Unique, elusive and *very* exclusive

In the 1950s, South Korea was one of the poorest countries in the world – and now it is one of the richest. This speaks of the hardworking nature of its people. Whatever they set their minds to, quality inevitably follows with a distinctly South Korean twist. To understand how this has manifested itself in the design of golf courses, you must first know a little about the geography of the country.

South Korea is roughly the size of Indiana and, although it consists of 3,400 mostly uninhabited islands, 70 percent of its terrain is mountainous. However, it is home to 51 million people and about 500 golf courses. (Indiana, with a population of just 7 million, has just over 400 courses.) Against this background, you can appreciate that land is at a premium. For space reasons, South Korea’s best trails are usually some distance from Seoul and they take advantage of the country’s unusual beauty and natural features.

Receive for members only Nine bridges, the highest rated course in South Korea (and #87 on our list of Top 100 courses in the world), which is located on a sprawling estate on Jeju Island, in the south of the Korean peninsula. One of GOLF’s course evaluation panelists, Adam Messix, paints a vivid picture of the country.

“Set on a beautiful mountain plateau above Jeju City, Ron Fream and David Dale’s design has incredible holes,” he says.

The risk-reward par-5 3 sets the tone for the round, and the centerline bunkers on the 6th create thrilling options off the tee. The 8th is a gorgeous, short par 4 with a cleverly designed complex green that proves tricky for Tour players in the annual CJ ​​Cup. The tee shot on the 11th is both tempting and challenging, where birdies and putts – is there a greater complement? – come in equal numbers. The finishing hole is loaded with options, with plenty of places to position your second putt and the potential for a heroic long putt to set up eagle on the picturesque island green. Strategic, photogenic, challenging and fun, Nine Bridges hits all the right chords.”

Located on the southeastern coast of the country, Southern Cape Owners Club OFFERS dream golf along its rugged cliff coast, with sea views from every hole. American architect Kyle Phillips produced this masterpiece – a wonderful journey with dramatic moments on both nines that have you hitting several times over and near the ocean. Fashion magnate JB Chung was the visionary behind the creation of the ultra-luxurious resort, and its bespoke music room is the perfect spot for post-round relaxation.

Located northeast of Seoul, The whistling rock it is set in the mountains, with rushing streams and interconnected ponds that serve to accentuate the hilly terrain. It is worth noting that the name korea descended from Koryo, the dynasty that ruled for nearly four centuries. Loosely translated, it means “the land of high mountains and sparkling streams.” When the South Korean conglomerate Taekwang Group decided to develop a private golf club in 2006, its chairman’s instructions were to create a place that achieved “the harmony of art and nature.” Americans Ted Robinson Sr. and Jr. designed the original 27 holes and Eric Iverson later refined them with some fabulous greens and masterful bunkering.

Even when land is not readily available, South Koreans find a way. This is what happened on the continent Jack Nicklaus Golf Club Korea, where the property was reclaimed from the sea to build a course that hosted the 2015 Presidents Cup. It’s a true urban course with skyscrapers, luxury apartments and a bridge serving as special backdrops.

South Korea’s top-tier courses – which, by design, are breathtaking and highly exclusive – feature massive, architecturally stunning clubhouses of a kind found nowhere else. Most of the world’s clubs would crack under the expense of these countries. Startup fees can go over $1 million. But South Korea’s elite courses are often linked to powerful corporations. Case in point: CJ Group’s support for Nine Bridges and equally impressive Hasley.

The experience of playing golf at the best courses in the country – which also include Pine beach and Robert Trent Jones Jr Anyang CC – is a celebration of the beauty and prosperity of South Korea. On the public front, the choices are slimmer. American architects, including Kyle Phillips and Jim Engh, have built courses with public access, but public golf is still expensive. Correcting this situation is not easy. Right now, a big part of golf in South Korea, as my colleague Josh Sens has described, is found in multi-level driving ranges and a thriving SIM scene.

As we said, South Koreans are hard workers.