Golf is becoming increasingly popular in South Korea. The country is the world's third largest market for golf. Korean golfers spend more on golf equipment and clothing than people in any other country. A new golfing phenomenon has emerged in Korea. Golf clubs are opening after dark so more people can play the game. This has been dubbed "white night" golf. Korea's avid golfers have more chances to get their golf clubs out. It can be difficult to play golf in Korea because of a lack of courses in cities. The capital city Seoul has just one course. This is limited to use by military personnel.
There are as many as 117 golf courses that offer night golf. This may result in South Korea's golfers being more successful internationally, especially for women. A website said 32 of the top 100 players in the women's world rankings, including 4 of the top 10, are from South Korea. A Korean woman has won at least one of the golf majors every year since 2010. Korea's legendary Pak Se-ri won the 1998 US Open aged 20 in her rookie season. She may have been a white night trailblazer. Reports say her father made her practice her swing at night to toughen her up.