Whistling Rock: A real South Korean gem

South Korea is known for producing impressive talents such as Inbee Park, K.J. Choi and Sang-Moon Bae. Now, Whistling Rock is set to widen the country’s appeal as a top destination for visiting golfers.

Owned by the Taekwang Group, a large South Korean conglomerate, Whistling Rock Country Club enlisted the help of Renaissance Golf Design to ‘enhance the strategic values of its courses, improving both variety and playability, particularly on and around the greens’.

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“The greens at Whistling Rock were really artfully done but there are some that ended up being a little steep when matched with the superior turf conditions the club presents,” said Eric Iverson, vice president of Tom Doak’s Renaissance Golf Design.

“We have an amazing environment for golf and a solid routing” – David Fisher, vice president of Whistling Rock

“Walking that fine line is something that we have a great deal of experience with, and I addressed this issue and added strategy and variety at the same time.”

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The private club in Chuncheon, a 50-minute drive from capital city Seoul, was first opened in 2011. Its courses are known for their challenging layout, artful and natural design, and stunning mountain environment.

“The greens at Whistling Rock were really artfully done” – Eric Iverson, vice president of Renaissance Golf Design

All 27 holes sit in a dramatic mountainside setting overlooking the Chuncheon Lake basin. According to Ted Robinson Jnr, the original architect for the layout, Whistling Rock inherits its character from the lakes, streams and dense woodlands of the surrounding landscape.

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The course features 13 lakes in total, all connected by numerous streams and waterfalls that add to the experience, while also lying in wait for any stray golf balls.

“Eric evaluated the quality and quantity of ‘thinking’ that the golfer may face on each shot of each hole,” said David Fisher, vice president of Whistling Rock. “We have an amazing environment for golf and a solid routing, but the strategic element of the golf was where we needed and received a fresh perspective.”

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Whistling Rock :: More information

To find out more about Whistling Rock Country Club, log-on to whistlingrockcc.com

Photos: Joann Dost