Actor Song Joong-ki has been appointed as the global ambassador for the Royal and Ancient Golf Club (R&A).
On the 21st, R&A, which started at the Royal and Ancient GC of St Andrews in the UK, is one of the leading global organizations in golf. It oversees the rules of golf and hosts the major tournament, The Open Championship. It is also an organization that jointly manages the rules of golf with the United States Golf Association (USGA).
Song Joong-ki expressed his thoughts, saying, “Golf is a sport that anyone can enjoy, regardless of age or gender. I was deeply impressed by R&A's vision and values. I am honored that this will allow more people to experience golf and its benefits.”
R&A's appointment of Song Joong-ki as a global ambassador reflects its interest in the status of the Korean golf market. According to R&A's data, Korea has the second-highest participation rate in the world, after the United States and Mexico. The number of adult golfers is approaching 8.7 million. Last year, R&A's data indicated that the population enjoying golf increased by 200,000, mostly among children and young people.
In particular, the active participation of women is a characteristic of Korean golf. 45.5% of registered golfers in Korea are women, significantly exceeding the global average of 30%.
Phil Anderson, R&A's Chief Development Officer, stated, “Korea is one of the major markets in the world,” and added, “Song Joong-ki is one of the 8.7 million adult golfers in Korea who love golf, and through his appointment as an ambassador, we hope he will raise awareness of the benefits of golf and inspire those who are new to the sport.”
