South Korean Golf Delegation Visits With NJSGA

Two representatives of The Korea Institute of Sports Science, another from the Korea Golf Business Association, plus an interpreter, paid a visit to NJSGA headquarters on Monday, September 9. The South Koreans met with NJSGA executive director Steve Foehl, Director of Handicapping and Member Services Rich Kennedy and Director of Communications Mike Moretti.

The Korean delegation included Sang-Hoon Kim, Director of Policy, R&D, and Mun-Jeong Seong, head of Director of Policy, of the Korean Institute of Sport Science, and Lee Seok-ki, of the Korea Golf Business Association, and interpreter Hyung Cheol Shin.

Among the topics discussed were the differences between public and private courses and memberships in the United States; the rates charged for private and public courses; the state government's role for golf courses in New Jersey, how counties administer municipal courses and other issues.

The Koreans stated there are only 350 courses in South Korea with a potential to reach 600 in the future. The population of South Korea is 50 million people.

``It was an interesting give and take," Kennedy said. ``We alerted them to the fact that the Emerson Golf Club in Bergen County is owned by Korean-Americans and they planned to visit. We asked them how we could get more Koreans involved in becoming members of the NJSGA, and received some helpful advice."

The Koreans said they planned to meet with other state organizations, including those in California.