“I`m Going to the Golf Course with a Weeding Hoe.”

What is the difference between playing golf well and loving golf?

People who know Ms. Kim, Sun-Heum (53. Broadcasting critic) call her `the woman who loves golf more than anyone in the world` without hesitation.

In her golf bag, there are two more pieces of equipment than the other golfers. Vinyl bags and a weeding hoe are the ones. The weeds that she, who is the only female member of the Gold CC, pulled up during roundings for the last 10 years exceed more than a truck-full. Even a half of the blade of the hoe that she specially made through custom-made was worn out. The cigarette butts that she collected at the course might be more than a basket-full.

“I started to do this with a hope that I could be a help to the golf club that I went. The caddies become busy as soon as I appear. They cannot stand still since a member collects cigarette butts.”

The reason how she can pull up weeds and collect cigarette butts during a rounding is her outstanding golf ability. Her recent handicap that she, who entered into single handicap in 3 years after starting to play golf in 1985, says is 3~5 over par. (She says she raises her handicap because her fellow male players are begging for more handicap.)

The rare records that she holds are so brilliant that she is called `a female warrior of records.` Her records include: making an eagle and a hole-in-one in one round (1993 Gold CC), ten eagles in a same hole in a golf course (17th Hole, Gold CC Champion Course), recording under pars in 9 holes more than 200 times, over 1,000 total roundings, and so on.

However, she rarely participates official amateur tournaments.

“It needs more than ability. It doesn`t match with my personality to play with `the players` who reduce the scores by all means.”

However, she is hot in friendly games. She is recording 4 wins out of 4 games by giving out 2 handicaps against Mr. Sun, Dong-Ryul (Public Relations Commissioner, Korea Baseball Organization), who was known as a high-grade player.

It has been just 3 years that she, who was crazy about the golf as much that she confused broken ribs as a simple muscle ache and ate just muscle relaxation pill, used the lady tee. The reason why she uses the lady tee although she hit more than 230 yards with ease is because `she doesn`t want to be different and needs to encourage other male players.`

Her dream is to be healthy and play golf until she leaves the world. She loves golf so much that she asks her son “to cremate me after I died and scatter my ashes in a golf course.”

Young-Sik Ahn ysahn@donga.com