Golf Overlooking the Han River for 30,000 Won... Premium Golf Club Created by a Five-Star Hotel [Luxury World]

Premium Golf Club Equipped with State-of-the-Art Facilities
Golf Club with Han River Views Maximizes Openness
"Hotel Industry Introduces Fitness Packages to Meet Wellness Trends"

On June 22, at the foot of Achasan in Gwangjin-gu, Seoul, the newly renovated Walkerhill Golf Club at Walkerhill Hotel & Resort officially opened its doors. This is a premium golf practice facility operated directly by a five-star hotel. Walkerhill undertook a four-month renewal, aiming not just for simple facility maintenance but to transform the venue into a renowned golf destination. Walkerhill plans to evolve into a comprehensive lifestyle space that combines hotel, golf, and wellness services.

Customers are enjoying golf at the short game course that pays homage to the 12th hole (Amen Corner) of Augusta, famous for the PGA Masters Tournament. Photo by Minji Lee.

Walkerhill Operates the Club Directly... Facilities Include Fitness, Sauna, and More

The three-story golf club spans a total floor area of 3,305 square meters (about 1,000 pyeong). Blending seamlessly with the hotel facilities, the golf club boasts a sense of openness rarely found in the city center. The front is completely open, offering views of the Han River, while Achasan rises in the background.

Hyun Mongju, General Manager of Walkerhill Hotel & Resort, delivers a welcome speech at the grand opening event of Walkerhill Golf Club. Photo by Walkerhill Hotel.

The club also features a diverse range of amenities. Walkerhill has installed 61 hitting bays (including two for left-handed players) on each floor. Each bay is equipped with 'Toptracer,' allowing real-time analysis of distance, speed, and trajectory. Toptracer is an ultra-precise analysis system used in major tournaments worldwide, such as the PGA and LPGA. According to Walkerhill, this is the first golf practice facility in Korea to install the latest equipment at every bay. There are also six VIP bays, each in a separate area furnished with sofas and tables.

Walkerhill has set up dedicated spaces for 'club fitting,' where customers can check which clubs suit them, and for 'motion fitting,' where they can analyze their posture. In the putting area, to the right of the indoor bays, there is also a space for short games. This area pays homage to the 12th hole (Amen Corner) of Augusta, famous for the PGA Masters Tournament. Previously, only artificial turf was used, but this time both natural and artificial turf have been incorporated. Both approach and putting practice are possible, allowing friends or families to enjoy a simple short game together. Other features include the 'TaylorMade Performance Studio,' which offers highly personalized swing and club analysis services, 'Orange Bagel' for light refreshments, 'Golf Fitness' run by sports medicine professionals, and a 'Sauna.'

Ball trajectory tracking analyzer 'Toptracer' is installed at every batter's box. View from the batter's perspective. Photo by Minji Lee.

Hyun Mongju, CEO of Walkerhill, explained, "In the past, golf practice ranges were simply places to practice swings, but as times have changed, content that can be shared on social networking services (SNS) has also become important," adding, "I see this as an opportunity to expand our customer base to younger generations."

The price for using a bay is 32,000 won for 60 minutes on weekends. On weekdays, it is 28,000 won before 5 p.m. and 30,000 won after 5 p.m. This is about 35% higher than other five-star hotels operating golf practice ranges. However, compared to golf clubs in the Gangnam city center, the price is about 30% lower, so it is expected to attract many golfers seeking hotel-level services. Currently, about 500 members are being recruited in the initial phase. Membership is available through the Walkerhill Prestige Club (WPC) 'Noble Pine (Golf Type)' or by signing up for an individual membership.

CEO Hyun Mongju stated, "There have been aspects where we have not fully realized synergy with the hotel in the past," adding, "Going forward, we will develop into a hotel that integrates comprehensive entertainment, allowing guests to enjoy golf, tennis, swimming, and more all in one place."

Hotels Strengthening 'Wellness'... Launching Related Memberships and Package Products

The luxury hotel industry is recently focusing on wellness products that upgrade existing amenities such as fitness centers and saunas. As consumer interest in health and healing grows, hotels are being redefined as spaces for 'experience consumption' beyond simple accommodation.

Lotte Hotel & Resort recently launched a new premium paid membership, 'Trevi Club Activiel.' This membership is limited to 200 annual members. Its main feature is that members can use fitness and sauna facilities at multiple chains, not just a single hotel brand. This is the first time such a membership has been introduced among domestic hotels.

It can be used at seven domestic chain hotels: Signiel Seoul and Busan, Lotte Hotel Seoul, World, Jeju, Ulsan, and Busan. The membership offers a 15% discount on rooms, up to 20% off at restaurants, and 20% off at bakeries. There are two types, 'Activiel 8.0' and 'Activiel 5.0,' depending on the number of uses. The membership fees are 8 million won and 5 million won, respectively.

Signiel Seoul Fitness. Provided by Lotte Hotel and Resort.

At the outdoor pool 'Urban Island' at The Shilla Seoul, guests can enjoy the 'Urban Wellness Program' while overlooking Namsan. The 'Where You Renew' program runs until August 1. It is divided into two sessions: the first offers 'Singing Bowl Sound Therapy' and 'Sunrise Stretching,' while the second includes 'Flow Yoga' and 'Band Fit.' After the program, guests are served ABC health juice made from apple, beet, and carrot.

Gravity Seoul Pangyo, operated by Josun Hotels & Resorts, has launched the 'All in One Stay' package targeting customers seeking relaxation in the city. The package includes a one-night stay in a deluxe room and participation in GX programs at the Gravity Club. The club offers classes such as Pilates, yoga, and spinning.

Kensington Resort is offering a 'Wellness Theme Package' for the active senior generation at Seorak Valley, Seorak Beach, and Jirisan Hadong until June 30. The package includes access to a seawater sauna, wellness program experience vouchers, and tickets for convenient use of nearby tourist attractions. A hotel industry official explained, "As interest in health increases, there are efforts to keep up with the trend of exercise becoming a part of daily life."