By Darrell Slater

Golfing can cost between 100,000 and 300,000 per person depending on the course.

Playing golf in Korea is like stepping into a world that you may feel you do not belong. It is a past-time that is usually only afforded to the more privileged of Korean society. Tradition and club rules have precedent everywhere. Two foreigners infiltrated one of these renowned courses and put these rules to the test.

Last month, myself and a mate, were lucky enough to be invited by our Korean friend to spend a morning golfing outdoors, free of charge, at a course just outside of Gwangju.

Early on a Saturday morning we were driven about 30 minutes away through the rice fields that scour Gwangju’s outskirts, to a golf resort called Happiness.

I’d worked at some high end golf courses in the past but what awaited really blew us away.

Maybe it was because, in Korea, we’re not afforded luxuries like this enjoyable Saturday morning. We are too used to the local screen golf rooms catering to our hunger for the sport.

On arrival our bags were whisked out of the car by a number of service attendants that seemed to come out of holes in the floor as we approached the club house. Our bags were taken away without a word as to where they were going with them (not that we could have understood anyway).

“Don’t worry”, my friend said. “We will see them later”.

I wasn’t too assured by his confidence.

We were then told to go and get changed. The changing rooms looked they had been designed by an architect who had infused the look of the church with bright, bright acid! Did I mention it was bright in there? Wow!

After this we made our way through the marbled halls getting the usual foreigner stares by the majority of staff that obviously hadn’t seen someone from the west there before. We found our way outside to the transport we would be riding, only to find our previously stolen clubs already perched on the back of a five-birth golf cart, complete with old lady caddie.

As most golfers know with new surroundings one may be a little nervous on the first tee. My nerves were multiplied by the fact that word had now gotten round that there were a few ‘waeguks’ on the course. Most who were having their breakfast had kindly gathered on the overlooking balcony to see who these professionals were.

The holes were a challenge!

Professionals we are definitely not. I duly confirmed this to the onlooking crowd. My friends tee shot was down the middle but with a full hearted (albeit foolish) swing I topped my first tee shot straight into the five-inch stream, 12 feet in front of me. Nothing to see hear people.

It wouldn’t be until the forth tee that I would finally break free of the nervous shackles.

To say the round of golf we played was bad would be a little bit of an understatement. One par between the two of us (that was mine, haha) from a combined 36 holes tells the story, we had an amazing time none the less.

Our old lady caddie told us every club to use, where to find the lies, even carried our clubs to us on the fairways and polished our (golf) balls on the greens. It was truly an amazing experience.

There were a few good shots from the two of us. Our drivers seemed to be the only thing working, but a friend modestly said to me recently – ‘The Sunday golfer concentrates too much on the driver and not enough on the putter’. He could have a point there.

Once back in the club house after our round of 18, long, tiresome holes we were greeted with the opportunity of a spa, one that we didn’t decline.

The scenery was beautiful!

After showering we sat for the next 30 or so minutes in 40 degree water overlooking the whole course through a giant plate glass window. It made me realise that we weren’t the only ones out there who may have not known what we were doing.

As our skin began to melt off our bodies we were to be treated to one last surprise.

Our friend had arranged a lunch that would consist of sushi, BBQ duck, fresh salad a variety of Korean soups, beer, soju and basically what ever else we wished for. All paid for of course.

To put it mildly golf in Korea is awesome. There’s no getting around it. If you have never had the experience of being on a professional tour then this is the closest you’ll get to it.

Problem is, it’s just so damn expensive!

Regular rounds of golf in Korea range from 100,000 won – 300,000 won depending on where you are in the country. However, it is much easier to do what we (and most other foreigners) do and play screen golf. They are everywhere and it’s quite realistic. An average screen golf experience will set you back between 15,000 – 25,000 won depending on where you play. Give it a go, you may like it and it’s a great way to pass the time in Korea’s rainy season.