[2030 Golini Has Appeared③] Golini Is an Amateur Fitting Expert "YouTube Is the Teacher"

YouTuber 'Simjjang' Popularity, Acquiring Various Knowledge Online, New Equipment 'Flex' on SNS, Smart Shopping on Secondhand and Direct Purchase Sites

2030 beginner golfers find their own new weapons through thorough fittings. Photo by Ping Golf

[Asia Economy Reporter No Woo-rae] "I have gained a lot of golf knowledge."

This is the evaluation of Lee Young-sung, a fitter who has been in charge of fitting at Ping Golf for 8 years, regarding the ‘2030 Golini (Golf + Children)’. He explained, "They seem to be accumulating a lot of information about golf through various channels," and "They respond proactively rather than passively in every aspect." He added, "When fitting clubs, they focus on asking about head speed, trajectory, angle, carry, run, etc.," noting that "this is different from golfers in their 20s and 30s in the past."

2030 Golini is a newly coined term attracting attention in the golf industry. It has emerged as a new power group in the COVID-19 era. Since going abroad is not possible and golf is a relatively safe outdoor sport, it has gained popularity. The 2030 Golini are digital natives. They communicate in real-time with people worldwide through social networking services (SNS) such as Facebook and Instagram. Golf is suitable as a ‘flex item’ to post on their own SNS.

2030 Golini acquire golf knowledge online. They can search for equipment, lessons, and golf courses all from their seats. YouTube is their ‘teacher’. In the golf world, ‘Simjjang’ is popular. Anyone who has watched golf videos on YouTube has probably heard the name at least once. It has 281,000 subscribers. It is a channel run by golf creator and pro Sim Seo-jun, who studied in New Zealand. It started in 2009 and has been running for 12 years.

YouTuber 'Simjjang' is a representative online teacher for 2030 golf beginners. Photo by Simjjang Golf

Everything about golf is included. It kindly guides beginners from the entrance of the golf course to checkout. There are lessons for office workers and women, as well as tips to increase driving distance. It answers subscribers’ questions and recently created a buzz by experimenting with applying lip balm to the driver head face. It also uploads videos of actual field play. Golf lectures and golf tournament information are actively exchanged as well.

Above all, 2030 Golini have a strong desire for equipment. Although their skills are still beginner level, they want the best weapons. They gather information about heads, grips, and shafts and make demanding requests during fittings. Of course, there are downsides to the era of information overload. Weekend golfers try to get fittings as deep and specialized as professionals. Professional golfers have almost consistent swings whenever measured, allowing for professional analysis.

However, weekend golfers with large variations are different. They need to find the optimal club through multiple fittings. Most people in their 20s and 30s cannot fully commit to golf. Although the golf population has rapidly increased, entry barriers still exist. 2030 Golini also consider ways to save economically. There are quite a few practical users. They purchase equipment from secondhand sites or buy new products through overseas direct purchases.