"A golf course is a story drawn upon nature."
Golf course designer Ha Jong-du believes designing a golf course is not mere construction. It is the creation of a story where nature and people come together in harmony.
Ha's newly released book "Golf Stories Through Common Sense and Courses" captures his philosophy on golf course design. The book covers golf's history, industry, culture, and case studies of world-renowned courses. Published by JDGM, it interprets golf not as a simple sport but as comprehensive content combining nature, strategy, culture, and industry. Built on this foundation, the book examines various aspects of golf from multiple dimensions.
The author draws on his experience working at an Australian golf club and his background designing and operating golf courses domestically and internationally to provide a broad introduction to the golf industry and culture. The 220-page book consists of five chapters. Chapter 1 ("The Golf World I Never Knew") introduces the global golf industry and major case studies. Chapter 2 ("Golf Is a Romantic Profession") explains the professional appeal and philosophy of golf course designers. Chapters 3 ("My Favorite Golf Courses") and 4 ("Scoring Golf Courses") cover world-class courses including Pebble Beach, Torrey Pines, and Bandon Dunes Resort, along with course evaluation criteria. The final Chapter 5 ("The Competitiveness of Korean Golf Courses") assesses the competitiveness and future direction of Korea's golf industry. Of particular interest is the detailed explanation of how golf courses influence brands and regional economies through the stories and operational philosophies of world-class courses.
The book is expected to provide meaningful insights not only to golf enthusiasts but also to golf industry professionals and readers interested in sports business, tourism, and content fields.