Local governments, universities, and regional farming cooperatives across Korea are opening new park golf courses one after another, accelerating the expansion of community sports infrastructure. Various types of courses using idle land such as urban parks, universities, and closed schools are steadily emerging, improving access conditions for local residents.
This month in particular, new facilities with symbolic significance and distinctive features opened in succession, including the first university course certified by the Korea Park Golf Association and the first 36-hole course among Seoul’s district governments, drawing interest from enthusiasts.
◈ Suwon No. 2 Park Golf Course, Gyeonggi Province (9 holes)
Suwon City in Gyeonggi Province completed its No. 2 park golf course at Gosaek Jungbobo Park in Gosaek-dong, Gwonseon-gu, on the 11th of last month. It is scheduled to officially open this month after a grass rooting period. The course covers a total area of 8,709 square meters (about 2,634 pyeong) and was built with 9 holes.
Until now, the city operated only one course, the Chilbo Park Golf Course (9 holes) inside Chilbo Sports Park in Seo-Suwon, and demand had steadily increased. In building the second course, the city preserved as much as possible the existing park’s pine trees, walking trails, and fountains, enhancing both the park scenery and user convenience.
◈ Icheon Bukbu Sports Park Golf Course, Gyeonggi Province (9 holes)
Icheon City in Gyeonggi Province officially opened a 9-hole park golf course inside Bukbu Sports Park on the 16th of last month. After completing Bukbu Sports Park last year, the city delayed the opening to allow grass to take root and facilities to stabilize, recently finishing operational preparations before opening it to residents.
The course was built with a total length of 326 meters, and use is free. During summer it operates from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., but in July and August it takes a break from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m. in consideration of the extreme heat. It is closed every Monday.
◈ Jupo Park Golf Course, Boryeong, South Chungcheong Province (18 holes)
Photo courtesy of Boryeong City
A view of the park golf course at Bukbu Sports Park in Icheon, Gyeonggi Province. Photo courtesy of Icheon City
The opening ceremony of Park 72 held at Gyeongbuk College on the 27th of last month. Photo courtesy of Gyeongbuk College
Photo courtesy of Cheongsong County
Choi Ho-kwon, head of Seoul’s Yeongdeungpo District, delivers remarks at the “Yeongdeungpo Second Park Golf Course Completion Commemorative Plaque Ceremony” held at Anyangcheon on the 26th of last month. Photo courtesy of Yeongdeungpo District
A satellite image of the No. 2 park golf course. Photo courtesy of Suwon City
Boryeong City in South Chungcheong Province began operating the Jupo Park Golf Course, built in Boryeong-ri, Jupo-myeon, on the 18th of last month. A total project cost of 1.9 billion won (150 million won in provincial funds and 1.75 billion won in city funds) was invested to build the 18-hole course, which also includes user convenience facilities such as a parking lot, management office, and restrooms.
Beginning with detailed design in 2024, the project went through various administrative procedures and broke ground in July last year, completing construction in June this year to open its doors. It is expected to serve as a community sports space where residents of the northern region, including Jupo-myeon, as well as those in the city center, can enjoy park golf close to home.
◈ Gaekju Park Golf Course, Cheongsong, North Gyeongsang Province (27 holes)
Cheongsong County in North Gyeongsang Province completed the Gaekju Park Golf Course in Jinan-ri, Jinbo-myeon, on the 23rd of last month. It is the county’s third and largest park golf course at 27 holes, built to reflect growing demand for community sports. The course’s name was inspired by “Gaekju,” the representative work of novelist Kim Ju-young, a native of Jinbo-myeon.
The course was designed with varying difficulty so that beginners and skilled players can enjoy it together, and it is equipped with convenience facilities including a management building and offices of about 60 pyeong. Grass rooting and facility inspections are underway ahead of the official opening. The course will remain closed until the end of this month before beginning operations on the 1st of next month.
◈ Yeongdeungpo No. 2 Park Golf Course, Seoul (18 holes)
Seoul’s Yeongdeungpo-gu completed its No. 2 park golf course on the 23rd of last month, creating the first 36-hole park golf course among Seoul’s district governments.
By linking the newly built 18 holes along the Anyangcheon stream in Yangpyeong-dong with the existing No. 1 course (Yangpyeong Nuri Sports Park Golf Course), it was expanded to a total of 36 holes, with a total area reaching 39,033 square meters (about 11,807 pyeong).
The project was pursued after obtaining river occupancy approval early this year, and grass rooting and trial operations are currently underway. Once it officially opens in September, it will operate as one of Seoul’s largest urban park golf courses.
◈ Gyeongbuk College Park 72 (18 holes)
Educational infrastructure to cultivate professional park golf talent is also expanding. Gyeongbuk College, which operates a Park Golf Department, opened an 18-hole park golf course called “Park 72” on idle land at its campus sports ground, covering about 7,000 pyeong, on the 27th of last month. The “72” in the course’s name refers to the founding year of Gyeongbuk College.
This course became the first university course in Korea to receive certification from the Korea Park Golf Association. It will operate as an educational and practical facility where students can conduct training and professional education and host various competitions, and it will also be open to residents as a community sports space in the region.
◈ Dasi-myeon Park Golf Course, Naju, Jeonnam-Gwangju (7 holes)
Dasi Farming Cooperative in Naju City, Jeonnam-Gwangju, built a 7-hole park golf course at Dasi-myeon using the 6,611-square-meter (about 2,000-pyeong) grounds of Dasinam Elementary School, which closed in 1999, and began operations on the 2nd of this month.
The course is open free of charge to cooperative members and will operate as a community sports space that enthusiasts can also use freely. As demand for park golf in the region steadily grows, a plan to expand it to 18 holes in the future is also under review.