North Korean Leaders and the Pyongyang Golf Course [Presidents and Golf]

Kim Jong Il’s First Round: 11 Holes-in-One, 38 Under Par
Kim Jong Un Prefers Basketball Over Golf, Close Ties with Rodman
Pyongyang Golf Course: North Korea’s Only 18-Hole Tournament Course

Golf in North Korea is always at the center of attention, as intriguing stories frequently emerge. North Korea once introduced its only 18-hole regulation golf course, the Pyongyang Golf Course, and reported on the legendary golf record of the late National Defense Commission Chairman Kim Jong Il. According to the report, Chairman Kim played his first round of golf at the Pyongyang Golf Course, which opened in 1991, and scored a 38-under-par 34, including 11 holes-in-one. Of course, this is an unofficial world record.

The odds of an amateur golfer making a hole-in-one are about 1 in 12,000, or roughly once every 3,000 rounds. Kim Jong Il's 38-under-par 34 is an impossible score in reality?something only achievable in a game. Even the world’s top players set their sights on the “dream score” of 59. In 1994, Australia’s Financial Review satirized this with an article titled, “Who is the best golfer in North Korea? It’s Kim Jong Il.”

Dennis Rodman is taking a commemorative photo with Chairman Kim Jong Un during his visit to North Korea in 2013. Photo by Dennis Rodman, X (formerly Twitter)

It is not known whether Chairman Kim Jong Un enjoys golf. While there is information that he enjoyed basketball during his studies at the International School of Bern in Switzerland, there are no records related to golf. He is an avid fan of NBA games and particularly admires “basketball emperor” Michael Jordan and “bad boy” Dennis Rodman. Rodman later visited Pyongyang several times and met with Kim Jong Un.

In October 2019, at a time when inter-Korean relations were strained, Kim Jong Un visited the Mount Kumgang tourist area and ordered the demolition of South Korean facilities. As a result, the Ananti Golf Resort & Spa within the Mount Kumgang tourist area was also removed. The main clubhouse and spa buildings were completely demolished, and currently, only parts of the building foundations remain.

North Korea is a barren land for golf. In the past, there was a widespread perception that “golf and drugs are the greatest enemies of the people,” and even today, golf is mainly used for external publicity. Last month, the “Pyongyang Amateur Golf Tournament” was held. This tournament began in 2011 and serves as a kind of tourism product aimed at attracting foreign tourists. Although it is nominally a tournament, in reality, it is intended to earn foreign currency.

This is a panoramic view of the Pyongyang Golf Course in North Korea. Photo by Yonhap News Agency

There is only one 18-hole regulation golf course in North Korea: the Pyongyang Golf Course (par 72, 6,200 meters). It is located near Taesong Lake in Nampo, about 27 kilometers from Pyongyang, and was completed with donations from Korean-Japanese businessmen affiliated with Chongryon. The usage fee is about 200,000 won. It is virtually impossible for ordinary citizens to use the course; mainly diplomats and foreigners enjoy rounds there. In August 2005, the KLPGA Tour Pyongyang Open was also held at this course.

North Korea’s unique golf terminology is also intriguing. Golf is called “yeolyeodeolbakdaegi gongalchigi” (eighteen stick ball hitting), the teeing ground is “tageokdae” (striking platform), the hole is “gumeong” (hole), the green is “jeongchakji” (settlement), the bunker is “morae ungdeongi” (sand pit), and the hazard is “banghaemul” (obstacle). The iron is called “soechai” (iron club), the driver is “gajang gin namuchai” (longest wooden club), the par-5 hole is “meongeorichigi” (long-distance hitting), the caddie is “gyeonggibojowon” (game assistant), the halfway house is “hyusikgak” or “maedae” (rest pavilion or stand), juice is “chandanmul” (cold sweet water), ice cream is “eoreumbosungi” (ice treat), and ramen is “kkoburangguksu” (curly noodles). North Korea’s unique interpretations are fully reflected even in its language.