North Korea’s declared nuclear test has blown the chances of a relaxing round of golf for South Korea’s military, officials said on Thursday.
Officers and troops were ordered to stay off the links after Monday’s declared test.
“The virtual ban on golfing is effective at all military golf courses across the country,” a defence ministry spokesman said.
Some of the courses already refuse to take reservations as the whole military has been ordered to maintain an alert, he said.
Defence Minister Yoon Kwang-Ung on Thursday sent an e-mail to his troops, reiterating his call for military preparedness against North Korea.
“We … should maintain perfect military readiness 24 hours a day to instantly cope with North Korea’s threat and provocation,” the message said.
There are dozens of military run golf courses nationwide and they are popular among officers and soldiers because the fees are cheaper than commercial courses.
In South Korea, golf is still regarded with suspicion in some circles. Public servants are sometimes banned from playing the game, which is associated not only with wealth but also neglect of duty and corrupt business links.
In March Prime Minister Lee Hae-Chan and Vice-Education Minister Lee Gi-Woo stepped down after a golf outing with businessmen sparked a criminal investigation into alleged influence-peddling.
South Koreans were also upset that the ministers were out on the greens instead of addressing a railway strike that briefly crippled the country.
North Korea also has golf clubs in cities including Pyongyang — where, according to the communist state’s official media, leader Kim Jong-Il scored 11 holes-in-one in his first attempt at golf. — AFP