Korean Job Discussion Forums

[hauwande]

hi everybody.

i'm lucas - an australian teaching english here. im in my second year in korea.

i have recently moved to gongju, and having taken up golf 4 or 5 months ago, i have been playing regulary at the local driving range here working on my swing. i like the game a lot and play most days of the week on the range.

occasionally i go to a course and i need to "join" a group in order to play. actually sometimes this is not possible, so i can't play or if the korean players (strangers) say yes, then i can play a round. the thing is what i like about golf is that its a sport where i can take a relaxing afternoon with some friends and chill out. courses are usually beautiful places to be in for a few hours to shoot the breeze.

i think the koreans may think the same and the feeling i get is that they don't really want a stranger foreigner to join their group. i can understand that, so is there anyone who lives near gongju, or anywhere for that matter who likes to play golf?

lets shoot a round together somewhere. i am not very good at it, but im improving, so if you're good players, don't worry i won't slow you down much - i hope!

p.s. too busy for capitalisation

cheers

lucas

[hauwande]

of all the expats here , no-one has an interest in golf?

[ceesgetdegrees]

I love the game but am in no way willing to pay minimum 200 000 won a round for 18 holes on a full course and personally wouldn't be seen dead on one of those indoor driving ranges. Golf and korea are one of the great ironies. Everyone wants to look upwardly mobile so they buy expensive clubs and go to indoor driving ranges where they show off the latest nublick golf bags and other assorted apparel, paying 400 000 a month to be coached by an indoor driving range professional. Ask 90% what there handicapp though and all you'll get is a blank stare.

[hauwande]

there are shorter courses around (2500m for 9 holes) that are within the 50000 mark and others for less that 100k. quite a few full courses are about 120k or so for 18 holes.

yeah - i agree with you it is expensive. im willing to pay it twice a month or so on a full course.

also, the driving ranges are about 120000 per month as a general fee and some of them are ok. the one i go to is quite good - it is long.

i agree with the irony you mention about korea and golf, but i dont mind that really - i just ignore it - i just worry about what i'm doing...

i think 350000 won a month is ok to spend on a hobby.

it would be nice to meet any others who would also do it.

[Dome Vans]

[hauwande]

actually there is a 9 hole course near jeonju that is 25000 won for 9 holes. also, if we are quick enough we can hit 2 balls each hole - makes it 18 holes! - well sort of...

[bogey666]

[lawyertood]

I play a bit in Thailand where it is a bit cheaper than here although not as cheap as back home. Wouldn't mind hitting a course once in awhile but I'm in Seoul where it would be a trek to meet up, I think. I'm not that good either. Just started lessons so I can lower my handicap.

[victorology]

hauwande, I'm an avid golfer myself. I don't get to golf often because of the cost but I do try to make it out as often as possible. Unfortunately, my clubs are back in Hawaii right now but I'll be bringing them up in August.

[hauwande]

haha! good one bogey - i got a good laugh out of that post...

i will call golf a sport though - i think it is a sport of the mind - to keep everything in balance isnt easy.. and to try to do it every time...

anyway - i do it just to relax and unwind - like going for a walk along the beach or ...
having a few beers in the park....

[hauwande]

layertood,

im sure we can manage a game here and there - we can meet in cheonan - a few good courses there i hear

[hauwande]

[victorology]

I would be willing to rent some clubs. I'm in Seoul, though.

[IncognitoHFX]

Should've posted this in the "what is your age?" thread. You could easily find the 50+ golfers you seek, and a 20-something caddie you can boss around.

[hauwande]