[비즈한국] Recently, Kim Jae-ho, who secured his first KPGA victory at the age of 43, is the son of Lotte Giants legend and "Mr. All-Star" Kim Yong-hee. During the 16th hole of the final round, Kim Jae-ho played wearing the number 99 jersey of his father, currently the second-team manager for the Lotte Giants, and lifted the winning trophy while wearing it as well. In an interview, Kim expressed his gratitude and love for his father, adding, "At my age, the only character trait you have left is romance." He was clearly a romantic golfer, and a moving one at that, winning in his father's jersey 18 years after his debut.
Golf and romance—let's talk about this combination that feels both familiar and awkward. What is romantic golf? Like every sport in the world, golf is a game of winning and losing. Depending on who shoots the lower score, first place and last place, winners and losers are determined. Golf is about hiding this competitive drive behind the calling card of "a gentleman's game," with manners and etiquette.
There is a historical incident (?) that is always mentioned when talking about the romance of golf. At the 1969 Ryder Cup, Jack Nicklaus (USA) gave a concession to Tony Jacklin (UK) for a remaining putt of about 1.2 meters, saying:
"I don't think you would have missed that."
This match is still cited as one of the most wonderful contests and romantic scenes in the history of the Ryder Cup. The romance of golf comes from consideration and empathy for one's opponent.
KLPGA’s Park Min-ji once found her tee shot that had veered to the left and played her original ball, but she decided on her own that it had taken more than 3 minutes to find it, so she withdrew midway through the round. No one had timed her, and it wasn't caught on the broadcast. She could have continued playing as if nothing happened, but Park Min-ji said, "Golf is a game without a referee. But I know it myself, and the heavens know it," and withdrew. Even though no one said anything, Park Min-ji, who became her own referee and stopped her play, also seems to embody the "romance of honor" in the sense of "upholding what should be upheld."
In the end, the "romance" of golf seems to emerge from the somewhat contradictory faces of "strictness" and "composure." When I first started playing golf, I had a senior colleague who was my "golf role model" or "golf wannabe." Once, my ball went into a penalty area, and I took a one-stroke penalty and played from across the area. I was such a beginner, and all the other playing partners were doing it that way, so I played without any guilt. On the next hole, that senior colleague faced a similar situation, and he said, "I'll take my third shot from here," strictly following the rules. While he was strict with himself, he didn't say a word about my incorrect play. He upheld the rules for himself while showing consideration for others. I still remember how cool he looked then. And in my heart, I think of him as a "romantic golfer."
Golfers with their own unique dress code or fashion style also seem quite romantic. Payne Stewart, an American who passed away in a 1999 plane crash, wore colorful knickerbocker pants, stylishly pulled up his knee-high socks, and played while wearing his signature flat cap. And he won the U.S. Open twice. Of course, you can't be called a "romantic golfer" just because you dress well, but if you adhere to the motto, "Cooler than cool clothes is a cool swing. Cooler than a cool swing is cool manners," you can certainly be called a romantic golfer.
Some golfers see golf as an object to be conquered, while others walk the field seeing it as an object of joy. When they come across beautiful scenery, they take pictures, take photos of their playing partners without them knowing, and share those moments on the course through images. In short, they know how to enjoy themselves. Ultimately, romance starts from the heart. It is a heart that upholds, a heart that cares, and a heart that enjoys. To translate these feelings into romance, we walk the grass and cultivate ourselves again today.
The lyrics of the song "About Romance" mention "bellflower whiskey." If you were to finish a round after battling the typical wind and rain at an old Scottish course, sit at the clubhouse, look back and forth between the course and your scorecard, recall the round you just finished, and sip a glass of Scotch whiskey—wouldn't that seem quite romantic?
Who is the author, Kang Chan-wook?
An advertiser and author. He started as a copywriter at Cheil Worldwide and is currently the CEO of the video production company 'Era's Perspective' (Sidae-ui Siseon). Loving golf, he obtained a USGTF teaching pro certification, and out of a passion for writing, he published golf-related books such as 'The Joy of Golf', 'Bad Golf', 'Sincere Golf', and 'Golf Thoughts, Thinking Golf'. He runs the YouTube channel 'Bad Golf', sharing various stories and thoughts surrounding golf with readers and viewers.