97 Public Courses, 62 Membership Courses Operating Premium Carts
200,000 Won Spent Per Team, Double the Cost of Regular Carts
67 Courses in Greater Seoul for Entertainment Golf, Accounting for 42.1% of Total
This is a case of “going against the trend” among public golf courses in Korea.
Following increases in green fees and caddie fees, now even cart fees are being raised. Limousine carts, which cost more than twice as much as regular carts, are rapidly increasing at golf courses. Although the usage fees have risen significantly, many point out that there is little noticeable improvement in service quality. Ultimately, it is weekend golfers who end up shouldering the heavier cost burden.
According to a report titled “Status of Limousine Cart Adoption at Korean Golf Courses” released by the Korea Leisure Industry Research Institute on September 7, there are 97 public golf courses that have adopted the limousine carts costing 200,000 won, which is more than the 62 found at membership golf courses.
Limousine carts are rapidly increasing at domestic golf courses.
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Limousine carts feature spacious interiors and enhanced convenience features. With three-row seating, they offer greater comfort. They use premium natural leather seats to provide a luxurious ride experience. Additionally, they come with USB charging ports, hot and cold cup holders, and ventilated and heated seat functions. However, although golfers can enjoy a more comfortable round, the high price is a downside.
As of this year, there are a total of 546 golf courses in Korea, including both membership and public types. The annual number of users is estimated at between six and seven million, with 45 to 50 million rounds played each year. While Korea’s golf industry has grown externally in the wake of COVID-19, the financial burden on golfers has also increased.
Cart fees have risen excessively. The use of six-seater limousine carts, priced between 160,000 and 360,000 won, is on a sharp rise. By year: there were 28 courses in 2023, 66 in 2024, 99 in 2025, and this year the number has increased to 159. Compared to 2023, this represents a 5.7-fold increase. The number of golf courses adopting limousine carts accounted for 38.6% of all courses with 18 holes or more (412 courses).
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The reason golf courses are adopting limousine carts is because it maximizes profitability. The average limousine cart fee is 200,000 won, which is about twice as expensive as that of a five-seater electric cart. The issue is that public golf courses—which receive tax incentives—are actively adopting limousine carts. Their adoption is now more prevalent than at membership-focused courses. Regardless of the type of course, limousine carts are especially being introduced at luxury courses in the greater Seoul area.
By region, limousine carts are concentrated in areas with high entertainment golf demand. The Seoul metropolitan area accounted for 67 courses, or 42.1% of the total. Gangwon Province had 28 courses, the Yeongnam region 22, and the Chungcheong region 21.
For weekend golfers, riding a limousine cart is a financial burden. The Leisure Industry Research Institute pointed out, “The main reason there is strong demand for limousine carts is that many golfers play with corporate credit cards.” Golf course spending on corporate cards reached 2.0585 trillion won in 2024, a sharp 10.0% increase from the previous year. The proportion of total golf course revenue accounted for by corporate card use also rose 3.0 percentage points to 28.5% compared to 2023.
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Golfers’ annual spending on cart fees reached 1.1158 trillion won in 2025, a 17.0% surge compared to 2020. Cart fees have been steadily rising, and the number of courses and users has also grown significantly. For public golf courses, the average cart fee per team increased from 84,400 won in 2020 to 97,500 won in 2025, a 15.5% rise. Membership courses saw a 15.7% rise over the same period.
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Seo Cheonbeom, head of the Korea Leisure Industry Research Institute, criticized, “It’s an abuse for golf courses to increase the rental fees annually for electric carts that can recover their investment in just six months. Even the 100,000-won fee for a five-seater cart is expensive, and now they’re introducing 200,000-won limousine carts. Golf is reverting from a popular sport back to being an exclusive luxury sport.”
This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.
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