolitan City Golf Association and Gyeongsangbuk-do Golf Association each received merit awards.

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