Golf in Korea for Foreign Visitors
Answers to what foreigners ask most, from what we see across 301 Korean golf courses on Double Eagle, updated every day.
Booking
Can I book a tee time myself?
Usually not. Of the 121 courses where we know how sign-up works, 95 need a Korean identity check on their website. The check works only with a Korean resident or foreigner registration number, which visitors on a short stay don’t have, and tourist SIM cards don’t pass it.
26 courses only text a code to a Korean phone number, so a Korean SIM with a voice line may work there. Each course page says which kind it is when we know.
- Ask a Korean friend or colleague to book with their account. Each course page has an Ask a Korean Friend to Book button that sends them the course in Korean.
- Book a golf day tour from Seoul. English tours run about US$400 to US$800 per person; check what is included, since some leave out the green fee or the caddie fee.
Can I play alone or as two?
Not alone: none of the open tee times on Double Eagle take a single player. Courses sell a tee time to a group, so a solo golfer joins another group.
Two can play at some courses. Of the open tee times where the course states a minimum, 33% take groups of 2, 56% need 3 players and 12% need 4. The Groups of 2 and Groups of 3 buttons on the course list show only the courses that take them.
Looking for players to join you? Email us and say when and where.
How far ahead can I book?
Courses open their tee times a few weeks ahead: the typical course on Double Eagle has tee times open about 25 days out today. Each course page shows every day it has open.
Can I cancel, and what if it rains?
Under Korea’s standard golf course terms, cancelling 3 days before a weekday round or 4 days before a weekend round costs nothing. Later than that a course may charge part of the group’s fee, up to 30% for a same-day cancellation or a no-show.
If snow, heavy rain or fog stops play, you pay only for the holes played, counting the one you were on. Courses designated public-type must use these terms; other courses may set their own, and some charge more.
Cost
How much does a round cost?
Golfers on Double Eagle paid about ₩162,000 per person on weekdays and ₩204,000 on weekends over the last three months. That is the green fee only.
On top come the caddie fee and the cart fee, both per group. ₩160,000 is the most common caddie fee golfers report on Double Eagle, then ₩150,000. Cart fees are ₩100,000 or more per group at most public courses.
For four players on a weekday that comes to about ₩227,000 per person.
How do I pay?
You pay the green fee and the cart fee at the front desk, by card if you like. The caddie fee goes straight to the caddie, almost always in cash, split across the group, so bring cash.
On the Course
Do I need a caddie?
Not always. Of the 102 courses where the tee times say, 29 always send a caddie, 41 sell some tee times without one and 32 sell them all without one. Each course page says which.
A caddie looks after the whole group: drives the cart, hands you clubs, reads putts and keeps score. Without a caddie you drive the cart yourself.
How long does a round take?
About 4.5 hours: the typical round scored live on Double Eagle over the last three months.
Tee times are usually 7 minutes apart and the caddie keeps the group moving.
What happens on the day?
- Arrive about 30 minutes before your tee time and check in at the front desk. You get a locker key.
- Wear golf clothes. A collared shirt is the safe choice and jeans are usually not allowed; many courses now allow shorts.
- After the round, shower in the locker room, then pay at the front desk.
Can I rent clubs?
Many courses rent sets; ask when you book. Visitors often find the sets short for tall players and left-handed sets rare, so bring your own clubs if you can.
How do I get to the course?
Most courses are outside the city, so take a taxi or rent a car. Each course page shows how far it is from Seoul, the Korean address to show your driver, and Naver Map, which gives directions in Korea.
Season and Other Options
Can I play in winter?
Yes, at many courses. In mid-January about 3 in 4 courses on Double Eagle still had open tee times. Others close fully or partly for the coldest weeks, usually from late December to February, and snow can close a course at short notice.
What if I can’t get a tee time?
Try screen golf, an indoor simulator. Screen golf rooms are all over Korean cities, you pay per person per round, and rental clubs are usually available.