[Forbes] Interview with Sean Pyun, CEO of GOLFZON North America — Targeting the U.S. Market with Indoor Golf Facilities

Forbes reported that, through an interview with Sean Pyun, CEO of GOLFZON North America, it took an in-depth look at GOLFZON’s growth strategy for the U.S. market and the future of indoor golf. The article noted that GOLFZON operates more than 6,500 commercial indoor golf simulator facilities in Korea, holding roughly 75% of the market, and that in Korea the number of rounds played at GOLFZON facilities is twice that of traditional grass golf courses.

Sean Pyun recalled that in the early days of GOLFZON’s founding in the early 2000s, simulator golf was regarded as a “video game” in Korea, but that since the 2010s it has firmly established itself as fully mainstream entertainment. He noted that GOLFZON’s U.S. business grew more than 90% in 2025 alone, and that he assesses the current U.S. simulator market as being at the very onset of growth, much like Korea was more than a decade ago.

Having worked at the LPGA Tour for 16 years and served as its Chief Business Officer for Asia, Sean Pyun said that at the time golf equipment companies had worried that indoor golf would hurt club sales and visits to grass golf courses, but that in reality, after indoor golf spread in Korea, the traditional golf population, equipment sales, and golf course revenues all increased. He also stated that, while indoor golf in the U.S. is currently perceived mainly as an alternative for the winter season or evening hours, his outlook is that this perception will change quickly.

It was reported that Sean Pyun forecasts the U.S. golf market will grow two to three times over the next decade and beyond, as the convenience and accessibility of indoor golf draws in new audiences who have never picked up a golf club before.