The 2026 Hwacheon Sancheoneo National Park Golf Festival, the largest major park golf tournament in South Korea, will kick off on August 18 in Hwacheon, Gangwon Province. This year’s event will see a record 3,200 participants competing for a total prize pool of 122.4 million won over the course of a month.
According to the Hwacheon County Office, the Hwacheon County Sports Council will begin the preliminary rounds on August 18, running through September 19.
The preliminaries will take place over eight sessions, held every Tuesday and Wednesday. The general men's and women's divisions will compete at the company park golf course, while the senior divisions will play at the Hwacheon Sports Park golf course. The finals are scheduled for September 15 to 18 at the Hwacheon Sancheoneo Park Golf Course, on courses 1 and 2.
This year, the tournament has set a record for the highest number of participants, with 3,200 registering as soon as applications opened. Including over 500 operational staff and officials, the total number of visitors to Hwacheon during the event is expected to reach 4,000.
The prize money is among the highest in the country. The MVPs for both men and women will each receive 30 million won, along with a solid gold trophy and a green jacket. Winners in the general and senior divisions will receive 5 million won for first place, 3 million won for second, and 2 million won for third. The total prize money, including event awards, amounts to 122.4 million won.
The Hwacheon Sancheoneo National Park Golf Festival has established itself as a major park golf event in South Korea, recognized for its scale, prize money, and operational quality. It attracts top athletes and enthusiasts from across the nation, contributing to the local economy as a significant sports tourism event.
This year, the preliminary rounds will be spread out over a month to encourage continuous visits from participants and their families. This is expected to have a sustained positive impact on local businesses, including accommodations, restaurants, and traditional markets.
Hwacheon County has built its brand as the 'capital of park golf' based on its extensive park golf facilities and various national tournaments. The county aims to enhance its competitiveness as a destination for stay-type tourism by linking seasonal attractions, such as the Sancheoneo Festival, with sports marketing.
Hwacheon County Mayor Kim Se-hoon stated, “We will expand sports marketing to ensure that park golf can provide new growth momentum for the local economy.”
This tournament is hosted by the Hwacheon County Sports Council and supported by Hwacheon County, the Korea Park Golf Association, the Gangwon Special Self-Governing Province Park Golf Association, and the Hwacheon County Park Golf Association.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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