Korea South Coast
A drowned coastline of bays, bridges and hundreds of islands, from Yeosu to Geoje.
Where it is
The south coast of the Korean peninsula is a ria coast: old river valleys flooded by the sea, so that the shore winds in and out and the hilltops stand offshore as islands. Much of the stretch from Geoje to Yeosu is protected as Hallyeohaesang National Park, a park of sea and islands created in 1968.
These waters are where Admiral Yi Sun-sin fought the naval campaigns of the 1590s; his last battle was in the strait beside the island of Namhae. Today the coast is known for oyster and seaweed farms, for shipyards on Geoje, and for long bridges that hop from island to island.
Behind the coast rises Jirisan, the first national park of Korea and the highest mountain of the mainland south.
The map course: 9 pins
The map course is played on the real map, from one real place to the next: 9 pins, par 38, 306 km from the first tee to the last pin. Distances are real kilometres; the pictures of the holes are satellite views.
Route of the map course: the tee (T) and the pins in playing order.
- Tee · Jinju StationStation
The tee is at Jinju Station, in the river city inland from the coast.
- 1 · NamhaedoIsland · 44.7 km · Par 5
The large island of the middle coast, known for terraced fields that step down to the sea.
- 2 · Yeosu AirportAirport · 28.3 km · Par 4
The airport of Yeosu, the harbour city at the tip of its own peninsula.
- 3 · Jirisan National ParkSight · 50.0 km · Par 5
The national park of Jirisan; its top, Cheonwangbong, is 1,915 m. The longest hole of the round.
- 4 · Sacheon AirportAirport · 45.7 km · Par 5
The airport of Sacheon, on the bay south of Jinju.
- 5 · Gaochi Ferry TerminalPort · 29.9 km · Par 4
A ferry terminal on this coast, a starting point for boats to the outer islands.
- 6 · GeojedoIsland · 28.3 km · Par 4
The second largest island of Korea, a place of shipyards and steep green coves.
- 7 · Jinhae AirportAirport · 32.3 km · Par 4
An airfield at Jinhae, the navy town known for its cherry blossoms.
- 8 · MuhaksanMountain · 16.5 km · Par 3
The mountain above the old port of Masan.
- 9 · Galchon StationStation · 30.4 km · Par 4
A railway station of the Jinju area that is no longer in use.
Par and distances are the game's own course data. The pins are real places listed in Wikidata; what is said about them is kept to well-known facts.
Travel notes
The coast is mild for Korea. Spring brings cherry blossom to the harbour towns and camellias to the islands, summer is humid, and autumn is clear and calm. The view that lasts is the one from any hill: grey-blue water crowded with islands as far as you can see.
More courses
Sources: Hallyeohaesang National Park · Ria · Yi Sun-sin · Battle of Noryang · Namhaedo · Geojedo · Jirisan National Park · Jinhae · Jinju station · Yeosu Airport · Sacheon Airport · Jinhae Airport · Muhaksan · Galchon Station · Wikidata (CC0)