사진 확대 Participants are taking a commemorative photo at the MK Korea Golf Course Evaluation Award Ceremony held at the Maekyung Media Center in Jung-gu, Seoul on the 3rd. From the right, Sohn Hyun-duk, CEO of Maeil Business Newspaper, Jang Jun-sung, Director of Ananti, Kim Seung-gun, CEO of Sagewood Hongcheon, Koo Ja-ho, General Manager of Jade Palace, and Kim Ki-joo, Director of the Korea Research Planning and Project Division. Reporter Lee Seung-hwan
The best golf courses in Korea, selected by 2,087 amateur golfers, gathered. Golf courses that ranked first in MK Korea’s golf course evaluation, which marks its third anniversary this year, vowed to strengthen their position on prestigious golf courses with higher-quality course management, facility investment, and services.
The 3rd MK Korea Golf Course Evaluation Award Ceremony, jointly conducted by Maeil Business Newspaper and Korea Research, was held at Maekyung Media Center in Jung-gu, Seoul on the 3rd. Officials from Ananti Namhae and Sagewood Hongcheon, which tied for first in the national mass festival category, and Jade Palace Golf Club, which ranked first in the membership category, attended to celebrate their No. 1 ranking in the golf course evaluation and reflected on the meaning of golfers.
Son Hyun-duk, CEO of Maeil Business Newspaper, said, “The evaluation of MK golf courses has been conducted strictly and thoroughly with fairness as the top priority. As we mark our third anniversary, it has made a big splash in the golf course industry, and the evaluation has settled down,” he said. MK Korea’s golf course evaluation, which reflects the voices of customers, not a group of experts, was conducted in the form of an in-depth survey on 10 items, including overall satisfaction of golf courses that experienced this year’s round, grass and green management, hole and course difficulty and shot value, safety and risk management, operating facilities, meal facilities, staff service, caddy service, ease of use, and course aesthetics.
In particular, it focused on capturing the perspectives of customers who frequently use golf courses by including “genuine golfers” who enjoy golf at domestic golf courses more than 10 times a year in the prerequisites for the survey. As a result, a survey of 9,212 amateur golfers was conducted and the number of samples was refined to 2,087 who answered the survey perfectly.
Through more sophisticated research methods compared to previous years, the three golf courses selected as the best golf courses in Korea gave meaning to the award and expressed their future aspirations. Ananti Namhae, which has been ranked No. 1 in the public festival category for three consecutive years since the first year of 2023, has been named the MK Korea Golf Course Evaluation Hall of Fame this time.
Jang Jun-sung, director of Ananti, said, “It is an unparalleled honor for the entire Ananti members to achieve ‘the first place for three consecutive years’. I came to Ananti South Sea Thank you for watching the field officials who sweated under unfavorable conditions, and it’s so meaningful,” he said. This year, Ananti Namhae marked its 20th anniversary. Following the values we have pursued so far, we will make Ananti Namhae a golf course that is constantly loved by golfers,” he vowed.
Kim Seung-gun, CEO of Sagewood Hongcheon, which first topped the popular festival category, said, “Sagewood Hongcheon exists to provide customers with the perfect rest and special experience. I think this is the result of trying to provide the best service. We will continue to make efforts to become a golf course recognized by golfers for a long time,” he said.
Koo Ja-ho, general manager of Jade Palace Golf Club, who was selected as the No. 1 member system, said, “Although we have always been at the top of other golf course evaluations, this MK Korea golf course evaluation is the first time we have achieved the No. 1 ranking. Various efforts have been made around the 20th anniversary of its opening last year, and it is valuable that users seem to have recognized the efforts at all. “As a membership golf course, we will further develop into courses and services that members can feel proud of.” Just as Ananti Namhae has won for three consecutive years, we will make more efforts to reach the Hall of Fame,” he said.
“Korean golfers no longer admire their external luxury, but consider their experiences such as course quality, experience density, and emotional satisfaction as key criteria for evaluating golf courses,” said Kim Ki-joo, head of the Korea Research Planning Division, who conducted a survey on MK Korea’s golf course evaluation. “We have declared that it is difficult to survive unless the golf course industry evolves course management and services based on user experience,” he said, expressing the meaning of the evaluation.
[Reporter Kim Jihan]
