Uni Island CC, Ganghwado: No-Caddie Autumn Golf Review

It's been a while since my last golf course review! People joke that autumn golf is worth going into debt for. Thankfully, I didn't have to—but I did squeeze in plenty of rounds during September and October. Of all those outings, Uni Island CC on Ganghwado had my favorite combination of course scenery and open sky. The reviews I found before going weren't particularly positive, so my expectations were low. Perhaps that helped, because I enjoyed it much more than I expected.

First up: the clubhouse. It looked quite elegant, and the facilities inside—including a spa—made a good impression. Visit details • Date: October 10 • Paid: KRW 192,000, including the green fee and cart fee • No-caddie round, so no caddie fee • Registration on the club's website was required for this rate

Here's a look at the changing facilities. The showers were nice, too, with individual stalls and toiletries provided. There was also a spa, but it closed at 6 p.m., so I missed out. It appeared to have an open-air bath area and looked lovely. Next time, I'd like to start earlier so I can try it! When I first started visiting golf courses, I used to pack all my own bath products just in case. After finding them supplied at the courses I've visited, I've pared my shower bag down to a change of underwear.

We had a daytime tee time, so I started in this outfit and added a windbreaker for the back nine. That worked well for me. I'd expected the sunshine to make it a little warm, but the island's sea breeze made the later part of the round colder than I expected. For a later-autumn visit, I'd bring warmer layers. Don't underestimate that wind!

One distinctive feature of the course was all the reeds—there were large patches of them throughout. The terrain also felt mostly flat, with very few hills. My golf outfit • Descente Golf ribbon sun visor: white • Puma Golf short-sleeved polo: beige • Castelbajac pleated skirt: white • Malbon Golf: white, green, and cream

This was right beside the teeing area. As other reviews had mentioned, the grass was patchy and uneven in places. I could tee up on a section with more grass, so it wasn't a major issue for me. Still, teeing areas are usually kept in better condition, and I hadn't encountered one quite like this before.

I started the round with a can of beer. It was still a little warm during the day, so a cold drink was refreshing. If you've never played without a caddie, Uni Island CC could be somewhere to give it a try. Staff explained the cart controls and other instructions before we set off. The cart paths had hardly any uphill or downhill sections, which should make driving more straightforward.

After an enjoyable front nine, we headed in for a short break. Uni Island CC had a mix of caddie-assisted and no-caddie groups. Both the group ahead of us and the one behind us had caddies. If you're playing without a caddie, keep an eye on the gap ahead so you don't hold others up. We tried to avoid delays and keep up with the group in front.

Look at all the carts waiting after the front nine! Our wait was about 30 minutes. We waited inside until our cart moved closer to the front of the queue, then headed out to get ready. The process wasn't difficult, even without a caddie. The building to the right of the carts was a rest area. You could take a break there or wait inside.

After our half-hour break, the sun was already dropping, and we came back out to these views. The course lights made the scenery even prettier. Starting at around 2 p.m. meant we reached the back nine at a beautiful time of day. The trade-off was finishing too late to use the spa before its 6 p.m. closing time. Spa or sunset views—which would you choose? I also wondered about arriving early enough to enjoy the spa before starting the round.

Overall, Uni Island CC was better than I'd expected. Some areas had sparse grass, but the fairways were tidy. The wind made shot control a little tricky. On the other hand, the lack of steep climbs and descents meant I didn't find the course especially difficult. It's a bit of a journey from Seoul and other parts of the capital region, so I'd combine a round here with a trip around Ganghwado. That's my take on an autumn no-caddie round at Uni Island CC. I'll be back with another golf course review!