Dedication and sacrifice are really important qualities. You see this not just with the golfers but their parents as well. A lot of Korean parents send their kids here to Canada to study English and the amount of money they spend on their child's education as a percentage of their income is huge. Very few other cultures are willing to make that sacrifice. There's a saying that goes, "work smart, not hard." I think it should be, "work smart, not hard for the short term; but work hard for the long term."

A growing industry here in small schools and tutoring agencies is also the tutoring of young Koreans not only in English but also in regular subjects. However I attribute that to the immigrant Koreans who are in large numbers here in my neighborhood. They are also very visible investors in small businesses.

Shambles

V, I know a Korean guy here who owns schools in Canada, USA, China, and the Philippines. Most of his students even in the Philippine school are not immigrant Koreans. It's normal school but he says the Korean parent's main motivation is to get their kids speaking better English. Those who can't afford Canada send them to the Philippines. I don't know if I agree with the practice but most of these kids are very young (high school) and they're made to live independently abroad in boarding homes or with foster families.

I suppose it's a cultural thing. I cannot imagine my kids being sent abroad to live in a boarding house by herself or himself at such a young age. I appreciate the sacrifice angle and the wanting to provide them better instruction and schooling but not at the expense of being in a long-distance relationship with them. Oh well, must be the Pinoy in me. But then it is perhaps that willingness to sacrifice everything, even filial relationships that allows them to produce great golfers as their kids are sent off to learn the game even by themselves. Can't say Pinoys will do the same thing. Like what I said baka cultural.

PS Hope this is not viewed as a racist comment. If so, apologies, not meant.

I am inclined to believe Duffer in the cultural thing. I've met japanese who commute long distances and work long hours and only come home to their families to sleep. They worked hard six days and slept the seventh to recover so I doubt they got to know their family all that well. Americans expect their children to leave home at 18 and encourage them vigorously to do so if they are slow about it. Many of my classmates left home and country in search of more stable economic benefits immediatly after finishing their University days. Americans put their old folks in old folks home while Filipinos keep them home or pass them around from brother to sister. The idea of sending my parents to an old folks home is anathema to me but I think it's an economic and practical necessity for the Americans.

I don't find it all that strange to see Koreans sending their children abroad for education. I know some Americans and Europeans send their children to boarding school or military schools and the richer ones send them to finishing school. The closest I ever got to that was summer camp when I was in grade school.


Shambles

^It's definitely cultural. They have a totally different approach to the game. There are many incidents in local junior golf involvingKoreans that will shock even the most hardened Filipino junior golf parent. My most unforgettable one involves a 10 year old Korean boy who cannot seem to beat one particular Filipino golfer. In one tournament, the mother and the coach of the Korean were waiting for him to hole out at the 18th. As soon as the boy steps out of the green, the coach and the mother approaches him and asks for the scores. The boy bows his head while ratling out the scores in a low voice. When the mother hears that the boy lost again to the Filipino, she lets out a resoundling slap to the boy's cheeks. Everybody who witnessed the incident was shocked and couldn't believe what they just saw. In another episode, our golf coach was approached by a Korean parent to give instruction to their child. During the discussion, the Korean told our coach that he had the authority to beat the child. Different strokes for different folks.

sorry moderators but NAKNMP%&$*!!!! Kakaiba rin ano?

For all the differences, we can always pick up something from the Koreans in terms of dedication and hard work. I envy the go for broke attitude of the Korean parents but I don't think I have the heart and fortitude to put all the proverbial eggs in one basket. I still need to see my kids go to regular school (a tough academic one is preferred) while pursuing their dreams of making it in the sport. We'll get there on our own time (hopefully). I drive my girls really hard during practice as I want to give them all the right opportunities to succeed. But I sometimes (admittedly) overdo it like any other overzealous jungolf parent. Whenever I become the Hitler golf parent, my golf coach would always kid me that I'm training my kids like the Koreans - the North Koreans.

Each culture will have its own version of tough love. There was a Korean kid who threw eggs at our cars as a Halloween prank last year. He ruined a nice party.

Long story but after his mother (crying) apologized to the entire gathering the 12 year old was seen with a shaved head the next day. He had one of those long Koreanovela looking locks as well.

We need more lady golfers from the Philippines out here!! San Diego welcomes you =)