Safety Accidents Double in 4 Years
Obstacles Like Bats Must Be Removed
Cart Accidents Prevented by Strengthening Safety Devices
On the 27th of last month, a woman in her 60s was struck on the head by a golf ball hit by a companion at a golf course in Icheon, Gyeonggi Province, and died. The woman was transported to a hospital in Gyeonggi Province in a state of cardiac arrest but ultimately passed away. In April, two visitors at the same golf course fell off a cliff while riding a cart. The police are investigating whether there was a lack of safety precautions by golf course officials, the woman’s companions, and game assistants.
As the golf season has started and the number of visitors has increased, various safety accidents have been occurring consecutively. Experts emphasize the duty of care for visitors, such as thoroughly checking the surroundings before hitting the ball and following the instructions of game assistants, while also advising that golf courses strengthen their safety measures.
According to the "Status of Golf Course Visitors in the Last 5 Years" published by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, safety accidents at golf courses (including ball strikes, carts, drowning, etc.) increased more than twofold from 675 cases in 2017 to 1,468 cases in 2021 over four years. Among the types of accidents, ball strike incidents accounted for the largest proportion. In 2021, there were 1,103 cases, making up more than 75% of the total.
Experts stress that it is important for visitors to fulfill their duty of care themselves while golf courses strengthen their own safety inspections. Ball strike accidents occur when a golf ball bounces off another object or when a beginner golfer’s shot curves sharply to one side. At such times, it is crucial for visitors to fulfill their duty of care on-site by moving objects in the ball’s trajectory to another place and identifying the positions of their companions in advance. In 2021, at a golf course in Gangwon Province, a visitor’s ball hit a cart parked 10 meters ahead, bounced off, and struck another visitor’s eye, causing blindness.
There are also voices that ball strike accidents have increased recently as golf courses narrow the intervals between tee times to accommodate more visitors. Professor Son Cheontak of the Department of Physical Education at Incheon University said, "It is important to organize the area so that there are no other objects or visitors in the direction the golf ball is flying and then hit the ball, but as tee time intervals have shortened, the game tends to proceed hurriedly. Especially beginner golfers should not rush on-site and should follow the instructions of game assistants."
Regarding the frequently occurring cart accidents, many voices call for urgent improvements in safety devices for users. According to a survey conducted by the Korea Consumer Agency in April on golf carts and road safety at 10 public golf courses nationwide, among 51 steep slope sections, 22 locations (43.1%) lacked anti-slip pavement and caution/warning signs. None of the 20 golf carts had seat belts or car doors installed. Only 2 out of 20 carts were equipped with lighting devices such as headlights and taillights.
Professor Lee Jongseong of the Department of Sports Industry at Hanyang University said, "Various factors such as tee time intervals act in combination, but ultimately, visitors must fulfill their duty of care on-site themselves, and golf courses must strengthen safety facilities. Since various roles such as visitors, game assistants, and golf officials are divided within the golf course, each must fulfill their safety duties from their respective positions."
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