Thriving Both on Screen and Field... Lucrative Success in Different Arenas

Screen Golf Becomes a Trend Among Tour Professionals
Maximum Training Effect Boosts Skills and Extra Earnings
Hongtaek Kim, Taehui Lee, and Jihan Sol to Compete in the China Open

Screen golf is expanding its role beyond a leisure space for weekend golfers, increasingly becoming a “training ground” for professional athletes. Simulators that leverage advanced information and communications technology (ICT) now replicate real course environments, allowing players to assess their swing and shot shape as part of their training. With the emergence of large-scale international tournaments, the divide between screen golf and traditional field play is being rapidly dissolved.

According to Golfzon on September 21, domestic professional golfers' use of screen golf and participation in related competitions is growing. This trend is driven by technological advancement, including high-speed cameras and sensors to measure shots, as well as artificial intelligence (AI) to analyze shot trajectory and swing. Another advantage is the realistic course environments simulated by physical engines and high-definition graphics. The ability to repeatedly train at a relatively lower cost compared to field play is also attracting more professional players.

"Kim Hongtaek, the 'King of Screen Golf,' is seen cheering immediately after winning last year's KPGA Tour Baeksong Holdings - Asiad CC Busan Open. Courtesy of KPGA"

One well-known example is Hongtaek Kim, widely known as the “King of Screen Golf.” A leading long hitter on the KPGA Tour, he has emerged as a dominant force both in screen golf and on traditional courses. He holds the record for the most career victories—16—in the G Tour, a screen golf competition. He has also proven himself on actual courses. After his first KPGA Tour win at the 2017 Kaido Series Dong-A Membership Group Dynamic Busan Open, he added further victories at the 43rd GS Caltex Maekyung Open in 2024 and at last year’s Backsong Holdings-Asiad Country Club Busan Open, bringing his career total to three field titles.

Hongtaek Kim identifies screen golf as one of the key drivers behind his growth. He said, “The cost of a single field round was enough for me to play ten rounds at a screen golf venue.” Through repeated practice, his long drives and precise iron shots have become his strengths. This year, his average driving distance is 307.82 yards, ranking third, and his greens in regulation rate leads at 80.16%. He also topped the greens in regulation statistics in 2021, 2022, 2023, and last year.

The number of players expanding from field play to screen golf is also on the rise. Notable examples include 2022 KPGA Tour long drive champion Chanmin Jeong, and Hanbyeol Kim, who has three career tour victories. Not only do these players enjoy screen golf recreationally, but they also compete in related events. Both Chanmin Jeong and Hanbyeol Kim have commented that “screen golf feels very similar to actual field play.”

Kim Hongtaek is putting in the main round of the 2026 Golfzon China Open. Provided by Golfzon.

Golfzon is further extending this trend overseas. From December 17 for four days, the company will host the final round of the Golfzon China Open at Golfzon City Golf’s third branch in Chengdu, China. This international competition brings together professional and amateur golfers from Korea, China, other Asian countries, the Americas, and Europe. The total prize fund is approximately 4.25 billion won, and the winner’s prize is about 1.05 billion won, with 170 participants competing.

Top-level players who passed the domestic qualifiers will advance to the finals. Besides Hongtaek Kim and Hanbyeol Kim, Taehui Lee and Jeon Jae-han, who each have four career KPGA Tour wins, will also compete. Jihan Sol, who has recorded four wins on the KLPGA Tour, is also on the participant list.

The expansion of screen golf’s boundaries is underpinned by technology. Data captured by high-speed cameras and sensors is analyzed by AI, while physical engines and high-resolution graphics create environments nearly identical to real courses. Reservation, customer management, and remote operation systems—leveraging mobile apps and cloud services—are now integrated, evolving into a comprehensive golf platform.

Jihan Sol, who has recorded a total of 4 wins on the KLPGA Tour, will participate in the Golfzon China Open final this December. Provided by KLPGA

A Golfzon official stated, “By combining the advanced ICT technology and space infrastructure of screen golf, we are creating environments that closely resemble real courses. More and more professional players are using screen golf for training and are achieving excellent results.”

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