There is a park golf course where fairways laid out on the flat terrain along the Dongjin River blend with surrounding greenery to create a wide-open feel. It is Sintaein Park Golf Course, located in Sinyong-ri, Sintaein-eup, Jeongeup, North Jeolla Province. Set against the natural scenery of the Dongjin riverside, the 36-hole facility is certified by the Korea Park Golf Association. It is Jeongeup's flagship venue, where players can enjoy a round in a natural setting and where national tournaments can also be held.
From Flat Fairways to Undulating Greens — Accuracy Matters More Than Distance
Sintaein Park Golf Course, built around 881 Sinyong-ri in Sintaein-eup, spans 120,100 square meters, or about 36,330 pyeong, with 36 holes. It measures 2,476 meters in total length, divided into four nine-hole courses: Jeongeup (A, 635 meters), Naejang (B, 613 meters), Donghak (C, 623 meters) and Danpung (D, 605 meters). In September 2024, it became the first course in North Jeolla Province to be certified by the Korea Park Golf Association.
The layout takes advantage of the open terrain along the Dongjin River, and many of the holes are relatively flat. Small hills, slopes, dogleg holes and bunkers are scattered across the course, however, making it hard to win on power alone.
Course A has many short, relatively flat holes, making it a good place for beginners to warm up at the start of a round. First-time visitors are advised to gauge their driving distance on Course A and then adjust their power on the courses that follow. On Course B, the scenery is part of the appeal, but picking the right line on the fairway is what counts. Because the course sits along a river, players should check the wind direction and strength on the day and adjust the force of their tee shots accordingly.
From Course C onward, changes in distance and undulation become more pronounced, so players need to think about where the ball will land and about their next shot at the same time. On uphill and downhill lies, it is important to account for how the slope changes distance rather than swinging as if on level ground. Course D features a variety of obstacles, so direction and course management matter more than long drives. On the dogleg holes in particular, it pays to plan the position of the following shot from the tee.
Key Information Before You Play
The course is open Tuesday through Sunday from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., with a break from noon to 1 p.m. It closes every Monday.
Jeongeup residents may play without a reservation, but visitors from outside the city must book in advance. Reservations must be made by the day before play, and same-day booking and same-day cancellation are not allowed. Up to 16 groups, or a maximum of 64 players, can play in the morning, and another 16 groups, or up to 64 players, in the afternoon, with each group made up of three or four people. Cancellations are also accepted only up to the day before play.
The fee for Jeongeup residents is 3,000 won per round for 18 holes. Visitors from outside the city pay 10,000 won per round, and those who buy a 10,000-won pass can receive 3,000 won worth of Jeongeup Love gift certificates back. For longer-term use, Jeongeup residents pay 20,000 won a month or 80,000 won a year.
Parking is ample. The lot has 200 spaces in total, including 198 regular spaces and two for drivers with disabilities, and the site has basic facilities such as an administrative office and restrooms.
From Pihyangjeong to the Donghak Peasant Revolution — A Walk Through Jeongeup's History
After a round, the historical and cultural attractions of northern Jeongeup are worth a visit. Around Sintaein are sites that showcase the cultural heritage of the Taein area, dating back to the Joseon Dynasty, and the history of the Donghak Peasant Revolution.
Pihyangjeong, a pavilion in Taein-myeon, is designated a national treasure and is known for the scenery it forms with the lotus flowers in the neighboring pond. It sits in the Taein area, relatively close to Sintaein, making it easy to pair a park golf round with a look at Jeongeup's traditional landscapes. Nearby are other historical and cultural sites, including Taein Hyanggyo, a Confucian school, and Taein Dongheon, a former local government office.
For a UNESCO World Heritage site, there is Museong Seowon. The Confucian academy was built to honor the scholarship and virtue of Choe Chi-won, a Confucian scholar of the late Silla period, and is one of nine Korean seowon on the World Heritage list. It survived the order to abolish seowon issued by Regent Heungseon Daewongun, offering a window into Jeongeup's Confucian culture and local history.
Those interested in the Donghak Peasant Revolution can add the Donghak Peasant Revolution Memorial Hall and the Hwangtohyeon battlefield. Hwangtohyeon is where the Donghak peasant army won a decisive victory over government troops. Visiting the memorial hall and the battlefield together offers a sense of the modern history that Jeongeup holds.
◈ Sintaein Park Golf Course at a Glance
▣ Location = Around 881 Sinyong-ri, Sintaein-eup, Jeongeup, North Jeolla Province
▣ Size = 36 holes (120,100 square meters, about 36,330 pyeong)
▣ Hours = Tuesday to Sunday, 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. (break from noon to 1 p.m.), closed every Monday
▣ Fees = 3,000 won for 18 holes for Jeongeup residents, 10,000 won per round for visitors from outside the city (non-residents can receive 3,000 won worth of Jeongeup Love gift certificates back)
▣ Equipment Rental = Not available
▣ Reservations = Jeongeup residents may play without a reservation; visitors from outside the city must book by the day before play through the Jeongeup city integrated sports facility reservation system
▣ Operator = Jeongeup City Hall
