Finnish Golfer Wins 2011 North Korean Open

The 2011 DPRK Amateur Golf Open is in the books… and by all accounts it was a stellar success.

The awesome event took place on the 29th April 2011 and was covered by journalists from the Associated Press and by Japanese and Korean media.  And how’s this for global golf: there were 17 competitors, from 8 different countries.  The nationalities included UK, South Africa, Finland, France, Germany, Australia, Luxembourg and DPRK.  --->

The tournament was played in Callaway format and the winning team, with a joint score of 72, was 25 year old Olli Lehtonen (hcp 1.1) and 31 year old Johannes Raitio (hcp 9.4), both from Finland. With the top gross score of 84, Olli was crowned the overall winner. I hope to be talking to Mr. Raitio in the coming days about his experience at the tournment and about what it's like to travel in North Korea.

North Korea is considered the world’s most isolated country and travel to what some call “the hermit kingdom” is quite controversial, particularly for US citizens. There are those who feel that anyone who travels to DPRK is supporting an enemy regime, others simply feel see it as a dark and dangerous place that should be avoided for safety’s sake.  I must say it doesn’t look particularly threatening on the tournament’s slide show.

Plans are already underway for next year’s event.  It’ll take place over 3 days in Pyongyang, from May 19th to 21st.  Additional information and reservations are available through Lupine Travel.

Global Golf: First Ever North Korean Amateur Open

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Golf's global expansion is one of the sport's hottest topics these days, and just about anyone involved with the game... in almost any capacity... is keenly aware of it.

Olympic reinstatement, after an absence of over 100 years, is expected to prompt governments around the world to invest in golf infrastructure and player development, and all major golf manufacturers and golf course developers/designers, seem to have (at least) one eye firmly focused on emerging golf markets.  Professional golfers and intrepid golf tourists are paying attention too... and as for golf media, there's no shortage of ink being spilled on the "the global game" of late.

Naturally, much of the focus is on China and India.  Each has the massive population and rising middle class that makes marketers of all stripes swoon.  The growth of golf in these regions is clearly something we'll hearing about... a lot... in the coming years. 

But now... there's a new actor on the global golf stage.  One that may not generate as much buzz,  but is... in its own way... equally fascinating: North Korea.

The world's most isolated and secretive country will soon be hosting the first ever North Korean Amateur Golf Open, and it's open to amateur golfers from around the world.  The venue is Pyongyang Golf complex, located on the banks of Taicheng Lake, 27k from the North Korean capitol, Pyongyang City.

The entry fee  €999 or about $1,300, and that includes visas, entry to the tournament, return train travel from China into North Korea, all meals, four nights 5 star hotel accommodation and a 3 day tour of the country.  Flights to and from China are not included.

For the government of North Korea the tournament would seem to be a way to access much needed hard currency.  For an extreme golf traveler I'm guessing it would be the ultimate on-course adventure.

Tournament website: northkoreaopen.com
Source: North Korea Tees Up for Golf, Alastair Gale, WSJ.com
Photo:  gadgetdan /Flickr