"Available for 49,000 Won"... Golf Course Green Fees Drop Sharply Amid Severe Cold

# Kim Mo (45), an office worker at a small and medium-sized enterprise located in Chungcheong Province, plans to go to the field (golf course) this weekend. Having been into golf for two years, he is currently immersed in golf. As the green fees (golf course entrance fees) have dropped sharply during the severe cold weather of below minus 10 degrees Celsius, he is recruiting members. Kim said, "During the peak season, green fees were close to 300,000 won, but now there are fees of 50,000 won and even 49,000 won, so despite the cold, I am thinking of going to practice golf and gain field experience." However, his colleagues and acquaintances are all waving him off from playing golf. One of his acquaintances said, "No matter how cheap it is, that's not golf but labor." Kim, however, said, "Isn't there a saying that golf is a winter sport?"

As an unprecedented cold wave hits, green fees at golf courses are dropping one after another. According to golf course booking sites, on the weekend of the 23rd, golf courses in the Chungcheong area mostly charge between 49,000 won, 50,000 won, and 58,000 won, with the most expensive place charging 120,000 won. The cheaper places are less than a quarter of the usual price. On the same site, in the area south of the Han River, prices start from 75,000 won and 80,000 won is common. In the Gangbuk and Gyeongchun areas, 50,000 won is the prevailing price.

Typically, weekend golfers form a group of four, paying green fees, cart fees, caddie fees, and food and beverage charges. The green fee is per person, while cart and caddie fees are per team; cart fees are around 100,000 won, and caddie fees are around 150,000 won. Even if the green fee is 50,000 won, when four people split the cart and caddie fees, the total is just over 100,000 won.

However, there is a difference between the prices listed on booking sites and the green fees announced on the actual golf course websites. In one golf course’s case, the booking site shows 49,000 won, but the golf course itself announces 59,000 won, so it is better to compare prices and choose accordingly.

Also, some golf courses close during the winter season. Some golf courses provide hot packs and offer colored balls in preparation for snowy conditions. To play golf during the severe cold, you need to prepare hot packs, thermal underwear, a wool hat, ear muffs, neck warmers, and cold-weather clothing. Adequate warm-up exercises are necessary, and when moving by cart or on foot, be careful to avoid falls. Since the body is contracted due to the cold, special caution is required to prevent hitting accidents during the round.