This Golf Club in China Has Made the Korean Market Its New Growth
This summer, terms like "Koreans come to Yancheng to play golf" went viral online.
In fact, since China implemented a 30-day visa-free policy for South Korean citizens in November 2024, Yancheng, Jiangsu, located over 770 kilometers from Seoul, has quickly become a popular destination for Korean tourists. In particular, Sheyang Island Golf Club has gained some fame among Korean golf enthusiasts.
Above: Sheyang Island Golf Club
The rapid popularity of Yancheng golf among Korean players is not only due to the excellent natural environment and high-standard facilities but also the club's keen sense of market opportunities.
In March 2024, when the number of visitors to Sheyang Island Golf Club began to decline, General Manager Sun Juan set her sights on the nearby Korean market. Upon learning that a travel agency in Weihai, Shandong, was seeking golf course partnerships, she led a team to negotiate the very next day, and a deal was struck within a month. The travel agency handles Korean group business, offering packages that include round-trip flights and hotel accommodation for Korean groups visiting Yancheng, and promotes Yancheng golf tours in the Korean market.
Above: An airline mini-program shows that the flight from Seoul Incheon International Airport to Yancheng Nanyang International Airport takes only two hours.
"At first, there were not many Korean tourists. Starting from the National Day holiday in 2024, every flight has had Korean tourists coming specifically to play golf." Sun Juan said that as the tourism product saw repeat purchases and word-of-mouth improved, the Korean market gradually opened up.
Above: Korean golfers playing at Sheyang Island Golf Club
Data released by the club shows that in 2024, it hosted over 3,000 inbound Korean tourists for golf, and in the first half of this year alone, more than 7,000 have come to play. However, Korean group tourists currently account for only 33% of the club's total visitors, with nearly 70% of golfers still being local Yancheng residents or from regions like Jiangsu, Zhejiang, and Shanghai.
A major reason Koreans choose to "play golf across borders" is the rising cost of domestic golf courses in Korea.
Now in Korea, it is not uncommon for a round of golf to cost over 300,000 KRW (about 1,400 RMB) per person, and in the Seoul metropolitan area, it can reach 400,000 to 500,000 KRW (about 1,900 to 2,400 RMB) per person per round.
Above: Nine Bridges Golf Course on Jeju Island, South Korea. As of June this year, the fee for an 18-hole round is 450,000 to 550,000 KRW (excluding additional service charges), approximately 2,100 to 2,600 RMB per round.
According to the "2025 Leisure Industry White Paper" released by the Korea Leisure Industry Research Institute, the average operating profit margin of domestic golf courses in South Korea in 2024 reached a staggering 30.3%, more than three times the average operating profit margin of hotels and other leisure service industries during the same period.
A report from The Chosun Ilbo pointed out that Korean golf courses increasingly encourage group members to dine at the course, including breakfast, dinner, and even purchase high-end gift sets sold at the course. Many courses also set a minimum dining expenditure of 50,000 to 100,000 KRW (about 240 to 480 RMB) per person and subtly guide members to meet this amount.
This phenomenon has frustrated many golfers, prompting them to look abroad for golf courses. China, Thailand, Japan, Vietnam, Laos, the Philippines, and Cambodia are among the popular destinations. Data from Korea's Golf Magazine shows that during the Golden Week holiday in May 2025, China's share of international golf tourism destinations surged from 5% in 2024 to 26%.
Although Chinese golf courses often charge higher caddy fees and cart fees, even with these added costs, the price of golf tour packages is far lower than in Korea. For example, the two-day-one-night golf package offered by Sheyang Island Golf Club costs only 400 RMB per person per day, with total round-trip expenses controllable within 3,000 RMB, which is more than 50% lower than the cost of a single round in Korea.
Above: Sheyang, Yancheng
To better serve Korean golf tourists, Sheyang has also established a collaborative service mechanism with Yancheng Nanyang International Airport. For instance, a "Golf Bag Fast Track" has been innovatively set up in the international arrivals area, where staff pre-sort and arrange golf bags, improving baggage claim efficiency by 50%. Simultaneously, coordination with immigration authorities has optimized clearance procedures, adding 6 manual inspection lanes and 4 e-channels, and a Korean-language service team has been formed to provide full guidance. Shuttle buses are arranged for direct transfer, reaching the course in about half an hour, enabling play upon arrival.....
According to Sun Juan, General Manager of Sheyang Island Golf Club: "This year, the club aims to attract 10,000 Korean tourists."
| Sources: Sheyang Culture and Tourism, Xinhua Daily, China Business News, Korea Golf Magazine, The Chosun Ilbo
| Image credits: Sheyang Culture and Tourism, Nine Bridges official website, Baidu Baike
| Editor: Esther