[비즈한국] Golf is not a four-season sport. It is clearly not a winter sport. While snow golf is sometimes played as an event, regular tournaments are not held on courses covered in snow. Don't we occasionally see snow flurries in soccer or American football? Even on the European Tour, where players are used to wearing winter golf attire on windswept links courses, it doesn't snow. That's right. The protagonist of a golf course is green grass, not faded yellow grass. Foreign golf courses close for the winter to avoid heavy snow and extreme cold. In their winter, there is no golf.
South Korea is a bit different. Of course, when winter comes, golfers declare their 'season off.' We have what's called a 'closing ceremony.' But passionate golfers keep their zeal for the game even when snow is still clearing from the courses. There is even a joke that golfers keep saying, "This is the last time. Truly the last time..." until spring finally arrives. When temperatures rise above freezing, golfers are busy texting each other. It starts with, "I heard the high will reach 10 degrees tomorrow," and ends with them deciding to play. Golfers who have been out for a round in the dead of winter boast about it, saying, "It felt just like spring." On top of that, golf courses entice golfers out with special winter rates. During the COVID-19 pandemic, winter golf was so popular that these special rates even disappeared. No matter how I think about it, golf in South Korea seems to be a four-season sport.
Of course, there are many golfers who don't feel that way. Some go on overseas training camps, while others believe winter is for practice, not for rounds, and work up a sweat at driving ranges. But proportionally speaking, no other country in the world plays as much winter golf as South Korea. Some even believe winter is the best time to play because there are fewer people and the green fees are cheaper.
Winter golf depends entirely on the golfer's will. For some, the cold is an issue, but for others, that cold becomes a memory. For those trying winter golf, I have a few tips. First, when booking a round, don't look at the temperature; look at the wind. Even if it's below freezing, if it's sunny and there is no wind, the wind chill isn't that low. The real temperature in winter golf is the wind chill. It's the impact of the wind. Even if the temperature is slightly above freezing, if the wind blows at more than 3 meters per second, you will feel an extreme cold you have never experienced before.
To enjoy winter golf, it is best to wear multiple layers, starting with your undergarments. It is better to wear two pairs of thin socks rather than one thick pair, and multiple thin layers of clothing are better than one thick coat. While it goes without saying that you should prepare a neck warmer and gloves for both hands, an essential item for winter golf is a pair of spiked golf shoes. Winter courses are that slippery. Residual snow on the mats in the teeing area can cause injuries. Although the recent trend is toward spikeless shoes, making spiked ones harder to find, it is wise to equip yourself with spiked golf shoes as you would with winter tires for your car.
Engaging in outdoor activities in the winter, when we are otherwise stuck inside, brings a variety of pleasures. It's like a winter picnic. However, I hope you don't attach too much significance to it. In winter, you never know how far the ball will roll on the fairway or where it will bounce. The same goes for the green. Not only is it hard to get the ball on the green, but the ball can just as easily bounce off the green and into an out-of-bounds area. Of course, legendary stories are passed down about hitting a frozen lake and having the ball land on the green for a birdie or a hole-in-one, but winter golf is full of variables.
Scores in winter golf are unpredictable. Therefore, there is no need to attach much meaning to your score, driving distance, or overall play during a winter round. Only then can you empty your greed and enjoy winter golf without injury. Since you don't know where the ball will bounce or how far it will travel, there's no need to make greedy swings trying to gain an extra meter. Because it relies heavily on luck, I wish golfers who enjoy betting would refrain during the winter. Perhaps winter is the perfect time for 'jolly golf' (fun, pressure-free golf)?
Finishing a round safely without injury in cold weather on a snow-covered course, then soaking in a warm bath while looking outside and thinking, 'Yes, I finished the day well,' isn't that the joy of winter golf?
Who is the author, Kang Chan-wook? He is an advertiser and writer. Starting as a copywriter at Cheil Worldwide, he is currently the CEO of the video production company 'Era's Perspective.' As a golf enthusiast, he obtained a USGTF teaching professional certification and, out of his love for writing, has published books on golf such as 'The Joy of Golf,' 'Bad Golf,' 'Sincere Golf,' and 'Golf Thoughts, Thoughtful Golf.' He runs the YouTube channel 'Bad Golf,' sharing various stories and thoughts about golf with readers and viewers.