8 ways South Korean golf course etiquette differs from the U.S.

In South Korea’s capital city you can barely walk a block without running into a neon-lit driving range or a jam-packed simulator joint. Golf etiquette, too, is unlike what you’ll experience in the U.S. Below are eight big differences.

The Etiquetteist: South Korea Edition

No. 1: At the country’s high-end golf courses, caddies are de rigueur and, generally, female. Four bags are strapped along the back of a large cart, which carries all four golfers and typically stays on the cart path. Your caddie runs back and forth to retrieve whatever clubs you and your playing partners need.

No. 2: In most cases, it’s mandatory to book a foursome, and if you can only muster three players, you still pay for four.

No. 3: Caddies are often quite animated, and they genuinely cheer you on. They celebrate birdies, sometimes by placing a gold star on your scorecard, sometimes by attaching small, inexpensive charms — a butterfly, maybe, or a heart — to your driver headcover.

No. 4: Wagering is standard — sometimes only for caddie fees, but not many matches are played for pride or score alone.

No. 5: Between nines, there’s a customary 20- to 30-minute break for a light sit-down lunch and (usually) a beer. It’s not the prolonged mid-round meal you find in Japan, but it’s not a quick turn either.

No. 6: Jumping ahead of a group is pretty much forbidden, even if they lag at the turn.

No. 7: At one ultra-high-end course, eagles are commemorated with a personalized certificate, which is presented mere minutes after putting out on 18.

No. 8: While birdies and eagles are justly celebrated, holes in one will cost you. More than post-round drinks are on the line; elaborate meals and perhaps even a night on the town are as well.

Related articles

BREAKING: Actresses REFUSE to Act for Tyler Perry After His Diddy Freak-offs LEAK

In Hollywood, the journey to landing roles is notoriously challenging, especially for Black women. This reality was starkly illuminated in a recent conversation surrounding Tyler Perry, a…

Lil Wayne has just exposed something shocking about Diddy, and it’s way bigger than we thought.

Lil Wayne has just exposed something shocking about Diddy, and it’s way bigger than we thought. Lil Waynє’s rєcєnt rєvєlations about Diddy havє causєd wavєs across thє…

A major champ’s 4 keys for the ideal setup in greenside bunkers

After playing in a Member-Guest tournament this past weekend, it’s clear my golf game’s not nearly where it should be — especially when it comes to seeing…

2024 Shriners Children’s Open odds: Swedish pro on hot streak is our long shot

This week’s PGA Tour tournament is the 2024 Shriners Children’s Open, a long-running event held in Las Vegas, and we’re picking a winless Swedish pro whose game is…

Rules Guy: My ball is lodged against a bunker rake. What now?

The Rules of Golf are tricky! Thankfully, we’ve got the guru. Our Rules Guy knows the book front to back. Got a question? He’s got all the…

Fred Couples explains his key for generating effortless power

Welcome to Play Smart, a regular GOLF.com game-improvement column that will help you become a smarter, better golfer. There are few players in the game with a smoother swing than Fred Couples. It…