In July alone, $42 million worth of golf clubs were sold in

In July alone, $42 million worth of golf clubs were sold in Korea, according to GfK Retail & Technology the nation’s new golf retail audit report.

Even though though Korean female golfers are splashed all over the worldwide media, including our very own Michelle Wie, golf is still a predominantly male sport.

“Golf is currently still a sport that is predominantly engaged in by males, as reflected by July sales of golf clubs in the local market. GfK’s golf club retail audit across five key regions in South Korea _ Seoul, Gyeonggi, Incheon, Gyeongnam and Gyeongbuk showed that over four-fifths (81 percent) of all clubs sold were men’s, while only less than one-fifth (19 percent) were for ladies,” said Kwon Moon, general manager for GfK Retail & Technology Korea, in a statement.

The leading market research firm’s report showed iron sets were the most popular purchase made by Korean golfers in July. They made up 39 percent of all sales of golf clubs, followed by drivers at 26 percent and fairway woods at 14 percent. Club sets accounted for eight percent; utility woods, seven percent; and putters and wedges for the rest of the sales.

Korea is already known as one of the biggest markets for golf equipment around the world. A U.S. trade report showed that Korea is the fourth largest importer of U.S.-made golf clubs, with $33.9 million worth of imports in 2009. It also imported $33 million worth of U.S.-made golf balls in 2009.
Golf in Korea used to be considered a rich man’s sport, but its mainstream popularity has soared in recent years due to the success of Korean golfers in the international scene.