Public Golf Course 'Usage Fee Cap on Weekdays 188,000 Won'

Starting January 1 This Year, Weekend Fee 247,000 Won
Legal Amendment Mandates Display of Green Fee and Cart Usage Charges

[Asia Economy Reporter No Woo-rae] Golf courses wishing to be designated as public golf courses must set their course usage fees lower than 188,000 KRW on weekdays and 247,000 KRW on weekends.

Golf facility operators seeking government tax support can apply for designation as a public golf course starting January 1, 2023. This follows the National Assembly's amendment to the Act on Installation and Use of Sports Facilities in May last year, which classified golf courses into membership and non-membership types, and stipulated that non-membership golf courses meeting certain fee requirements can be designated as public golf courses.

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism announced on December 30 last year, in the "Notice on Designation of Public Golf Courses," that the designation requirements for public golf courses include ▲ setting course usage fees lower than the upper limit fee for public golf courses ▲ using the standard terms and conditions related to golf course use as stipulated in Article 19-3 of the Act on Regulation of Terms and Conditions.

The upper limit for course usage fees at public golf courses was announced based on the average admission fee for non-members at membership golf courses in the metropolitan area as of October 2022, adjusted by the 2.8% entertainment and cultural consumer price inflation rate published by Statistics Korea, minus the 34,000 KRW tax differential between membership and public golf courses.

Golf operators wishing to register as public golf courses must submit a usage fee plan. The average fees for April, May, June, and September, October, November must not exceed the government’s prescribed upper limit to qualify for registration. Starting from the first day of the new year, the "Golf Course Usage Fee Display Management Standards" will be enforced. All golf courses must post their course usage fees on their websites, and also display fees for ancillary services such as carts and food and beverage.

However, caddy service fees are excluded from the mandatory displayed fees as they are not paid directly to the golf course. The "Golf Course Usage Fee Display Management Standards" were introduced to guarantee the right to know for golf course users.