Public golf courses in South Korea, which receive tax breaks, have adopted limousine carts costing up to 200,000 won per team more widely than membership-based clubs, according to new data.
A total of 97 public courses have introduced limousine carts priced at 200,000 won, more than the 62 membership clubs that have done so, the Korea Leisure Industry Institute said in a report released on Sept. 14 on the adoption of limousine carts at domestic golf courses.
“It is ironic that public courses, which enjoy tax benefits and can be used without a membership, have brought in more limousine carts than membership clubs that cater mainly to members,” said Suh Chun-beom, head of the institute. “Regardless of the type of course, limousine carts are being introduced mainly at upscale courses in the greater Seoul area, where they are well suited to corporate entertainment rounds.”
The number of courses with limousine carts rose from 28 in 2023 to 66 in 2024 and 99 in 2025, then reached 159 as of August this year — a 5.7-fold jump from 2023. That figure amounts to 38.6% of the 412 courses with 18 holes or more.
“Courses have adopted limousine carts because they maximize profitability. The fee averages 200,000 won, double that of a five-seater electric cart,” Suh said. “Demand remains strong nonetheless because a considerable number of golfers pay with corporate cards.”
Corporate card payments at golf courses totaled 1.9726 trillion won in 2025, up 4.2% from a year earlier. Corporate cards accounted for 28.6% of total golf course revenue, up 0.1 percentage point from 2024.
“Raising rental fees every year for electric carts that pay back their cost within six months is an abuse by the courses,” Suh said. “When even a 100,000-won fee for a five-seater is expensive, the spread of 200,000-won limousine carts turns golf back into a luxury sport rather than one for the public.”
Golfers spent 1.1158 trillion won on cart fees last year, up 17.0% from 2020.