The Hwangnyong River, which cuts across Gwangju, has long carried the life and scenery of the region along its course. Broad riverside flats built along the water now hold spaces where residents can spend their leisure hours, and one of them draws a steady stream of park golfers. It is Seobong Park Golf Course, located around 77 Hwangnyonggang 3 Bicycle Road in Gwangju's Gwangsan District. Flanked by the Hwangnyong River and Songsan Amusement Park, the course offers 36 holes — the largest in Gwangju — allowing players to round in the open riverside landscape.
36 holes on the Hwangnyong River flats, with a nine-hole course for golfers with disabilities
Seobong Park Golf Course, which opened in November 2022, was built on idle land on the Hwangnyong River flats, making use of the riverside terrain. At 60,587 square meters, or about 18,327 pyeong, it is the largest course in the Gwangju area. Four courses — A, B, C and D — hold nine holes each for a total of 36, and because the site is large, each hole has relatively generous space. In 2023, the course received certification as an official venue from the Korea Park Golf Association.
Notably, the nine-hole Seobong Park Golf Course for People with Disabilities has been built on the site, allowing golfers with disabilities to play comfortably. The course, which opened in September last year, was created to provide a space where people with and without disabilities can exercise and mingle together. It covers 8,200 square meters, or about 2,480 pyeong.
At Seobong Park Golf Course, how a player uses the wide fairways matters. Rather than always going for distance simply because there is room, it is safer to place the ball based on one's own carry distance while considering the next shot. Because the holes are wide, a sound strategy is to secure direction off the tee and then prepare the next shot without overreaching.
The B course in particular sits close to the water and can be affected by wind more than the others. Because the direction and strength of the wind blowing along the river can change the ball's path and distance, players should check the wind before teeing off and adjust the force of their swing.
Key guidance to check before playing
Operation of Seobong Park Golf Course was transferred last year from the Gwangsan District Facilities Management Corporation to direct management by the Gwangsan District Office. It operates Tuesday through Sunday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., with a break from noon to 1 p.m. It closes every Monday.
The fee is 2,000 won a day for Gwangju residents. Registration is handled only on site, so visitors must bring identification. Users aged 65 and over receive a 50% discount. Gwangsan District residents can play free of charge every Thursday. Residents from outside the area pay 4,000 won a day and cannot play on weekends. On weekdays, use is capped at 20 people each in the morning and afternoon. Out-of-area users who want to play the following month can book by phone on the second and fourth Wednesdays of each month.
Basic facilities including a parking lot, a management building and restrooms are in place. Shade shelters and benches are also available, allowing players to rest during a round. Equipment rental is not offered, so users without their own clubs must bring them.
From the Hwangnyong River to Songsan Amusement Park: riverside outings nearby
After a round, the area around the course along the Hwangnyong River is worth exploring for Gwangsan District's natural scenery. The river flats have connected bicycle paths and walking trails, making them well suited to a light stroll while taking in the riverside views. Following the Hwangnyonggang Eco Trail 30, a roughly 12-kilometer stretch running from a nearby neighborhood park to the confluence of the Hwangnyong and Yeongsan rivers, visitors can take a close look at the river's ecosystem and waterfront scenery, including Jangnok Wetland, designated as the country's first urban national wetland.
Jangnok Wetland is an inner-city wetland home to a variety of species and a good place to sense how the Hwangnyong River's natural setting shifts with the seasons. The changing waterfront scenery is another draw. A large flower field has been created in the Seobong waterfront zone, where rapeseed blossoms and other flowers form a landscape blending with the river in spring.
Songsan Amusement Park near the course is also worth a visit. Set along the Hwangnyong River, it has expansive green space and waterfront areas. For a meal near the course, the commercial district around nearby Honam University is another option. Restaurants and cafes cluster around the campus, making it a good spot for a meal or a rest after a round.
For those who want to see more historical and cultural sites, Wolbong Seowon, a leading cultural heritage site in Gwangsan District, is the top pick. The Confucian academy honors Gi Dae-seung, a Neo-Confucian scholar of the Joseon Dynasty, and offers a look at the district's history and its scholarly traditions. Programs are still run there that let visitors experience seowon culture firsthand, including wearing traditional scholars' robes and taking part in ancestral rites.
◈ Seobong Park Golf Course and Seobong Park Golf Course for People with Disabilities at a glance
▣ Location = Around 77 Hwangnyonggang 3 Bicycle Road, Gwangsan District, Gwangju
▣ Size = 36 holes (60,587 square meters, about 18,327 pyeong); 9 holes (8,200 square meters, about 2,480 pyeong)
▣ Hours = Tuesday to Sunday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.; closed every Monday
▣ Fees = 2,000 won for Gwangju residents (free every Thursday); 4,000 won for out-of-area residents (no weekend use)
▣ Equipment rental = Not available
▣ Reservations = On-site registration (out-of-area residents book by phone on the second and fourth Wednesdays for the following month)
▣ Operator = Gwangsan District Office
