[Wall Street Journal] Will Screen Golf Become the Future of Golf?

The Wall Street Journal reported that in South Korea, screen golf has established itself as a more popular sport than golf played on an actual course. It noted that more than 5,500 screen golf facilities operated by GOLFZON are spread across the country, and with a nine-hole round costing only about 15 dollars, the activity has grown into a popular sport that anyone can easily enjoy. The article added that, with amateur tournaments sponsored by the likes of IBM and Mercedes-Benz and a professional tour offering 2.6 million dollars in total prize money, screen golf occupies a space midway between traditional sports and e-sports.

The Wall Street Journal reported that just ten years ago golf in South Korea was the exclusive preserve of the wealthy, but the spread of GOLFZON’s simulators has now made it possible for the general public to enjoy golf as well. It noted that GOLFZON has opened 20 stores in the United States since early 2017 and is planning aggressive expansion into American cities going forward.

Taking into account factors such as urban concentration, rising real estate costs, and winter weather in the northern regions, the Wall Street Journal forecast that indoor golf will also play an important role in the U.S. market, and reported that South Korea’s screen golf model could become the future of the American golf industry.