I played a round at Pyongyang Golf Course in North Korea. Here's a write-up of my experience!

[elliottd]

Hi everyone, I'm new here and had originally posted this over at /r/golf on Reddit, it's garnered some interest so some kind readers directed me here as you might find it interesting too.

 

Write-up Link: http://www.earthnuts...ng-golf-course/

 

Basically, I visited North Korea a while ago for 16 days. I'm an avid, social golf player and I couldn't help myself from trying to organise a round on North Korea's only golf course just outside the capital of Pyongyang. It's the one made famous thanks to Kim Jong-Il's miracle (mythical) score. Permission was granted, it ended up being a day I wouldn't forget -- I had a blast introducing golf for the first time to my minders and the experience was full of North Korean oddities I cover in the write-up.

 

Further information on my visit to North Korea for those interested:

 

100 Photos Inside North Korea: http://www.earthnuts...th-korea-part1/

Reddit IAMA: https://www.reddit.c..._toured_for_16/

Reddit /r/golf post on this topic: https://www.reddit.c...golf_course_in/

Enjoy, and if you have any further questions about the golf (or otherwise) I'd be happy to answer them for you here. :golfer:

[MarkFromTheUK]

That's amazing. Thanks for posting, as i'd never have found it otherwise.

 

North Korea is such a welcoming place. :russian_roulette:

[Climb&Golf]

That was fantastic! Thank you so much for taking the time to write this up. Absolutely fascinating insight. And hilarious you actually asked them about 'that' famous round. :D

[4pillars]

One of the lowest rounds of golf ever was played on that course by the North Korean Leader.

 

After picking up a golf club that day for the very first time in his life, the Dear Leader of the Democratic People's Republic of North Korea fired a 38-under-par round of 34 at Pyongyang. According to the 17 security guards who observed the performance, the score included an amazing 11 aces. Naturally, the event was dutifully reported to the North Korean masses by the state news agency.

[Emthree]

The thing I'm most shocked about was he found a left handed rental set in Pyongyang. Most courses here don't even bother with them.

[ezpz]

One of the lowest rounds of golf ever was played on that course by the North Korean Leader.

 

After picking up a golf club that day for the very first time in his life, the Dear Leader of the Democratic People's Republic of North Korea fired a 38-under-par round of 34 at Pyongyang. According to the 17 security guards who observed the performance, the score included an amazing 11 aces. Naturally, the event was dutifully reported to the North Korean masses by the state news agency.

So he was pretty much the ultimate wrxer

[Man_O_War]

great read!!! you write very well. It's always good to know in my travels around the world that us humans are capable of living a much less interesting life...just in case the West fails.

[slice n dice]

Great write up and read! Thanks for sharing

[clutchfan]

Very interesting thanks!!

[tannyhoban]

Thanks for that, welcome to golfwrx. Very interesting, fascinating actually. And my old home course has a golf bag in N. Korea, who'da thunkit?

 

This should get you in the conversation for most interesting WRX'er.

 

Happy trails and practice that putting.

[Forged4ever]

First, welcome to the board Elliott!!

 

Superb write-up Bro :)

 

It's appropriate that you share this Incredible experience on THE Largest and Finest Golf Forum on Planet Earth!!

 

This is an amazing story~

 

If I missed it, apologies, though who was the course designer?

 

Thanks for sharing and Please, don't be a stranger :)

 

This is easily one of the Top-10 most interesting stories of the year and it's only February, however Please drop in and just post with us when time permits!!

 

Stay Well, Safe Travels and God Speed :)

 

Fairways & Greens, Pins & Cups 4ever My Friend,

Richard

[No_Catchy_Nickname]

Good read, thanks for posting it.

[GeorgeHWB]

That was an excellent read. Thanks for posting!

[Halebopp]

Very interesting, thanks for posting! Did the caddie hit any balls?

[Herbert1804]

Brilliant blog. Kudos!

[Strömsborg]

Best thing I ever read on GolfWRX (sort of).

[LansingMI]

Most I've read in years ... Thanks.

[MtlJeff]

Am i wrong or does Ri have a bit of a thing going on? I mean you must've flirted with her a bit right?

[minimal45]

Wow! Very enjoyable read. Really makes one thankful for the quality of life we enjoy here in states. I have no interest in playing golf in such places but good for you to accept what I would call a mission.

[Mr22putt]

Hi everyone, I'm new here and had originally posted this over at /r/golf on Reddit, it's garnered some interest so some kind readers directed me here as you might find it interesting too.

 

Write-up Link: http://www.earthnuts...ng-golf-course/

 

Basically, I visited North Korea a while ago for 16 days. I'm an avid, social golf player and I couldn't help myself from trying to organise a round on North Korea's only golf course just outside the capital of Pyongyang. It's the one made famous thanks to Kim Jong-Il's miracle (mythical) score.

Some wonderful stuff to read.

 

Hmmmm...are you sure the lady that you played golf with is Korean?....she was not wearing knee highs. :taunt:

[Calum2000]

Really great write up there, thought it to be massively interesting! Must have been pretty mental to be in the country in the first place, let alone golfing there!

[dlygrisse]

Thanks for sharing.

[drewtaylor21]

Am i wrong or does Ri have a bit of a thing going on? I mean you must've flirted with her a bit right?

 

You know what they say, "what happens in North Korea stays in North Korea. We have barbed wire!"

 

Inquiring minds want to know though OP!

 

PS, in all seriousness, great write up! Fascinating to read

[Illest]

That's awesome. Thanks for sharing.

[Sean2]

More exclusive than Augusta! Well written and thanks for sharing your experience. :-)

[elliottd]

Thanks for all your kind comments, I read them all and it's appreciated. I'm pleased you enjoyed the write-up, your feedback really provides motivation to share more content like this. The golf community is bigger than I thought! :tongue:

 

The thing I'm most shocked about was he found a left handed rental set in Pyongyang. Most courses here don't even bother with them.

 

I was flabbergasted really, even though I was assured otherwise. I've found it to be similar here on occasion and if they do have leftie rental sets, you can count on it being a very old set that's seen better days. I was still planning to walk the course and take some snaps for you guys if I was unlucky, but instead it all worked out perfectly.

 

If I missed it, apologies, though who was the course designer?

 

Thanks for sharing and Please, don't be a stranger :)

 

Thanks Richard, I appreciate it! You'll certainly see me around, I have some interesting golfing escapades on the cards later this year, notably a round on Iran's only course in the capital of Tehran. I'll be sure to share it here.

 

As for the course designer, I'm unsure, what I do know however is that it was built to a Japanese design by a Japanese company in 1987. For a country most critical of the Japanese and the United States, they certainly borrowed heavily in facilitating this golf course!

 

Most I've read in years ... Thanks.

 

Haha, that's a good indication, it's pretty damn long I know. I just couldn't justify condensing it and leaving out some of the story. North Korea tends to make each day in it's entirety an adventure :tongue:

 

Very interesting, thanks for posting! Did the caddie hit any balls?

 

Other than practice swings, she hit a few half-shots, more like pitches, with me just to demonstrate to the guides. She never took any full-fledged swings down the fairway due to I suspect professionality reasons, but she certainly knew her stuff, she had a nice swing.

[elliottd]

Am i wrong or does Ri have a bit of a thing going on? I mean you must've flirted with her a bit right?

 

Hahah, she is beautiful, that's for sure. We had a great time together and got a long very well. :happy: There you go, there's my politically correct statement :haha:. I found that all of the female guides assigned to foreigners in the DPRK are quite young and noticeably pretty, I don't think it's a coincidence either.

 

Wow! Very enjoyable read. Really makes one thankful for the quality of life we enjoy here in states. I have no interest in playing golf in such places but good for you to accept what I would call a mission.

 

Thanks mate! Glad to give you an insight into a course you may not have had otherwise :)

 

More exclusive than Augusta! Well written and thanks for sharing your experience. :-)

 

Thank you and my pleasure :)! I suspect my Augusta experience might begin and end in visiting the Masters if I'm lucky enough in the future, and that'd be absolutely fulfilling!

[p3ga]

Thanks very much for sharing. Great read.

 

Safe travels.

[mizleft]

Wonderful story and great adventure!

Being a lefty myself I must carry my own clubs when I visit Japan since it's tough to find rentals.gotta say you have guts to visit there.i thoroughly enjoyed your story.

Thanks for sharing

[dan360]

What an adventure. Thanks for sharing!