01 Apr 2014 at 08:35 | Published by: Hans | Views: 12835 | News search

North Korean youth playing Minigolf in capital city Pyongyang.  (Photo by China.cn.org 2012)

Two years ago we reported about the surprising interest of the North Korean leader Kim Jong-un for Minigolf. Now the next chapter in the North Korean minigolf story can be told.

The Asian Minigolf Federation has recently been approached by a man called Kim On-Loof which claims to be the Head Coach of the new North Korean national team of minigolf. Kim On-Loof stated for the AMF contact person that there were already 2 national championships held in North Korea, the last one in 2013 with 350 players and clubs are already established in 10 cities.

In the capitol city of Pyongyang there has been build a national Minigolf Arena with 4 courses (all 4 WMF surfaces) under an inflatable roof. This course is very popular among the young inhabitants of the capitol as recreation but also as serious competitive sports arena. Already many perfect rounds of 18 has been achieved on all four surfaces and now Kim On-Loof now explains that the nation is ready for international glory.

The leader Kim Jong-un has already set a goal of 6 gold medals for his nation in the upcoming World Championships in Lahti 2015, but it’s expected that the international debut of the North Korean Team will be at the Asian Open Championships in Kish Island, Iran in November 2014.

The first steps to be a full AMF and WMF member is now prepared in record pace by the North Korean Officials and two weeks ago the new WMF Finance Manager got a surprise visit from the North Korean embassy in the Netherlands paying in cash the registration fee of 200 Euro by the door at his home in south Netherlands.

“I seriously thought it was the first of April, when this well dressed gentleman rang the door turning over this envelope with cash” Mr. Middag states to Minigolfnews.

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