In data released March 25, the association said the average number of visitors per 18-hole course was 85,642 in 2025, down from 89,376 in 2024. It said attendance has declined each year since 2022.
Green fees also fell. In the Seoul metropolitan area, the average weekday fee was 146,000 won, down 8.2% from 159,000 won in 2024. The average weekend fee was 188,000 won, down 8.7% from a year earlier. Outside the metropolitan area, average fees were estimated to have dropped about 1% to 2%.
The association said it held its 2026 regular board meeting and general assembly March 24 at Olympic Parktel in Songpa-gu, Seoul. It reviewed and approved its 2025 business results and financial statements and a proposed 2026 budget totaling about 1.696 billion won.
At the general assembly, the association also reported its efforts to seek changes to laws and systems affecting the golf industry. It cited proposals to revise what it called unreasonable rules in standard contract terms related to deposits and cancellation fees; to exclude self-employed caddies from coverage under the national pension and health insurance; and to introduce systems reflecting industry conditions in connection with the “Basic Act for Working People” bill and the “worker presumption system.”
The association said it supports member companies by providing statistical analysis and publishing a professional bulletin, “Public Golf Course Management Brief.” It said key initiatives this year include regularizing personnel and information exchanges with the Japan Golf Course Managers Association; supporting course management in response to abnormal weather through on-site diagnostics and soil and water-quality analysis; and expanding issuance of official certificates for special achievements such as holes-in-one.
At the meeting, Hong Jae-won, CEO of Bellastone CC, and Kim Nam-il, president of the Gyeongsangbuk-do Culture and Tourism Organization, which operates Bomun GC and Andong Lake GC, received top awards for management innovation. Excellence awards went to Hwang Yong-hae, deputy general manager at Diamond CC; Son Hyun-kyung, deputy general manager at Solago CC; Lee Ji-min, assistant manager at Seven Valley CC; and Kang Min-su, an employee at West Ocean CC.
Association Chairman Woo Jeong-seok said the golf industry’s business environment is changing faster than ever amid domestic and global economic conditions, shifting consumer trends, and new systems and regulations. He said the association will “push forward more strongly” its roles and responsibilities across various areas to improve conditions for public golf courses facing many challenges.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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