Golf trends in South Korea are evolving. The sport is transforming from an activity for personal networking and exercise into a culture of creating precious memories and experiences with family. To meet this demand, resort infrastructure combining golf courses, accommodations, and diverse entertainment amenities has become essential.
Seoul Economic Daily has selected the "Top 10 Golf Courses in Korea" since 2003. Reflecting these trends, the newspaper introduced the "Top 10 Golf Resorts in Korea" category last year. Seolhaewon in Yangyang, Gangwon Province, won the inaugural grand prize. Other honorees include Golden Bay, Gunsan, The Haven, Sand Pine, Sagewood Yeosu Gyeongdo, Elysian Jeju, Teddy Valley, Pinestone, and Haeundae Beach.
Seoul Economic Daily held the "2025-26 Seoul Economic Daily Top 10 Golf Courses and Golf Resorts" awards ceremony at The Plaza Hotel in Jung-gu, Seoul, on December 12.
"I will share this grand prize honor with all executives and employees who work tirelessly day and night to create an exceptional resort, and with everyone who cherishes and loves Seolhaewon," said Ahn Je-geun, CEO of Seolhaewon. "We will pursue sustainable management where guests can enjoy complete rest with excited hearts and look forward to their next visit when they leave."
The finest golf resorts must feature excellent courses alongside matching accommodations and leisure facilities. Since they must satisfy both golfers and non-golfers, 81 selection committee members evaluated golf resorts nationwide with strict criteria. They narrowed candidates to 38 locations before selecting the final 10.
"This is an effort to newly spotlight golf resorts that embody the values of golf, family, and rest," said Son Dong-young, CEO of Seoul Economic Daily and Seoul Economic TV. "Because they must satisfy not only golfers but also non-golfing visitors, the selection committee applied even stricter evaluation standards."
The selection committee comprises golf industry executives, regional golf association officers, golf equipment company CEOs, professional golfers, corporate executives, university presidents, legal professionals, tax accountants, and architects with deep knowledge of golf.
"The Top 10 golf courses are making their best efforts to provide comfortable environments for golfers, including replacing grass varieties and introducing scientific management methods despite difficult conditions from climate change," said Moon Hong-sik, chairman of the selection committee. "Efforts to improve relations with local residents were also significantly reflected in this evaluation."
For the golf resort category, four criteria from the original Top 10 Golf Courses evaluation—fairness, rhythm, tradition and contribution, and clubhouse—were replaced with four new items: amenity diversity, food and beverage service, room variety, and room cleanliness. The remaining six criteria—challenge, aesthetics, course maintenance, safety, staff expertise and service, and reputation and feedback—remain identical.
Originally known to golfers as Golden Beach Resort when it opened in 2007, Seolhaewon rebranded in 2017 and has since become a familiar name to all travel planners. By building facilities and adding value befitting its new name, it offers golfers and resort visitors unprecedented leisure experiences while serving as an aspirational benchmark for the industry. It is also famous as Korea's first facility to supply natural hot spring water directly to its thermal swimming pool.
Seolhaewon plans to complete the "Seolhaewon Universe" by 2032. Following Seolhaesurim, scheduled for completion in the second half of this year, Seolhaewon Cliff and The Core will be developed. Cliff will house an art and cultural space designed by world-renowned architect Thomas Heatherwick and Korea's first Thomas Heatherwick Museum.
The Top 10 Golf Courses honored at the ceremony are Cypress, Seowon Valley, Seongmunan, Woojung Hills, Ildong Lake, Jack Nicklaus, Club Nine Bridges, Pine Beach, Pinx, and Whistling Rock. Jack Nicklaus Golf Club Korea in Songdo, Incheon, won the grand prize—its second top ranking and first since 2019.
Seoul Economic Daily and Seoul Economic Golf Monthly, launched in 2022, announce separate Top 10 member and public golf courses in even years and select an integrated Top 10 without distinction in odd years.