West Ocean CC Golf Review: Stunning Ocean Views in South Korea

Here's a review of my golf round at West Ocean CC, one of Korea's top 10 public golf courses where you can enjoy golf with stunning ocean views.

West Ocean CC

1362-70 Haean-ro, Baeksu-eup, Yeonggwang-gun, Jeollanam-do

061-350-2000

18 holes

https://www.westoceancc.co.kr/

It was formerly known as Yeonggwang CC and has since changed its name to West Ocean CC.

In the distance, over the mountains, West Ocean CC begins to appear.

On the day I visited, it was lightly raining, but thankfully, the rain stopped after we started our round.

Selected as one of Korea's Top 10 Public Golf Courses

Perhaps because it was winter and there was a light drizzle, there weren't many guests.

From the starting point, you can see the bridge we crossed and the ocean.

West Ocean CC boasts 18 holes, featuring both an Ocean Course and a Valley Course.

The Ocean Course offers players the joy of playing with stunning sea views.

I really should arrive early and get some putting practice in, but I always end up arriving just in time and heading straight into play without any warm-up.

Our team teed off on the Ocean Course first.

West Ocean CC Ocean Course Hole 1, Par 5

This is the Par 5, Hole 1.

This Par 5, Hole 1, is a downhill hole where you need to watch out for the hazard on the left.

From the second shot location, I snapped a picture looking back towards the tee box.

You can see the clubhouse.

It's a hole where you can comfortably reach the green in three shots without pushing too hard.

From the green, I took another photo looking back towards the Hole 1 tee box.

Hole 2, Par 4, 330 meters

Ocean Course Hole 3, Par 4

The space directly in front of the tee box feels a bit tight, creating a visual challenge, but the landing area is actually quite generous.

Ocean Course Hole 4, Par 3

The Ocean Course mostly consists of downhill holes, and many holes don't have a visible fairway directly in front of the tee box.

From this hole, you can spot the historic site of Baekje Buddhist First Arrival in the distance.

Hole 5, Par 4

Ocean Course Hole 6, Par 3

It's a Par 3, 145 meters (158 yards), but the elevation difference between the tee box and the green is quite remarkable, something you rarely see at typical golf courses.

But wait, there's an even more astonishing hole coming up!

Although the actual distance is 145 meters (158 yards), due to the significant downhill slope, it's a good idea to play one club less for this hole.

West Ocean's Signature Hole: Hole 7, Par 5

This truly lives up to its 'signature hole' status!

You're practically hitting your ball down a cliff on this hole.

Sometimes, if you hit the right wall, the ball might even bounce back into play, so it's better to approach it with a fade rather than a draw.

Here's a shot looking back at the tee box from the green.

Ocean Course Hole 8, Par 4

A dogleg right hole.

Typically, your second shot will land within 100 meters (109 yards) of the green.

Ocean Course Hole 9, Par 4

This is a straightforward hole.

The Valley Course

Unlike the Ocean Course, West Ocean CC's Valley Course is a classic example of Korea's mountainous golf courses.

Valley Course Hole 1, Par 4

This hole features minimal undulation.

Valley Course Hole 2, Par 4, 360m (394 yards)

Hole 2 also presents a challenge with no visible fairway directly in front.

Valley Course Hole 3, Par 5, 445m (487 yards)

Valley Course Hole 4, Par 3

If the pin is on the left, it's 135 meters (148 yards); if it's on the right, it's 145 meters (158 yards).

Valley Course Hole 5, Par 4, 335m (366 yards)

This hole is also quite interesting!

It's a really steep downhill hole.

If you ride the slope well, your ball can go all the way down, but it's also easy to veer left if you're not careful.

The left side has no space, and it's a hole with a severe downhill slope and a hazard in the middle.

This is the second shot landing area.

Here's Valley Hole 5, viewed from the green.

Valley Hole 6 - Par 5, 465M

A left dogleg hole.

Valley Hole 7 - Par 3, 125M

A hole where the right side of the green is low, and the wind always blows towards the tee box.

The left side of the bunker on the right is a good spot for your second shot.

It's a hole where hitting too much to the center can result in an Out of Bounds (OB).

It drizzled a bit at the start of the round, but thankfully it stopped after we teed off, allowing us to happily finish our round at West Ocean CC.

Our '19th hole' was wrapped up with a Yeonggwang Gulbi Jeongsik (a set meal featuring dried yellow croaker) at a certain restaurant in Yeonggwang-eup.

Dad of Two's Overall Review

Since it was winter, there was a special offer, and I completed the round for ~$52, including the cart fee.

This was almost half the usual price!

West Ocean CC's Ocean Course lets you enjoy your round with views of Yeonggwang's sea and city, while the Valley Course is a mountainous golf course, so you can enjoy both types of scenery.

As you saw in the photos, it's not an ordinary course; it has many dynamic holes, making for a truly enjoyable golfing experience.