I recently read an Oct. 2009 Jeju Weekly article by Justin Nalepa, one of my esteemed colleagues, where he discussed golfing options on Jeju and mentioned that “golf on Jeju is a luxury and not easily afforded.”
He then went on to suggest that only screen golf and range golf are economically viable options. While driving ranges and screen golf, though a lot of fun, are only practice for the real game, I think that some excellent and affordable golf courses do exist on the island.
As well as dispelling some of the myths surrounding the cost of golf on the island, I hope to use this article to shed some light on some lesser known golf courses in Jeju.
I have always found golf on the island to be within my budget. Indeed many golf loving foreigners may be missing out because they assume real golf in Asia is too expensive. Jeju, with its many competing courses, is a great golf destination because of both the quality of its courses and the price.
Not only are golf courses on Jeju cheaper than courses on the mainland (sometimes less one third the price), Jeju residents also have access to special reduced prices to make them even more affordable. They are open year round, which means golf season never really ends here.
The options for golfers on Jeju are numerous and there are many other courses beyond those that I will mention which are affordable to the average golfer. You really just need to ask around, do some research, and sometimes make a few calls. If you enjoy golf and thought playing a real course was a pipe dream in Korea, think again.
Nine Bridges Public
Nine Bridges has two secret bridges, on the 1st and 6th holes of the relatively unknown public course. The public course represents the most cost effective place to golf in Jeju and quite possibly all of Asia. On a weekday a Jeju resident can golf 12 holes for 24,000 won. The price rises to 33,000 won on a weekend. The course consists of only six holes which are meant to be played twice around.
There is a good mix of holes with three par 3s, two par 4s and a par 5. The Nine Bridges Public course also has the distinction of being, as far as I know, the only course on Jeju where carts and caddies are not offered. It is a very pleasant experience to be able to walk the course and take in some excellent views of Mt. Halla while playing the surprisingly well maintained course. It is also a great option for a weekly golfer. The 6-hole course at Nine Bridges is my favourite on Jeju chiefly because of its great value.
Ecoland Golf Course
Ecoland Golf Course opened in the fall of 2009 and has tried to live up to its name by doing as little damage to the environment as possible. Use of grass native to Jeju is one way the course avoids the need for chemical pesticides and reduces watering. The innovations at Ecoland are a great example of how reducing damage to the environment can also be consistent with reducing the costs of doing business.
Ecoland is unique in that it does not require golfers to hire a caddy. For a Jeju resident, the cost for 18 holes is 70,000 to 80,000 won, even on weekends, depending on the time of day. The price though, is not outrageous when compared to many courses in North America.
Ecoland has 27 holes to keep you coming back for more. The Beach Hills, Wild, and Eco, 9-hole courses are very challenging and fun to play. The perks at Ecoland include being able to drive your own touch screen, GPS map-equipped golf cart (at other courses your required caddy drives). Unlike the carts at many other courses in Jeju, the silent electric carts at Ecoland are two seaters, and as a result it is possible to go with that number. It is also refreshing to escape from the city and view the wildlife. You will certainly see some pheasants and may be treated to a deer or snake sighting.
After your game you can go to the hot and cool tubs in the massive locker rooms of the multimillion dollar clubhouse. Ecoland is a relative newcomer to the Jeju golf scene and is usually not crowded which further adds to its appeal. At the end of the day you will have experienced what some might consider a real luxury at a price that is not astronomical.
Jeju Country Club Public Course
Surprisingly the oldest golf club in Jeju has a very beautiful 9 holes right next to the private course. Having played both the private and public courses, I can tell you that the public course is of a very similar quality to the private course.
The main difference is that the public course, being relatively new, has very few tall trees and is more open. There are also no out of bounds markers and so you can play your ball from another hole’s fairway.
Jeju Country Club offers a unique golfing experience because of its location on Mt. Halla. As such it is a very hilly course which can take some adjustment. It can also be colder so make sure you dress appropriately. On the private course, on any given hole you can look out to the ocean if it is a clear day, then turn around and see the top of Mt. Halla. The view from the public course is not quite as spectacular, but it is surrounded by small hills which make for great sights. There are also times when you can see Mt. Halla and the ocean from one place. Try not to be distracted looking off into the horizon though, you might make a mistake like picking your ball up on the green without marking it!
I would say that a visit to Jeju Country Club is a must for any golfer on the island. Even if you are a tourist, two players can play the public course for 78,000 won each on a weekend or 67,000 won on a weekday. It is the place to go simply because it offers some spectacular scenic views of Jeju. You can also rent clubs for the fair price of 15,000 won.
The golf carts on the public course only carry your clubs, so you have the opportunity to walk the whole course.
Though the private and public courses both require cart and caddy the increase in the cost of your golf is not as much as you might think. As an inhabitant of Jeju (jumin in Korean), you should receive a substantial discount on your green fees. Nine holes at the public course on a weekend — presuming you go with a party of three — can cost you as little as 46,000 won each before 10 a.m. or 56,000 won after. You can also play with in a team of two and pay only slightly more per person.
As with most courses there are weekday discounts which take a bite out of the price. After playing the public course you may even find that you want to play the private 18-hole course since the difference in price is not that great because your jumin discount reduces the price for you so much. <Jeju Weekly>
<Daniel McNamee ⓒ Jeju Weekly (http://www.jejuweekly.com) All rights reserved. >
