"Golfers Spent 2.2 Trillion Won Last Year"…Popular Golf Course 'Lakeside'

BC·Shinhan Card Golf Course Spending 기준
Up 11% YoY... Surpasses 2 Trillion in 3 Years
Tmap Users' Most Searched Golf Course
Lakeside Search Volume 139,867 Cases

Golf is one of the few sports whose participation has increased despite the adverse effects of COVID-19. This is due to the perception that it is a relatively safe exercise enjoyed outdoors in open spaces surrounded by nature. The amount spent on rounds has also increased every year, with domestic golfers spending over 2 trillion won at golf courses last year alone. Since overseas travel was not possible, domestic golf courses experienced a boom, resulting in a prosperous period. This also reflects the growing interest and participation rate in golf. In particular, golf courses with large populations and good accessibility, such as those in Gyeonggi and Incheon, have attracted many visitors.

◆760 billion won increase in 3 years... "Reflecting inflation as well"= On the 18th, according to the expenditure data by industry compiled by the Korea Tourism Organization based on credit card data from BC Card and Shinhan Card, the amount spent by domestic consumers at golf courses nationwide using these two card companies reached 2.21 trillion won last year. This is about an 11% increase from 1.9849 trillion won in 2021. It increased by more than 760 billion won compared to 1.4489 trillion won in 2019, before the outbreak of COVID-19, with annual spending rising by about 200 to 300 billion won, surpassing 2 trillion won in three years.

When combined with other card companies and cash usage, the actual expenditure at golf courses is expected to be much larger. Previously, the Korea Golf Consumer Agency estimated that the nationwide golf course sales amounted to 6.9599 trillion won as of 2021. An industry insider explained, "With overseas golf demand sharply cut off due to COVID-19, existing golfers flocked to golf courses nationwide as an alternative, and new entrants also increased, inevitably raising net spending at golf courses." They added, "The rise in labor costs, management fees, food and beverage prices, and the overall increase in round costs due to reservation competition also had a significant impact."

By month, May recorded the highest expenditure at 244.7 billion won, followed by October at 235.2 billion won, June at 230.6 billion won, April at 219.9 billion won, July at 216.1 billion won, and September at 210.6 billion won, each exceeding 200 billion won in monthly spending. During the winter months of January and December, expenditures dropped sharply to the 80 billion won range due to course closures and other factors. By region, Gyeonggi Province, home to many renowned country clubs (CC), recorded the highest spending at 728.7 billion won. The lowest was in the Gwangju region, with 23.8 billion won. Golf courses in Seoul (128 billion won), Gangwon (184.5 billion won), Chungbuk (163.8 billion won), Sejong (108.8 billion won), Daejeon (143.1 billion won), Jeonnam (131.6 billion won), Gyeongbuk (191.4 billion won), and Gyeongnam (182.4 billion won) each recorded annual expenditures exceeding 100 billion won.

◆"Accessibility and number of holes"... Unshakable No. 1= The golf course most visited by golfers was identified as Lakeside CC in Yongin-si, Gyeonggi Province. This result was based on the number of destination searches by type, calculated by the Korea Tourism Organization using navigation data from T map Mobility. It reflects data from T map application users who searched for destinations and traveled at least 100 meters or 1 minute. Lakeside ranked first in the golf course category with a total of 139,867 searches last year. Since 2018, when statistics became available, it has been the most searched and visited golf course by drivers on T map for five consecutive years.

Riviera CC in Hwaseong-si, Gyeonggi Province, ranked second with 137,807 searches, narrowly behind Lakeside. Next was BA Vista CC in Icheon-si, Gyeonggi Province, with 134,247 searches in third place, Sky72 GC Sea Course in Jung-gu, Incheon, with 128,647 searches in fourth, and Gold CC in Yongin-si, Gyeonggi Province, with 108,735 searches in fifth. Other top 10 golf courses by search volume, including Island CC (Ansan, 101,277 searches), Taekwang CC (Yongin, 98,757 searches), Seowon Hills CC (Paju, 96,703 searches), Suwon CC (Yongin, 94,955 searches), and Giheung CC (Hwaseong, 89,599 searches), were all located in the Seoul metropolitan area, including Gyeonggi and Incheon. In 2021, two golf courses in Wonju, Gangwon Province?Oak Valley CC and Century 21 CC?were also ranked in the top 10.

An official from the Korea Golf Course Management Association analyzed, "The more holes a golf course has, the more users it consistently attracts, and the preference for golf courses in the metropolitan area with larger populations rather than in rural areas is the result." Looking at golf courses with over 100,000 searches, Lakeside CC operates 54 holes, Riviera CC 36 holes, BA Vista CC 54 holes, Sky72 GC Sea Course 54 holes, Gold CC 36 holes, and Island CC 27 holes, respectively.

Meanwhile, based on destination search volume by type, among the top 30 in the leisure sports category, 25 were golf courses, excluding Surf Beach (Yangyang, Gangwon), Let's Run Park Seoul (Gwacheon, Gyeonggi), Jisan Forest Resort Ski Resort (Icheon, Gyeonggi), Hallasan Dullegil Saryeoni Forest Trail (Jeju), and Gwangmyeong Speedome (Gwangmyeong, Gyeonggi), reflecting the popularity of golf.