Golf Courses with Highest Operating Profit Margins: Golfzon County Jinchon and Seoseoul Lead the Rankings

Public Golf Courses: Jinchon Records 57.8% Operating Profit Margin

Membership Courses: Seoseoul Country Club Tops List at 41.8%

Down 2.8% and 1.9% Respectively Compared to 2024

Golfzon County Jinchon and Seoseoul Country Club were identified as golf courses with high operating profit margins.

According to the "Leisure White Paper 2026" published by the Korea Leisure Industry Research Institute on May 28, the operating profit margin of Golfzon County Jinchon, a public golf course located in Jincheon, Chungcheongbuk-do (27 holes), recorded 57.8%. Golfzon County acquired Art Valley, which had previously operated on a membership basis, and converted it to a public course, resulting in a high profit margin.

Golfzon County Jinchon ranked first in operating profit margin among public golf courses. Photo by Golfzon County

The second highest operating profit margin among public courses was Winchester Golf Club (Anseong, Gyeonggi-do, 18 holes) with 57.1%. Jungwon Golf Club (Chungju, Chungcheongbuk-do, 27 holes), operated by the Korea Local Administration Public Officials' Mutual Aid Association, ranked third (56.4%), followed by Iksan Country Club (Iksan, Jeollabuk-do, 24 holes) in fourth place (56.3%), and The Crosby Golf Club in fifth place (56.0%).

Namyangju Golf Club (Yeoju, Gyeonggi-do, 27 holes), known among golfers for its value for money, was ranked seventh (55.2%). This golf course, established using funds collected from 10 member golf courses for the creation of public golf courses, also ranked 57th in revenue.

Looking at operating profit margins by region, there were four public golf courses in the Seoul metropolitan area, a decrease of three compared to 2024. There were three in the Yeongnam region, two in the Chungcheong region, and one in the Honam region. By course size, there were five 18-hole courses and five 27-hole courses included. The average operating profit margin for public courses was 55.7% last year, a decrease of 2.8 percentage points compared to 2024.

Among membership golf courses, Seoseoul Country Club (Paju, Gyeonggi-do, 18 holes) of Hoban Construction Group ranked first with an operating profit margin of 41.8%. Bora Country Club (Ulju, Ulsan, 27 holes) was second (38.9%), and Giheung Country Club (Hwaseong, Gyeonggi-do, 36 holes), in which the Korea Retired Police Officers Association holds a 50% stake, was third (37.7%). They were followed by Hanseong Country Club (Yongin, Gyeonggi-do, 27 holes, 36.4%) and Goseong Nobel Country Club (Goseong, Gyeongsangnam-do, 27 holes, 36.3%).

The average operating profit margin for membership golf courses was 36.6%, a decrease of 1.9 percentage points compared to 2024. By region, there were six membership golf courses in the Seoul metropolitan area, the highest number, and four in the Yeongnam region. By course size, there were five 27-hole courses, four 18-hole courses, and one 36-hole course.

Seo Cheonbeom, director of the Korea Leisure Industry Research Institute, said, "Golf courses located near major cities with large golf populations, especially those operating 27 holes, showed higher profitability," adding, "This year, due to the domestic economic downturn resulting from the U.S.-Iran war and other factors, the operating profit margins of golf courses are likely to return to pre-COVID-19 levels."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.