Doosan Match Play: Excavator, Unmanned Cafe Robot
JLPGA Tour Yamaha Ladies: Piano
JGTO Dunlop Phoenix: Miyazaki Wagyu Beef
In golf, prizes awarded in addition to prize money are quite attractive. Winners may receive expensive items such as luxury cars or watches, and sometimes more unique prizes such as pianos or yachts are given. In Korea, the Korea Ladies Professional Golf Association (KLPGA) Tour's "Doosan Match Play" (with a total prize fund of 1 billion won) is well-known for its unusual prizes. This tournament, the only match play format event in Korea, marks its 17th edition this year and began on May 14 at Ladena Golf Club (par 72, 6,384 yards) in Chuncheon, Gangwon Province.
Inbee Park is sitting on an excavator she received as a prize after winning the 2018 Doosan Match Play, smiling brightly. KLPGA
The Doosan Match Play drew significant attention in 2018 and 2019 by awarding an excavator as a prize to the winner for two consecutive years. The prize was the "DX35Z-5" model, a piece of heavy machinery worth approximately 30 million won, released in Korea by then-title sponsor Doosan Infracore in October 2017. Doosan Infracore explained, "Golf and construction machinery share the qualities of delicacy and strength." Inbee Park, the 2018 winner, made headlines by gifting the excavator to her grandfather, who runs a farm. However, in 2021, Doosan Infracore withdrew as a co-host, and these unique prizes disappeared into history. For reference, the Japan Ladies Professional Golf Association (JLPGA) Tour's "CAT Ladies" has also awarded an excavator as a prize.
In 2022, another unique prize appeared. The barista robot "Dr. Presso," created by Doosan Robotics, a Doosan Group affiliate, was awarded to the winner. This coffee robot is an unmanned cafe system that takes orders, grinds beans, brews coffee, and serves it. Depending on the settings, it can make dozens of varieties of coffee and beverages, but typically offers around 10 types of coffee and 5 types of other drinks. It can operate 24 hours a day and is installed in places such as the Doosan Group headquarters and Doosan Tower in Dongdaemun, Seoul. It also features an automatic cup-lidding function. The 2022 winner, Jungmin Hong, chose to receive cash worth approximately 30 million won instead of installing the machine.
Jungmin Hong is smiling in front of the unmanned cafe robot 'Dr. Presso,' which she received as a prize after winning the 2022 Doosan Match Play. KLPGA
In 2023, three products from the Swiss premium air purifier brand "IQ Air" were awarded as prizes. These included the flagship model "Atem X," the car model "Atem Car," and the personal model "Atem Desk."
Unique prizes are also a staple on overseas tours. On the PGA Tour, in addition to prize money, regionally themed prizes such as surfboards, cowboy boots, rings, and vending machines are awarded. A representative example is the "John Deere Classic." The sponsor, John Deere, is an agricultural machinery company headquartered in Moline, Illinois, USA, that manufactures and sells a variety of equipment such as tractors, combines, seeders, and lawn mowers. Steve Stricker, a dominant player in this tournament, achieved three consecutive wins from 2009 to 2011 and remarked, "A tractor is truly the best and most useful gift for plowing fields and more."
Japan is home to even more unique examples. In 2009, Ahreum Hwang received a grand piano and a motorboat after winning the "Yamaha Ladies Open." In 2013, Hyungseong Kim won the Japan PGA Championship and received 3,650 packs of instant noodles as a prize, which he donated to an orphanage. The "Ito En Ladies" tournament provided free beverage vouchers for two years, while the "RICOH Cup" awarded round-trip tickets to Hawaii. The PRGR Ladies Cup offered a wedding voucher worth 20 million won and handcrafted cowboy boots as prizes, drawing attention.
The Japan Golf Tour Organization (JGTO) "Dunlop Phoenix Tournament" is a prime example of awarding unique prizes featuring local specialties. The winner receives Miyazaki Wagyu beef worth up to 90 million won, and, upon request, the beef can be divided by cut and packed either refrigerated or frozen. The "Yokohama Tire PRGR Ladies Cup" also awards Wagyu beef as a prize.
In Korea, there have also been cases where a cow was awarded as a hole-in-one prize. At the 2010 "Volvik Open," reflecting local specialties of Hoengseong, Gangwon Province, an outdoor pen was installed next to the teeing ground of the 13th hole (par 3) at Alps Daeyoung Country Club, and a Hanwoo cow was displayed as part of a unique marketing campaign.
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