Korean Domination in the LPGA (censored)

[Argonne69]

That contradicts Dean's statement in the article I referenced above: "In Korea golf isn't seen as a luxury sport like some other countries. It's made affordable, kids aspire to play golf...".

 

Am I imagining things, or did they mention during the WBO broadcast that a lot of players in Korea learn to play the game using indoor simulators, and that many didn't hit learn to punch out from trees until they had played for many years?

 

There are ~650 golf courses in Korea. By comparison, the "golf screen" company Golfzon has 5,500 locations alone in a country the size of Minnesota. It's estimated that 80% of Korean golfers start out playing screen golf.

[legitimategolf]

From what I understand there is also a tournament screen golf tour in Korea. That's beautiful man, like a rose growing out of concrete or something. These people are golf crazy, cannot be contained. The driving ranges are popular too, and better than ours. Theirs are equipped with mirrors in every stall, for instance. Maybe I want to practice with a mirror too goddammit.

[Argonne69]

Yes, indoor tournament golf is a thing. GTour and WGTour.

 

 

 

https://www.business...ZON-Indoor-Golf

 

[Swisstrader98]

Korean moms. I got one. You don't mess with them.

 

100%!! I have a Korean wife and you don't mess with them either. My wife tells the kids to do something and they do it, no questions asked. There are pluses and minuses to this approach but deep respect for the Korean momma.

 

My mom was actually the most laid back of her sisters and sister in laws. I have cousins who are doctors, rich businessmen, and one classical musician.

 

My Korean wife is the most zen of all the sisters but that’s like saying you’re the tallest midget:) They are tough as nails and ruthless when they need to be....in a good way. Lol

[AWinfortheAges]

USA still dominates the LPGA. There are more LPGA members from the USA than any other country and it's not even close.

 

Only because the 2nd tier Korean players prefer to stay in Korea. When you look at last year's LPGA money list. 11 of the top 25 players are Korean. But then only 4 Koreans from 25th to 100th. It is very top heavy.

 

I can see the reason behind the choice. Those players probably make more money being the top tier players in KLPGA instead of 2nd tier players in LPGA. While sleeping in their own bed and enjoying homemake kimchi.

 

What LPGA money list are you looking at? In 2017 there were 7 South Koreans from 26th to 100 on the LPGA money list.

[AWinfortheAges]

The Koreans are doing what they've been doing for a while now. It is old news. I agree with Jasonic, it's deeply cultural. They love golf. It is considered a somewhat hip and youthful sport even. Elite golfers like Inbee and Na Yeon Choi are bona fide celebrities in Korea; actors, athletes, K-pop idols are among their fanboy/fangirls.

 

Golf in the USA on the other hand is very old hat. I just looked it up, "Dorf on Golf" came out way back in 1987. That is to say Americans started rolling their eyes at golf a long time ago. If you ask me the decline of US women's golf is the bigger story here than the rise of Koreans.

 

IMO no amount of government intervention or funding will enable American female pro golfers to rise to the current level of Korean counterparts. This particular cultural gap is insurmountable, probably. A young American girl weighing her career options, knows that even if she were to rise to the top of her profession as a golfer, she would still be shunned by people like Rihanna or Leo DiCaprio. The young girl in Korea on the other hand sees a much different landscape.

"Don't fully agree with what Korda said. A lot of Korean Women left their homeland in pursue of good golf.. And, if you look at the American Men, 4 of the top 5 are Americans, Americans won most of the majors in the last few years. On the women's side it's very strange. Everything points in favor of the American Women. They're at home, they have friends here, they can eat at any restaurant where the foreign players struggle with the language, with the food, being lonely, and who knows what else. It may be culture, it may be Family sacrifices, it may be the Americans train with the Air Force and the Foreign women train with the Navy SEALS.....I don't know"

 

What Jessica Korda spoke of made very good sense. American women are in a “down cycle” in terms of highly skilled, athletic and proficient players. They are between generations in that the older players are in the relative twilights of their careers (ie: the Cristie Kerr’s and the Paula Creamer’s).

 

There are some younger women coming along such as Emma Talley, Angel Yin, Lindsay Weaver, and some very promising collegiate stars such as Kristen Gillman, Cheyenne Knight, Lauren Stephenson, and more. There are youngsters such as Lucy Li and Alexa Pano in the junior golf ranks that have already had experience playing events on the LPGA.

 

The point Korda made about having a “national team” type of program is very on point. Should USGA support a developmental team program or a developmental academy of sorts, then the American girls and young women would have that type of quality coaching, training and support systems. It would help support their development and growth as players from adolescence (teen years) through to their collegiate years.

 

The other often unspoken “truth” about women’s golf in America is that it seems that the culture is not as conducive to the work ethic that seems so very inherent in the Asian cultures. Many of the Asian cultures are more focused on personal sacrifice to attain one’s goals – whether it be in business or practicing one’s mid iron approaches.

 

Personally, there is a “school of thought” that is pushing back against this notion that I tend to agree with. Basically, children and teenagers with athletic skills do better in their preferred sport if they were multi-sport kids growing up. Getting that rest, both physical and mental/emotional, has been important to their development as athletes.

 

American women are in a bit of transition in professional golf, but they will rebound. A “national team” type of program that Korda made reference to would also be a big step towards developing more proficient players that would boost the competitiveness of American women in professional golf.

The Koreans are doing what they've been doing for a while now. It is old news. I agree with Jasonic, it's deeply cultural. They love golf. It is considered a somewhat hip and youthful sport even. Elite golfers like Inbee and Na Yeon Choi are bona fide celebrities in Korea; actors, athletes, K-pop idols are among their fanboy/fangirls.

 

Golf in the USA on the other hand is very old hat. I just looked it up, "Dorf on Golf" came out way back in 1987. That is to say Americans started rolling their eyes at golf a long time ago. If you ask me the decline of US women's golf is the bigger story here than the rise of Koreans.

 

IMO no amount of government intervention or funding will enable American female pro golfers to rise to the current level of Korean counterparts. This particular cultural gap is insurmountable, probably. A young American girl weighing her career options, knows that even if she were to rise to the top of her profession as a golfer, she would still be shunned by people like Rihanna or Leo DiCaprio. The young girl in Korea on the other hand sees a much different landscape.

 

Golf is a rich, white man's game -- that stereotype will never change for many people, despite any evidence to the contrary. In Minneapolis, there has been a quixotic battle over the past year or so to save a golf course that suffers from constant flooding. In the current political climate of the city, there is no support for spending money on golf. This despite the fact that this golf course has traditionally been the home of golf for black players in the city. Back in the day, it was the home of the Bronze Championship (a tournament primarily for black players), and the "hustlers" who owned Friday afternoons out there were legendary. None of that history matters.

 

For young women, golf is definitely a scholarship opportunity at the college level, but there's a pretty big gap between being good in college and competing with the women coming out of Korea, Japan, Thailand, and other Asian countries. Like you pointed out, golf is new and fresh and hip there.

 

 

I'm going to comment and try to touch on the bolded statements.

 

I'm not sure if Leo DiCaprio plays any sport in his free time, but there is no shortage of popular/celebrity American males that play and love golf. Justin TImberlake, Michael Jordan, Steph Curry, etc. etc. They are as golf crazed as anyone in Korea or Japan. But perhaps the difference is, not only is golf in American looked at as a rich white man's game, it is also an activity that men partake in while getting away from their wives and family when possible (It's also marketed that way in the US). So Michael Jordan has a post undergraduate daugther, grew up in the Tiger Woods era. She's not really a public figure, but I don't see any indication that her father's love of golf passed down to her (I just found and looked at her instagram quickly and I don't see anything golf related).

 

You see Justin Timberlake out golfing, but I've never seen his wife out there with him. Steph Curry and his father, Dell are in to golf. But I don't see any indication that Steph's mother, sister or wife play. Kobe Bryant has a daugther that looks very athletic and he has said she has his same demeanor and work ethic. I wonder if there was ever a thought of putting a golf club in her hands. This is just a small sample size and none of these women have to pick up the game. But I it would be great for women's golf in American if they could cultivate growth of the game in this area. The last A list celebrity female I can remember playing golf is Catherine Zeta-Jones.

 

more on this later...