Change in Golf Course Classification System 'Showed Effect'

Analysis Commemorating the 1st Anniversary of the Government Decree on XGolf
Most Green Fees Fell Compared to the Same Period Last Year
Weekday Rates Down 5.41%, Weekend Rates Down 3.95% in the First Half of the Year

The government's new golf course classification system has been shown to have an effect in curbing green fees.

XGOLF, a golf booking platform operated by ShowGolf, analyzed actual green fees after the revision of the golf course classification system on the 20th. They investigated the green fees of public golf courses by region, excluding Jeju. The data is based on actual reservations made by XGOLF members. The average monthly green fee in the first half of the year was 145,196 KRW on weekdays and 185,925 KRW on weekends. In the second half, the average monthly green fee was 147,627 KRW on weekdays and 189,034 KRW on weekends.

These amounts meet the public-type classification criteria according to the revised plan. Compared to the same period last year, the first half saw a decrease of about 5.41% on weekdays and 3.95% on weekends, while the second half saw a decrease of about 3.72% on weekdays and 1% on weekends. Most regions experienced a drop in green fees compared to the previous year. However, in the first half, green fees slightly increased in the Gyeongsang and Jeolla regions, and in the second half, there was a slight increase in the Chungcheong, Gyeongsang, and Jeolla regions.

Green fees, which had sharply risen until the first half of last year, began to decline from the second half. This year marks a full-fledged downward trend. The decline in green fees is evaluated to have been directly influenced by the revised plan announced in May last year. Of course, there is also the perspective that this is due to the self-regulation of golf courses and the overseas outflow of golf players.

Last year, the government announced a notice regarding the designation of public-type golf courses as part of the revised enforcement decree of the Act on Installation and Use of Sports Facilities. The previous dual system of membership and public courses was changed to a three-tier system: membership, non-membership, and public-type. The green fee was set as the designation criterion for public-type golf courses eligible for tax benefits. The fees must be 188,000 KRW or less on weekdays and 247,000 KRW or less on weekends. These green fees are averages for the golf peak seasons of April to June (first half) and September to November (second half).