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S. Korea’s pro golfers take winter escape to SoCal

February 13, 2015
(Courtesy of Moreno Valley Ranch Golf Course)

(Courtesy of Moreno Valley Ranch Golf Course)

By Danny Kim, Brian Han

Moreno Valley Ranch Golf Club in Moreno Valley, Calif., is hosting a handful of professional and semi-professional golfers from South Korea who are looking for an escape from the harsh winters in their native country.

They plan on travelling back in two more months after the snow melts and the Korean Professional Golfer’s Association (KPGA) and the KLPGA kick off the season in April.

Jang Ju-young, 20, Park Gi-tae, 28, Kim Seo-young, 22, Lee Kwon-sul, 17, Park Chan-hee, 17, and Bae Hyo-un, 21, have been training under the guidance of Park Chan-jun, 23, of Park Chan-jun Golf Academy.

(Back row from left, clockwise) Jang Ju-young, Park Chan-jun, Park Gi-tae, Park Chan-hee, Lee Kwon-sool, Kim Seo-yeong. (Korea Times)

(Back row from left, clockwise) Jang Ju-young, Park Chan-jun, Park Gi-tae, Park Chan-hee, Lee Kwon-sool, Kim Seo-yeong. (Korea Times)

Many people think of southern Calif., as a relaxing destination, but these golfers are already stretching and hitting balls by 6 a.m. every morning.

The discipline shows.

The golfers are shooting as low as 10-under on their best days on the difficult Pete Dye-designed golf course.

“The players are all on the professional and semi-professional tours [in South Korea] and are trying to improve their skills in the best way possible,” said the camp director. “This is the first time we have had winter training in the U.S. and it’s been very comfortable whereas in Korea, it’s difficult to even find a place to train indoors during the winters.”