[Kim Maengnyeong's Golf English Conversation] "Are Hot Dogs Trending Because of COVID-19?"

Hot dogs have become a popular menu item at American golf courses due to the spread of COVID-19. Photo by USA Today

The novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) is a pandemic.

New York on the East Coast of the United States is also severely affected by COVID-19. However, golfers outside this area still enjoy playing golf. The style has changed a bit. They change clothes inside their cars, go straight to the starter house, and get on the cart. Instead of dining in the clubhouse, they prefer take-out hot dogs or sandwiches. They skip showers. Recently, statistics have shown that the most popular food at snack bars in American golf courses is hot dogs.

The most commonly used phrase when ordering is "Can I have a hotdog and a regular coke, please?" The ingredients are usually grilled frankfurters or Vienna sausages. The bread called a hotdog bun is a long oval shape cut in half. The sausage is placed between the buns, and depending on preference, relish, chili, pickled cabbage, tomato, onion, pickles, cheese, and more are added.

Finally, ketchup or mustard sauce is poured on top to finish. The origin of the hotdog is interesting. At every party, serving bread and sausage separately caused greasy hands. Because of this, they started serving the sausage inside the bread. Recently, it is shortened to dog. The bread of a hotdog is not called bread but bun. You need to pay attention to pronunciation when ordering. Hotdog is pronounced hotdog, not hotduck; sandwich is pronounced sandwich, not sandwitch; Coca-Cola is pronounced coke.

A (restaurant employee): Are you ready to order?

B (golfer): I'd like one big hotdog, please.

A: Would you like it with the works?

B: Ketchup, mustard and some relish would be great.

A: All right, sir. Well, to go or for here?

B: To go.

Written by Kim Maengnyeong, golf columnist