Golf course bookings across South Korea rose 10.2% during this year's Chuseok holiday from a year earlier, according to XGolf, a golf reservation platform. The increase reflects how golf is becoming more mainstream as changing family dynamics and individual lifestyles diversify the ways Koreans spend the traditional holiday.
Golf course operators are courting holiday customers with a range of promotions.
Seowon Hills Country Club in Paju, Gyeonggi Province, is running a "family round discount" through the holiday period from the 24th to the 27th. The club cuts green fees by 20,000 won per family member, and groups of three family members plus one guest also qualify, for a total discount of 60,000 won. On Chuseok day, the 25th, diners at the restaurant will receive songpyeon rice cakes and sikhye, a sweet rice drink, as dessert.
The Siena Belluto Country Club in Yeoju, Gyeonggi Province, and The Siena Jeju Country Club are launching a special shot event from the 24th, the first day of the holiday, through the end of the year. Players who record a hole-in-one, eagle or albatross during the period will receive a limousine cart upgrade and a complimentary snack bar menu item on their next visit.
Hanmir Daedeok Country Club, a nine-hole course in Daejeon, is discounting green fees by 20,000 won per family member during the holiday and cutting driving range fees by 50% from the 25th through Oct. 31.
Gangdong Dianus Country Club in Gyeongju, North Gyeongsang Province, will serve free japchae glass noodles, assorted pancakes and sikhye to customers who order a la carte items at the clubhouse restaurant during the holiday.
Screen golf venues, a popular gathering spot for families during holidays, are also marking the occasion. Golfzone Park is holding a par-5 event zone mission prize promotion from the start of the Chuseok holiday through Oct. 21. Players who land a tee shot in the event zone on the back-nine holes of 20 event courses win a guaranteed prize, randomly selected from six options including Golfzone Park vouchers, coffee and department store gift certificates. Players who complete five rounds over the four-day holiday also receive a 5,000-won Golfzone Park voucher.
Kakao Friends Screen is running a Chuseok sports day event at stores nationwide through Oct. 18. Players who log in and complete at least one round on both the Midas Lake Icheon and Midas Valley Cheongpyeong courses qualify for rankings and prizes. Top finishers receive four-person field vouchers for Midas Lake Icheon and department store gift certificates. A separate drawing among participants will award rangefinders, golf bags and four-person field vouchers.
