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North Korea has long relied on propaganda to indoctrinate its residents while attempting to position the country and its leaders as the gold standard the rest of the world should follow, and over the years, it’s been responsible for some truly outlandish claims.
However, it’s hard to think of many that stick out quite like the time former ruler Kim Jong-Il supposedly recorded 11 holes-in-one en route to shooting a 38-under-par score of 34 at Pyongyang Golf Course in the first round he ever played after touching a set of clubs for the first time at the age of 52.
Plenty of people use that tale to highlight the alternate reality occupied by the oppressed citizens who are forced to endure North Korea’s dictatorial regime, but it’s worth noting an investigation a writer for Golf conducted in 2016 concluded Kim Jong Il’s mythical round was actually the result of a scorecard system that was interpreted incorrectly.
While most golfers would kill to play at exclusive institutions like Augusta National, Los Angeles Country Club, and Seminole Golf Club, I’d argue you’d have an easier time securing a round there than figuring out a way to play 18 holes at Pyongyang Golf Course.
Of course, based on the many risks tourists face within the borders of North Korea, I can’t imagine there are a ton of people out there who are exactly scrambling to book a tee time, but if you count yourself among that group, you’re in luck.
According to The Telegraph, North Korea recently announced its plans to organize an amateur golf tournament as a sign of “friendship” at some point in the near future and attempted to sweeten the pot by promising any foreigners who participate will also get the chance to visit “an underwater golf course, archery ground, and boating ground.”
As things currently stand, it’s unclear when it plans to host the tournament (which it says will either be held in the spring or the fall), but if that sounds like something that’s up your alley for some reason, you may want to keep an eye out for further developments.