At Haesley Nine Bridges, carriages packed with a range of luxury features.
GOLF
If you think that a the work of the caddy is to go ahead and shut up, you haven’t played golf South Korea.
Like many aspects of the game in this golf-crazy country — club design, course maintenance, cuisine and more — the corpse culture goes above and beyond.
For starters, hiring a looper is not optional. Wherever you play in South Korea, the boxes are necessary. And passive pack mules they are not. Choice of club? Of course. They help with that. Ditto divot and top-mark repair. But they also double as bartenders, pouring drinks at the request of their customers; vocal cheerleader, shouting “Nice shot!” almost every time they see one; scorer; and – get this – drivers. In South Korea, walking the course is pretty much unheard of. Everyone gets carts, including the boxes, who pilot four in a five-person cart with all their bags strapped to their backs.
Almost without exception, these loopers are women, part of an increasingly professionalized workforce that has expanded steadily since the 1990s, when golf in South Korea began to flourish. There are now over 500 courses in the country, almost double the number from 20 years ago. And while some box habits are held consistent from club to club, not all looper programs are created equal. Some are richer and more detail-oriented than others.
Take it Hesley Nine Bridges as a case in point.
Located on the outskirts of Seoul, Heasley ranks among the most prestigious courses in the country and boasts the right facilities. Overlooking its pristine championship course is the 170,000-square-foot modernist clubhouse, a three-story architectural marvel with glass walls, wooden columns and traditional stonework.
In keeping with the excellent infrastructure, the Caddy program is as popular as ever. So is the transportation on the course. Haesley loopers don’t drive regular golf carts. They drive what are known as “limousine” carriages, which the club spent years designing. These first-of-its-kind buggies look and act like mini-luxury vehicles, with smooth curves and a host of refined features, including a sophisticated heating and cooling system (players in South Korea experience all four seasons) individualized with cushion and a curved glass for better viewing.
Never mind a good, spoiled walk. Golf at Haesley is a smooth, enhanced ride.
To see these specialized carts in action — and learn more about South Korea’s cart culture — check out this video.
