"Good Shot!" Park Golf Goes Screen-Based... Yeongdeungpo District Expands Indoor Park Golf to Seven Locations

Expansion of Indoor Sports Infrastructure as an Alternative to Outdoor Facility Limitations
Screen Park Golf Course Established at Brighton Yeouido

With the aging population, the number of users of outdoor park golf has surged, leading to a rise in indoor screen park golf courses where people can enjoy the sport indoors.

Park golf is more accessible and less costly than regular golf. It is easy to learn and requires simple equipment, making it popular among seniors as well as beginners who can enjoy it without burden. However, due to various permit and licensing issues, it is difficult to establish new courses in urban areas such as Seoul, and there are disadvantages such as the difficulty of outdoor exercise during the peak of summer or in winter.

Yeongdeungpo District plans to open seven indoor screen park golf courses by the end of this year. Choi Hogwon, mayor of Yeongdeungpo District, preparing for a tee shot at the indoor park golf course opening ceremony in June. Provided by Yeongdeungpo District.

Indoor screen park golf courses are being increasingly introduced by public institutions such as district offices because they are not affected by weather, seasons, or time, and do not face obstacles related to permits and licensing. Most of these facilities are free to use.

Yeongdeungpo District has been the most proactive in introducing indoor screen park golf courses. According to Yeongdeungpo District on September 2, three locations (the new Shingil 3-dong office as the first, Yeongdeungpo No.1 Sports Center as the second, and the former Shingil 3-dong district office as the third) with a total of eight booths have opened this year as of June. By the end of the year, four more will be established, bringing the total to seven locations and 26 booths.

The first location is designated as a priority facility for people with disabilities, and the third location operates a park golf academy where professional instructors offer lessons. The fourth location will open at the Daerim 1-dong Community Center (three booths), the fifth at Saemaeul Geumgo in Daerim 3-dong (four booths), the sixth at the Brighton Yeouido public sports facility (six booths), and the seventh at the Daerim 3 Yusuji comprehensive sports facility (five booths).

Although Yeongdeungpo District was slower than other districts in opening its first facility, its rate of expansion is now the fastest among Seoul’s districts. The rapid increase in indoor screen park golf courses in Yeongdeungpo District is due to the growing proportion of elderly and middle-aged residents and the rapidly rising demand among them for sports facilities. In particular, this demographic group has a high demand for outdoor sports that are excellent for building relationships and maintaining activity, while posing a low risk of injury.

Yeongdeungpo District is also planning to create new park golf courses because the existing outdoor park golf course at Anyangcheon Yanghwa Nuri Sports Park is so popular that it cannot meet citizens’ demand. Other districts are also trying to increase the number of park golf courses by utilizing vacant land along rivers, but the Han River Basin Environmental Office, which manages national rivers, is cautious about granting permits, causing delays in these plans.

Given these circumstances, the district is increasing the number of indoor screen park golf courses by utilizing alternative facilities such as community centers, senior centers, and public sports facilities provided through public contributions. For example, the third floor of Brighton Yeouido, originally planned for a different purpose, was converted into a sports facility in response to local residents’ requests.

Choi Hogwon, mayor of Yeongdeungpo District, stated, "Indoor park golf is a sport that everyone, regardless of age or gender, can easily enjoy close to home, regardless of the weather. We will continue to actively support various sports activities so that residents can maintain their health and find vitality in their lives."