Golf in Korea – Fairway Journal

Koreans Play Golf, in Rain or Shine If you call a Korean golf course on a rainy morning and say, “It’s pouring where I live, can I cancel my tee time?” the answer is almost always the same: “It’s not raining on our course. Please come anyway.” And if you don’t show up, you might even be blacklisted for a year. No Rain Checks in Korea Unlike in the U.S., where rain checks or refunds are common, golf in Korea rarely allows weather-related cancellations. Unless there’s a thunderstorm or a flood, players are expected to show up. If you don’t, you’ll face a hefty penalty fee—or worse, be blacklisted from booking again. Why? It’s Not About Etiquette, It’s Economics So why does this happen in Korea? It’s not really about “etiquette.” The real reason is economics: Too many golfers, too few courses. Tee times are sold out weeks in advance. If a course allowed rain cancellations, it would lose revenue instantly. High fixed costs. Every round in Korea comes with a caddie and a cart, pl...

  If you’ve played golf in the U.S. or Europe, you know the rule: hit it Out of Bounds (OB), and you march back to the tee. Same with a water hazard — you either re-tee or drop under Rule 17. Painful, slow, and often embarrassing. But in Korea? You almost never go back. 📌 What Are OB and Hazard Tees? Korean courses often set up special forward tee boxes called OB Tees or Hazard Tees . OB Tee : When your shot goes Out of Bounds, instead of walking back, you proceed to a designated OB tee up ahead and continue play with a penalty. Hazard Tee : Same idea, but for penalty areas (water hazards, lateral hazards). You don’t re-tee or measure relief — you just move to the hazard tee and play on. This system is not part of the USGA/R&A official rules. It’s a local adaptation for pace of play. 💡 Why Korea Does This Pace of Play → Korean golf is fast-paced; foursomes must keep moving. Course Culture → Tee times are tightly scheduled, and slow play is frowned upon...

 

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⛳ OK is a Gimme in Korea! When foreigners play golf in Korea for the first time, one cultural detail often causes confusion: the little word OK . If you blurt out this harmless word, OK on the green, you’re allowing your playing partner to waive that putt—however far away it is. So in Korea, OK on the green may not always be okay for you. 📌 So, What Is an OK Putt in Korea? Simple definition: If your ball is within a short distance of the hole (usually inside the length of a putter shaft—or even more, depending on the handicap), your partner says OK , and you pick it up without putting. Examples: 30cm tap-in → “OK!” 50cm downhill slider → “OK!” (sometimes too generous!) 💡 Why Koreans Use It Korean golf culture emphasizes speed and group harmony. Courses are busy, tee times are tight, and rounds are always in foursomes with caddies. Reasons for the OK putt rule: Pace of Play → Keeps the game moving smoothly. Social Courtesy → Seen as polite and generous to your partner...

  Sometimes I just wonder if the AI is toying with me