Golf Boom in the Depths of Winter No Vacancy in Ranges

The golf market is warming up in spite of the fact that winter is usually a low-demand season for golf. The price of Country Club membership soared since October last year, and more people are practicing at golf ranges than usual. Golf merchandises sales are increasing remarkably and so are golf trips to foreign countries.

The causes of this trend are reportedly the rising consumer activity as businesses recover, changes in youth consumer activity, and people becoming more favorable to golf. Experts say that people are searching for suitable hobbies that they can enjoy in their spare time as they expect the introduction of a 5-work day system.

▽ Increase of Demand in Golf = According to Ace Golf Membership Trade Center, the price of golf membership rose by 4 percent in November and 20 percent in December last year on average. And according to the Korea Golf Course Business Association, visitors to golf courses numbered 13 million persons last year, rising by 1 million persons from 2000.

There were, however, some negative effects due to the difficulty in using golf courses.

Some membership trade center and Internet booking agencies are buying reservations and selling them to nonmembers in the black market at prices 3 to 4 times higher than the member prices.

Those making golf trips to foreign countries have greatly increased.

According to the Korea Customs Service on the 25th, those who traveled abroad for golf numbered 100,000 persons last year, twice as many as 50,000 persons in 2000.

▽ Thriving Golf Business = A personnel in company G that sells mid and low price golf goods said, "As golf became popular, young people and women prefer mid and low price golf clubs. Our company sales increased by 50 percent from last year."

mhpark@donga.com