Tuesday

Golfzon Goes Global With Quest to Popularize Golf

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Young Chan Kim is clearly a patient man.

He started his company in 2000 with a long term vision that included the popularization of golf and the fostering of a inclusive culture built around the game.

More than a decade later Golfzon has become the biggest player in the international golf simulator market while remaining focused on its core mission, which is to make it possible for everyone to enjoy golf.

Mr. Kim's timing was spot-on.  His country had just weathered the Asian financial crisis, and a movement towards a reduction in working hours was underway.  In 2004 the government began implementing a five-day school and work week and many hard-working citizens discovered the joys of a two day weekend for the first time.  Meanwhile a young Korean golfer, Se Ri Pak, had become a global star and a symbol of national pride. As she won multiple major championships on the world stage she inspired an interest in golf that cut across all segments of the Korean population.

The dilemma at the time was that the game was too expensive and the courses too crowded to allow access for casual fans. That's the challenge that inspired Young Chan Kim to create Golfzon and introduce his country to new-concept golf culture, free from the time, space and cost restraints of the traditional game.  Golfzon's virtual reality screen golf was first launched in 2001, mainly for instructional purposes, but screen golf cafes soon followed and that was where Golfzon reached the mainstream, creating something of a cultural phenomenon.  ~ In Korea one can now enter Golfzon virtual-reality tournaments, with money, cars or a ticket to play in a real golf tournament as prizes. Thousands participate, and the final matches are televised.

There are currently over 5000 screen golf cafes in South Korea ...each cafe usually has two to five simulators... and Mr. Kim's company has supplied 65% of them. ~ Global expansion is underway, with a growing presence in Japan and China as well as in Europe... and Golfzon just entered into an agreement with Canadian company Live Golf Imports Inc. to bring their state-of-the-art simulators  to the North American Market. ~ 

It's not all about building the business however,  Golfzon culture takes its social responsibility very seriously as well, with initiatives that support the Korea's master craftsmen and regional community groups, as well as programs that foster young golf talents.

I think we'll be hearing quite a bit more about this dynamic company as it strives to create a global "Golfzon culture for the enjoyment of people of all age and gender".



Photo - top: golfzon.com
Photo - Se Ri Pak: Scott Halleran/Getty Images Sport

11 comments:

  1. The population of Korea seems much more aware of golf as a sport, and much more respectful of it.

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  2. Clever commercial...Timing is everything isn't it.

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  3. I LOVE the way the commercial show everyday people obsessed with golf and the idea is they may even be people who've only played the game indoors but they're doing what avid golfers do, practicing their swing where ever they can. It's great.

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  4. We need some of those screen golf cafes here in ND.

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  5. We have a couple of golf centers with simulators here, but I find they're used mainly in a teaching capacity. It would be great to be able to get beyond that and create social spaces where golf was enjoyed the way bowling or pool is around here. That's when interest will really grow.

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  6. 19 year old Noh Seung-Yul was one of three Korean's at the WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship. He was unfortunate to get Martin Kayer as his first match but he's a extraordinary player and a super hard worker. He'll definitely be making a mark in the coming years.

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  7. This story made me wish I was Korean.

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  8. Glen Osborne3/02/2011 12:01 PM

    Outstanding post, Patricia. Were there is a will; there is a way. I keep saying that we need lots of small 9-hole Par 3's tucked away in little corners where kids and adults can play a round of golf in an hour with walking on nice grass. These will be affordable with no intent to "milk" the most golf dollars out of people.
    We have such a little Par 3 where I live. In 1998 they did not know where their new golfers would come from and had just lost $12000 in the years operating.
    I started to teach golf there for $9/hr and was putting in all my other time on that little course; playing and fixing ball marks, etc.
    In 1999 - 2001 they were making dramatic profits.
    NOTE to golf course developers: Get your eyes out of the glorious dollars and fame and cater to the people who want to start golf; but do not want to spend large amounts of upfront money. The volume is there to supplant the big bucks from few people.

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  9. For us urbanites it would be fantastic to Golfzon cafes. Seems like it would be a great way to get some golf in when a trip to the suburbs isn't possible.

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  10. GOLFZON is honored to be covered by Golf Girl. I want to give a quick update on our 2011 activity in North America.

    This year we are expanding in Canada, with two shops already featuring our systems: GolfZone in Fort St. John, British Columbia, and iShot Golf in Markham, Ontario. Hopefully we can offer our systems and services in the USA soon, too!

    We will hold an investor's workshop in Toronto next month, for people interested in opening a facility featuring virtual golf.

    Check us out or the shops mentioned above on Facebook, Linkedin, and Twitter (golfzonintl). We are happy to give more information -
    jason@golfzon.com

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  11. Truly, golf is a sport which is enjoyed by people throughout the globe. It isn't a surprise at all that folks from the Asian countries are now also beginning to make waves in this sport.

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