Why are Korean Women Golfers Dominating?

[mcanadiens]

38 minutes ago, CarlSpackler said:

I've spent more time behind drunk american rednecks for 20 years...

This is true. It just stands out in people's minds when they have an experience with a minority and that leads to stereotyping.

A case in point is the infamous Japanese Mafia that can be found at Kittyhawk in the morning. They are slower than frozen dirt. Then again, so are an awful lot of other people. Their ethnicity is simply something the human mind tends to latch onto.  

 

[CarlSpackler]

4 minutes ago, mcanadiens said:

This is true. It just stands out in people's minds when they have an experience with a minority and that leads to stereotyping.

A case in point is the infamous Japanese Mafia that can be found at Kittyhawk in the morning. They are slower than frozen dirt. Then again, so are an awful lot of other people. Their ethnicity is simply something the human mind tends to latch onto.  

 

I know. I have played with many players of all races and genders who are plenty fast and others who are not. The course down the street from me seems to be a place for first dates where neither participant has played before, or so it would seem. Sigh...

[mcanadiens]

Just now, CarlSpackler said:

I know. I have played with many players of all races and genders who are plenty fast and others who are not. The course down the street from me seems to be a place for first dates where neither participant has played before, or so it would seem. Sigh...

Date golf? ... Do people actually do that?

[CarlSpackler]

3 minutes ago, mcanadiens said:

Date golf? ... Do people actually do that?

Apparently...

[boogielicious]

Folks, the subject is Korean Women Pro Golfers, not slow play.

Back on topic please.

 

[newtogolf]

Other countries are very smart at looking for niches where they can dominate.  

Asking why there are so many female Korean golfers is like asking why are there so many computer science and IT specialists from India and Asia.  There's a void of talent and these people are smart enough to try to fill it.  

[natureboy]

4 hours ago, newtogolf said:

Other countries are very smart at looking for niches where they can dominate.  

Asking why there are so many female Korean golfers is like asking why are there so many computer science and IT specialists from India and Asia.  There's a void of talent and these people are smart enough to try to fill it.  

I'm sure that's part of it, but not all.

The local enthusiasm for the game, good competitive opportunities, and motivating rewards is important. Golf is big in S. Korea, period. That helps draw good quality instruction and facility development. I've read about pros locating there from western countries to set up instruction academies because there's so much demand.

Then you have the effect where top female golfers in Korea are like pop stars. Little girls who like sports dream aspire to become a golf star. The KLPGA has strong sponsorship so it has nice financial incentives to draw top athletic talent. The KLPGA is also sounds like it has good competitive depth so it helps sharpen the games of those with talent. It seems from what I've read and heard that the sense of pressure and scrutiny from U.S. and European media / fans on the LPGA or LET is quite a bit lighter relative to the rewards than the intensity of competing in Korea too, which probably doesn't hurt.

[arturo28mx]

On 18/9/2016 at 6:35 AM, iacas said:

In part, it's a numbers game. A lot of Korean women play golf. And they are dedicated and practice a bunch.

If it were a numbers game wouldn´t the US dominate? Much greater population in the US and far more golf courses than in Korea (18,000 golf courses in US and only 400 golf courses in South Korea).

Perhaps american girls are more into other sports?

[iacas]

4 hours ago, arturo28mx said:

If it were a numbers game wouldn´t the US dominate? Much greater population in the US and far more golf courses than in Korea (18,000 golf courses in US and only 400 golf courses in South Korea).

Perhaps american girls are more into other sports?

There are more to the numbers than a basic analysis like that.

There are likely a good bit more Korean girls who play long enough to reach a high level. They get different training. They have different motivations. They may be more focused, and there may be more pressure, or more/better facilities built for learning golf, etc.

By numbers I didn't just mean population. Or golf courses.

In an average U.S. high school you might not even have enough golfers to field a team. In South Korea, you might have enough for six squads. Or more.

[rkim291968]

Fact:  Not only players from South Korea are good, ethnic Korean women from other countries are also good.   All the following women are ethnic Koreans without having Korean nationality: Lydia Ko, Michelle Wie, Alison Lee (1/8th Korean I think), Haru Nomura (1/2 Korean), Minjee Lee, Christina Kim, Jane Park, Jennifer Song, Meagan Khang, Danielle Kang, Vicky Hurst (1/2 Korean), ...

Whether one is born in Korea or not, ethnic Korean women are dominating women's golf.   I suspect their success is tied to their culture.  Many parents sacrifice themselves (to a fault, detrimental to their own life) for the success of their children.   And they have figured out that getting their children to play golf can lead to a fame, fortune, and success.  They provide their children with best instructors, send them abroad to golf school/training, ..., and push them to succeed by all means.   Many parents have wealth and the means.  Others ...  I've heard stories of Korean parents selling their business to continue to fund their child's training.  

[gregsandiego]

2 hours ago, rkim291968 said:

Fact:  Not only players from South Korea are good, ethnic Korean women from other countries are also good.   All the following women are ethnic Koreans without having Korean nationality: Lydia Ko, Michelle Wie, Alison Lee (1/8th Korean I think), Haru Nomura (1/2 Korean), Minjee Lee, Christina Kim, Jane Park, Jennifer Song, Meagan Khang, Danielle Kang, Vicky Hurst (1/2 Korean), ...

Whether one is born in Korea or not, ethnic Korean women are dominating women's golf.   I suspect their success is tied to their culture.  Many parents sacrifice themselves (to a fault, detrimental to their own life) for the success of their children.   And they have figured out that getting their children to play golf can lead to a fame, fortune, and success.  They provide their children with best instructors, send them abroad to golf school/training, ..., and push them to succeed by all means.   Many parents have wealth and the means.  Others ...  I've heard stories of Korean parents selling their business to continue to fund their child's training.  

Interesting. I wish we had some good sociological data because here's the next obvious question: what about Korean men? They don't do as well in the rankings. Are those parents pushing them into something else? 

 

 

 

[rkim291968]

1 hour ago, gregsandiego said:

Interesting. I wish we had some good sociological data because here's the next obvious question: what about Korean men? They don't do as well in the rankings. Are those parents pushing them into something else? 

 

 

 

They do the same for their sons but as we all know, men's golf is a lot more competitive than women's.  Hard work, dedicated parents will only go so far. 

[boogielicious]

9 hours ago, iacas said:

There are more to the numbers than a basic analysis like that.

There are likely a good bit more Korean girls who play long enough to reach a high level. They get different training. They have different motivations. They may be more focused, and there may be more pressure, or more/better facilities built for learning golf, etc.

By numbers I didn't just mean population. Or golf courses.

In an average U.S. high school you might not even have enough golfers to field a team. In South Korea, you might have enough for six squads. Or more.

Good points. My town is big on soccer. For U14 travel, we've had as many as 6 teams for boys and girls each for a population of 33,000. Lowell, a much bigger city, fields one or two at most.

I would add to this that many of the Korean women on tour now went to US Colleges on scholarship. So it is also a means to get to go to school in the US.

[gregsandiego]

5 hours ago, rkim291968 said:

They do the same for their sons but as we all know, men's golf is a lot more competitive than women's.  Hard work, dedicated parents will only go so far. 

@rkim291968 do you have some personal experience in this area?

I have to wonder if aspiring to be a high paid professional in some other field wouldn't be more realistic.

I've thought pushing your kids toward golf is a great idea for the scholarships at college. But hoping to hit it big in the PGA is like hoping to hit it big in Hollywood!

[Hacker James]

I know one thing. Watching those ladies seems to help. In particular S.Y. Park  I was having a little problem in getting extension in the arms on the back swing. Just holding that image did wonders at least for now. 

[Rainmaker]

Because the courses are too short.  Lengthen the courses and the whole world top 10 switches around.   Done and done. 

[Scotsclaff]

On 9/19/2016 at 6:23 PM, iacas said:

Dude, you're constantly spouting stereotypes. About Koreans. US. Australia. Etc.

Stop.

Your experience doesn't parallel my own. I've seen slow and fast golfers of all ages, nationalities, etc.

You really are a twit.

Your're experience will never parallel mine.

I never stereotype.

 

[Hacker James]

1 hour ago, gregsandiego said:

@rkim291968 do you have some personal experience in this area?

I have to wonder if aspiring to be a high paid professional in some other field wouldn't be more realistic.

I've thought pushing your kids toward golf is a great idea for the scholarships at college. But hoping to hit it big in the PGA is like hoping to hit it big in Hollywood!

yup and no wonder I never got my SAG card. (actually, they are not that hard to come by, although its kind of like you have to already be in the business, to be in the business).