"Premium Course at 700m Above Sea Level... Crafted by 'Golf Legend' Jack Nicklaus"

[Golf Course Story] ③ - Phoenix Country Club

25 Species of Trees and Shrubs for Sightseeing in Eco-Friendly Design
'Prestigious Golf Course' Management Policy, Service Differentiation

Gangwon Pyeongchang-gun, known for its leisure and recreational facilities such as ski resorts and natural recreation forests, promotes the slogan 'Happy700.' This is because it is located at an altitude of over 700 meters above sea level, where living conditions are pleasant and comfortable. The Phoenix Country Club (CC), lined up like a folding screen along the foothills of Taegisan Mountain, is also a representative eco-friendly golf course in the area. While other regions might feel the onset of summer in early May, here you can enjoy the late spring atmosphere by admiring azaleas and wild cherry blossoms. In midsummer, the average temperature is a cool and comfortable 23 degrees Celsius, making for a refreshing round, and the distinct charms of autumn foliage and winter snow scenery add to the appeal throughout the four seasons.

Phoenix Country Club Overview
[Photo by Phoenix CC]

Design That Satisfies Both Professionals and Amateurs

At Phoenix CC, there is great enjoyment in viewing the natural forest surrounding the course along the golf course entrance road. About 25 species of trees and shrubs, including pine, Korean pine, oak, cherry, wild pear, and birch trees, thrive here. Pines over 50 years old form the core, and when constructing the nearby Phoenix Pyeongchang Resort and ski resort, trees from the site were transplanted to the golf course grounds. The course is characterized by minimal external planting and the use of native trees to preserve and utilize the natural landscape as much as possible. To complement the cut surfaces inevitably formed during the clubhouse construction, birch saplings were planted to restore natural beauty.

Song Ho-young, General Manager of Phoenix Pyeongchang, explained, "Even if not flashy, we focused on creating landscaping that harmonizes naturally with the surrounding environment by maximizing the use of local materials."

Opened in April 1999, Phoenix CC gained fame as the first golf course in Korea designed by Jack Nicklaus (USA), considered one of the greatest golfers of the 20th century. Following the designer's philosophy of "making courses easy for amateur golfers but challenging for professionals," the course aims to be "hard to par but easy to bogey." This 18-hole golf course encourages diverse strategies for each hole and sometimes stimulates a challenging spirit, creating fun and interest. Although the distance allows for aggressive shots aimed at the hole cup, many greens are narrow, making it difficult to reduce strokes.

Lake 11, considered the signature hole of Phoenix Country Club. It is an island hole with the green floating like an island above the water hazard. When viewed from the teeing ground, the scenery offers a panoramic view of the Phoenix Pyeongchang ski slopes.
[Photo by Phoenix CC]

The 'Devil's Hole,' regarded as troublesome by both golfers and staff, is Mountain Hole 4 (par 4). It is the most difficult hole with handicap 1, where the teeing ground is higher than the fairway, and the left side of the fairway forms a steep cliff. Additionally, the bunker on the left side of the fairway has a high lip. If the tee shot or second shot goes off the fairway, players must accept a penalty of at least one stroke in the rough.

The most popular 'signature hole' is Lake Hole 11. It is a rare par 4 island hole in Korea, offering an outstanding view from the teeing ground. A long water hazard runs along the left side of the course, and the green sits like an island about 300 meters away. Behind it, the slopes of Phoenix Pyeongchang Snow Park are visible. Long hitters can aim directly at the island with their tee shot, but accuracy is required, demanding strategic play. If unsure about distance, it is better to play safely along the right fairway to target the hole cup.

"Leisure and Elegance... Differentiation Through Premium Service"

Following an internal policy to operate as a prestigious golf course, Phoenix CC focuses on maintaining premium services. These are broadly divided into course management and member management. The course is developed with an emphasis on eco-friendliness. Every year, pine trees, silver grass, and wildflowers are planted on slopes to give the course seasonal characteristics. Additionally, to maintain optimal green conditions tailored to golfers' preferences, the course has continuously replaced grass with new varieties of bentgrass seed.

The standard for member management is improving satisfaction. Phoenix CC operates on a membership basis with about 1,200 total membership slots. General Manager Song explained, "We plan to reduce the total number of slots to around 1,000 to focus more efficient services on users." This is to ensure members can play without rushing and to maintain the course in top condition. The reason night rounds have not been introduced since opening is based on this principle. Meanwhile, a community where members interact and maintain long-term friendships is also active.

The clubhouse food and beverage (F&B) service has been converted to direct management following Phoenix Hotels & Resorts' policy. Under the direction of Shin Chung-jin, Executive Chef of Phoenix Hotels & Resorts, who previously worked at the Blue House and 5-star hotels, the menu aims for premium hotel standards. A salad bar has been introduced as a feature. When ordering meals at the clubhouse, guests can use the salad bar free of charge.

General Manager Song said, "Helping members enjoy a comfortable and pleasant round on a well-maintained course is the core value Phoenix CC pursues as a premium golf course," adding, "We are also planning investments to expand holes to provide differentiated services."

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