Hwacheon County has expanded its park golf facilities to include seven courses with a total of 117 holes. The enhanced amenities aim to connect the demand for park golf visitors to local business revenues through national tournaments, gift card refunds, and free lodging for guests.
According to Hwacheon County, the new Gandong Park Golf Course, located in Gandeok-ri, began trial operations on November 1 after its completion on October 31. It will be available for free use until November 13, regardless of residency.
The course, which broke ground in February 2025, spans 29,500 square meters and features 18 holes. Facilities include restrooms, a ticket office, an office, parking, and umbrellas at each hole for sun and rain protection. A park golf tournament for local residents will be held on November 14, with official operations starting on November 15.
With this completion, Hwacheon now boasts six 18-hole courses, including the Sancheoneo No. 1 and No. 2 courses, as well as the Jangmi, Yongam, Sanae, and Gandong courses, along with the nine-hole Hanam course, totaling 117 holes. The establishment of a facility in Gandeok-ri broadens the regional foundation for welcoming visitors through park golf.
The growth of Hwacheon as a park golf hub is attributed to the operation of tournaments utilizing multiple courses and tourism connections. The Sancheoneo course along the Bukhan River offers scenic views and nighttime facilities. Tournaments attract participants from across the country, integrating external visitor demand with local recreational facilities.
National tournaments can encourage visits not only on game day but also for practice sessions and preliminary and final rounds. If participants stay in the area to use multiple courses, it increases the likelihood of spending on meals, lodging, and shopping. The expansion of courses and hosting of tournaments create a structure that connects tourism and service industries.
The county's gift card refund and lodging benefits strengthen this connection. According to the county, adults paying the standard fee of 15,000 won receive a 10,000 won Hwacheon Love gift card in return. This encourages visitors to use the gift cards at local businesses, promoting spending after using the courses.
The actual cost burden for visitors who use all the gift cards is around 5,000 won. However, the total refund amount cannot be viewed solely as an increase in new spending, as visitors may use the gift cards to cover expenses they would have incurred anyway, such as meals. To assess the economic impact, it is essential to examine both the refund amounts and additional spending, as well as the likelihood of repeat visits.
The program allowing free use without a reservation upon presenting a lodging receipt aims to convert day visits into overnight stays. This could lead to increased revenue for lodging establishments, as well as spending on dinner and subsequent day activities. The effectiveness of this initiative will depend on the actual conversion rate of overnight stays and the duration of those stays.
The Gandong course is conveniently located near Chuncheon, making it accessible for nearby enthusiasts. Its proximity to the planned Hwacheon Station on the East-West High-Speed Railway will improve accessibility once the railway opens. It is important to differentiate between current convenience and future transportation benefits when forecasting visitor demand.
After the facility expansion, managing visitor numbers and local economic outcomes will be a challenge. It will be necessary to distinguish between the number of visits by the same individual to multiple courses and the actual number of visitors, as well as to monitor the proportion of external visitors, length of stay, gift card usage, and maintenance costs for each course to evaluate the effectiveness of the investment. Tracking how spending by visitors at the Gandong course translates to local restaurants and shops will also be a key indicator.
This press release did not provide specific performance or cost data. While the expansion to 117 holes has increased the capacity for visitors, the extent of income growth for residents will need to be confirmed through future operational results.
Kim Se-hoon, the mayor of Hwacheon County, stated, “We will actively market to ensure that the park golf industry helps restore the local economy and increase residents' incomes.”
* This article has been translated by AI.
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