"Grandmothers Going to Play Golf" Silver Golfers Searching for Park Golf Courses

Elderly Grandchildren Holding Hands Going to Park Golf Course
Walking Over 10,000 Steps on Average for Natural Full-Body Exercise
Concerns Over Unplanned Development as Park Golf Population Grows

[Asia Economy Reporter Han Seung-gon] Park golf is a compound word of park and golf, a type of golf that can be easily enjoyed in urban parks using wooden clubs and plastic balls. It is also called 'mini golf' and is a sport mainly enjoyed by seniors in their 60s and 70s.

The advantage of park golf is that the moment you step outside your home, exercise naturally begins. Since there are golf courses within urban parks, accessibility is excellent, and players walk to and from the golf course. In the process, it naturally becomes walking exercise. Moreover, it is said to reduce feelings of depression as players can engage in social activities such as chatting with club members in their neighborhood. The equipment needed to enjoy golf consists of just one wooden club and one plastic ball, making the entry barrier low. This is why park golf is considered an ideal sport for the elderly.

Hwacheon Park Golf Course in Hwacheon-gun, Gangwon-do. Photo by Yonhap News

From Young Children to Seniors, a 'Family-Oriented Sport'

According to an official from the Korea Park Golf Association, seniors who enjoy park golf usually walk between 10,000 and 20,000 steps. The official said, "While playing golf involves exercise, continuously walking around the golf course results in a 10,000-step workout." He added, "Some seniors even walk more than 20,000 steps, which provides full-body exercise."

Another advantage of park golf is that it is not a sport only for seniors but one that the whole family can enjoy. Another association official said, "Park golf is a family-oriented sport that can be enjoyed by three generations, from young children to seniors." For example, grandparents can visit the golf course with their grandchildren to enjoy exercise and leisure time together. The price range of equipment is also affordable compared to traditional golf. The official said, "Prices vary by manufacturer, but generally, desired equipment can be purchased for between 200,000 and 1,000,000 KRW."

Park golf course located in Gyeongju-si, Gyeongbuk. Photo by Yonhap News

Beyond Simple Leisure Golf, Nationwide Park Golf Tournaments

Park golf also has official tournaments. According to the Korea Park Golf Association, eligibility requires holding at least a Level 3 Park Golf Instructor certificate, and the competition format is a 36-hole stroke play. In the event of a tie, the winner is decided by match play on the final hole. There are also inter-association competitions where selected representatives from each association participate. The President’s Cup tournament, in which branch associations compete, is held throughout the year at park golf courses in the regions where the tournaments take place.

According to the Korea Park Golf Association, the domestic park golf population surged from 64,000 in 2021 to 92,000 in 2022. However, there are only 326 park golf courses nationwide, with Seoul, the most populous city, having just 11 courses.

Park Golf Population Increasing, but Calls for Cautious Development

As the park golf population grows, voices calling for environmental consideration are also increasing. An environmental group in Daegu pointed to the reckless issuance of river occupancy permits by environmental authorities as damaging river ecosystems and identified the recently increasing number of park golf courses as a main culprit. Daegu currently has 28 park golf courses, the highest number among local governments nationwide.

The Kumho River Overdevelopment Prevention Daegu-Gyeongbuk Joint Countermeasure Committee and Nakdong River Network held a press conference on the 22nd at the Nakdong River Basin Environmental Office in Changwon, Gyeongnam, stating, "The Nakdong River Environmental Office, responsible for issuing river occupancy permits for national rivers in the Nakdong River basin, is recklessly issuing permits, causing rapid damage to the national river ecosystem," and claimed, "The park golf courses that have been indiscriminately proliferating mainly along national rivers are evidence of this." In response, the Nakdong River Environmental Office explained, "When river occupancy permit applications are submitted, thorough environmental impact assessments are conducted."

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