Golf in Korea: No Rain Checks, Strict Rules, and My Rainy First Round
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:
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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, plus lots of staff. Those costs don’t disappear just because it’s raining. -
No-show prevention.
Strict penalties and even blacklists exist to stop players from canceling at the last minute. -
Supply and demand.
With so much demand and limited supply, Korean courses hold all the power. Unlike in the U.S., they have no reason to offer refunds or rain checks.
In short, the “no rain check” culture in Korea isn’t tradition—it’s business.
The Official “Rules” About Rain
There are also some so-called “rules” about weather cancellations in Korea:
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If the rain is less than 3mm per hour, cancellation is basically never allowed.
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If it rains more than 3mm per hour for over 30 minutes, most courses will consider letting you cancel.
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Some clubs even decide only 30 minutes after you arrive at the clubhouse—which is insane, because most courses are a two-hour drive from the city.
That means you still have to make the drive first, just to be told whether you can cancel or not.
My First Round the Monsoon
I still remember my very first round in Korea (“머리 올린 날”). It was during the monsoon season, and rain was pouring down non-stop. The course kept going anyway, and to make it worse, our caddie subtly pushed us to tee off on the 10th hole - then told us we may stop playing if we wanted to.
Why? Because at some Korean courses, caddie fees are calculated per 9 holes. Once you’ve played 10 holes, it counts as a full 18-hole round, and the caddie can claim the full fee—even if the round is later canceled due to rain.
To be fair, this isn’t common at every course. Most caddies and clubs are fair and follow the rules properly. But there are stories—like mine—where players feel pressured into starting the back nine so the full fee can be charged.
As a beginner who was just trying to survive my first round, it felt pretty unfair. That’s when I realized: in Korea, rain or shine, golf is going to happen—and you’re going to pay for it
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| This happens when you play golf in the rain. Yup. It's me |
Conclusion: A Habit of Korean Golfers
At the end of the day, golf in Korea happens rain or shine. Over time, I’ve gotten used to it—so much so that now, as a Korean golfer, I just play whether it rains or snows. It has become a habit.
This Saturday, the forecast says rain again. But brave golfer Tini will pack a rain jacket and head out to the course with confidence. Because in Korea, that’s just what we do.
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