Ted Robinson, Jr.’s masterpiece is listed among top 100 golf & country clubs of the world
CHUNCHEON, South Korea (Feb. 8, 2017) – Platinum Clubs of the World has ranked Whistling Rock Country Club on its prestigious list of Top 100 Golf & Country Clubs around the globe for 2018-2019 – one of only two clubs in South Korea included in the rankings.
Whistling Rock, a private 27-hole golf club that opened in 2011 in the foothills of the Gangwon Provincial mountains, about one hour northeast of Seoul, is recognized for overall excellence and best practices by an international panel of experts, historians, and connoisseurs. Rankings are compiled by at the Club Leaders Forum every two years through confidential, certified balloting.
The world-wide rankings represent 30 countries, a testament to the international diversity of the elected clubs. This year, Platinum Clubs of the World includes 13 new Golf & Country Clubs on the Top 100. The ranking (No. 95) among the Top 100 Golf & Country Clubs comes after recent recognition of Whistling Rock being named the No. 1 course in South Korea by Golf Magazine Korea.
In 2016, Whistling Rock commenced a refinement of its core 18 holes, the Cocoon and Temple nines. Eric Iverson, Senior Associate with Tom Doak’s Renaissance Golf Design, was hired to lead the modifications, which focused on increasing variety and pin positions on the greens as well as improving playability on the entire layout.
Originally designed by Ted Robinson, Jr., the Whistling Rock golf course is known for its challenging, naturalistic design and rugged mountain environment. Since its debut, Whistling Rock has made an impression on golfers by emphasizing the harmony of art and nature, where design and natural elements blend seamlessly together in consideration of the mountain environment of Korea.
Whistling Rock Country Club is owned and operated by Taekwang Group, a large South Korean conglomerate with holdings in textiles, petrochemical, cable television, financial services, and leisure development.
The showpiece of the club is its massive clubhouse positioned on a mountain ridge, surrounded by the spectacular golf course carved into wooded foothills. The clubhouse resembles a museum, a place where members and their guests celebrate culture, cuisine, and nature. Paintings and sculptures can be viewed throughout the clubhouse, as well as around the grounds.
Reflecting the parent company’s pre-eminence as a wine importer, a prestigious collection of more than 30,000 bottles of wine from around the world, is on display in various rooms throughout the clubhouse, including the dining room, tasting room and temperature-controlled wine cellar.
The Whistling Rock clubhouse offers dining experiences from seasonal menus that include Chinese, Japanese, Korean and Western selections, as well as display kitchens and eight private rooms for social and corporate events. The full-service men’s and women’s locker rooms feature plunge pools, Jacuzzis, and interior landscaping. The men’s locker room has a Zen-like bamboo garden illuminated by a large, overhead skylight.
On the course, three unique tea houses offer a relaxing stop during each nine holes. The tea houses are sculptural objects and vary from one another, serving as visual icons within the landscape. The teahouses are distinctive, relaxing stopping points where players savor the Whistling Rock golf experience.
For additional information about Whistling Rock Country Club, access the website at www.whistlingrockcc.com.
