Golf Course Accidents More Than Double in 4 Years... 'Ball Striking Accidents' Most Common

Golf Course Accidents Totaled 1,468 Last Year... 2.17% Increase Since 2017
'Formal Safety Regulations and Tight Tee-Off Intervals Fuel Accidents' Criticism

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Seohee] The number of accidents at golf courses has more than doubled in the past four years. In particular, the proportion of ball-striking accidents is the highest, highlighting the need for safety inspections and countermeasures.

According to the 'Golf Course Accident Status' data provided by Rep. Lee Hyung-seok of the Democratic Party of Korea on the 26th, the number of accidents at golf courses last year was 1,468, which is 2.17 times higher compared to 675 cases in 2017, four years ago. The number of accidents from January to August this year was also counted at 1,297, and when combined with the accidents until December, it is expected that this year will be similar to or exceed last year's figures.

The increase rate of 'ball-striking accidents' was the highest. Last year, there were 1,103 ball-striking accidents, which is 2.37 times higher than the 465 cases in 2017. This exceeds the overall accident increase rate of 2.17 times. Next, 'collision accidents' increased from 160 cases in 2017 to 287 cases in 2021, showing the second highest growth rate of 1.79 times.

The main reasons why ball-striking accidents persist are lax safety regulations and tight tee-off intervals. The law concerning the installation and operation of sports facilities states that "Golf course operators must maintain a distance of at least 20 meters between each course where there is a risk of accidents, and if it is difficult to maintain such a distance due to terrain, safety nets must be installed."

The problem is that these regulations are virtually ineffective in actual practice. Detailed matters such as the height of safety nets and replacement cycles are not specified in the regulations, and the supervision by local governments is only formal. In fact, on April 27th, at a golf course in Suncheon, a user drowned in a pond while retrieving a ball, and it was revealed that safety measures such as safety fences around the pond were not properly implemented. The Jeonnam Provincial Police Agency's Violent Crime Investigation Unit sent two people, including the golf course manager and a caddie, to the prosecution on charges of professional negligence resulting in death.

Tight tee-off intervals are also one of the causes that increase accidents. Due to the 'booking chaos' caused by COVID-19, the tee-off interval at golf courses in the Seoul metropolitan area has been narrowed to as little as 6 minutes. Considering that domestic professional tournaments operate with 3-person teams at 10-minute intervals, this is quite a tight schedule. Of course, unlike amateur golfers, professional players do not use carts to move. Nevertheless, based on 4-person team play, it is difficult for every golfer to make a perfect tee shot and complete the second shot without any mistakes, according to officials.

Im Mo (43), who works as a caddie at a golf course in Gyeonggi-do, said, "When customers with little field experience become impatient, they tend to make missed shots, which often lead to safety accidents," adding, "As a caddie, I often urge customers to keep up with the set tee-off intervals on site, but I am always cautious, worried that an accident might happen."