[Exclusive] Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism to Revise Public Golf Course System... Plans Maximum Green Fee Cap

Seeking Solutions to the Average Green Fee Issue
Expanding Cart and Caddie Options to Reduce User Costs

Price regulations are expected to be strengthened for public golf courses that receive tax benefits under the pretext of promoting the popularization of golf. As some golf courses have been criticized for setting high fees during certain time slots while only meeting the average green fee standard, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism has begun pushing for the introduction of a maximum green fee cap.

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism is pushing to strengthen price regulations on public golf courses. Photo unrelated to the article.

According to the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the golf industry on June 18, the ministry is in discussions with related organizations to improve the criteria for designating public golf courses. While the current average green fee standard will be maintained, a separate standard for the maximum fee actually paid by users is being considered.

In December 2022, the ministry established the 'Notice on Designation of Public Golf Courses' and introduced a green fee cap system. To be designated as a public golf course, the average course usage fee during the peak seasons of April, May, June, September, October, and November must not exceed the government-set ceiling.

As of this year, the ceiling is set at 199,000 won on weekdays and 259,000 won on weekends. These amounts are calculated by taking the average fee for non-members at membership golf courses in the Seoul metropolitan area, adjusting for inflation, and then subtracting a tax benefit differential of 34,000 won.

The issue is that the current system is based on average fees, not the highest fees. Some golf courses have maintained their public designation by charging higher green fees during peak demand hours and lowering them during unpopular times to meet the average. As a result, there is an ongoing criticism that there is a gap between the actual costs borne by users and the intent of the policy.

According to the 'Leisure White Paper 2026' published by the Korea Leisure Industry Research Institute, there are 44 public golf courses on weekdays and 42 on weekends that have exceeded the green fee ceiling this year. The highest green fees at some golf courses reached 270,000 won on weekdays and 360,000 won on weekends. This is cited as an example of the loophole in the current system, which allows public status to be maintained as long as the average fee standard is met.

The ministry has begun working to improve the system, believing that the current average green fee standard alone is insufficient to achieve the policy’s intended effect. In addition to introducing a maximum green fee cap, the ministry is also discussing improvements such as expanding the option to select caddies and carts to reduce the financial burden on users.

Lee Sunyoung, Director General of Sports Policy at the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, stated, "We are in discussions with relevant organizations to rationalize golf course fees," adding, "We are also reviewing whether to introduce a cap on the maximum green fee in addition to the average green fee standard." She continued, "We will continue to improve the system so that more people can enjoy golf at reasonable costs."

However, if a maximum green fee standard is introduced, backlash from the golf course industry is also expected. The industry argues that with growing operational burdens due to rising labor, course maintenance, and raw material costs, additional price regulations could lead to increased management pressure. There are also concerns that uniformly capping prices during peak demand hours could undermine market autonomy.

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