Corporate History
In 1990, HKI, LTD Co. got its start in the golf industry by signing an international agency agreement with Baroness, a reputable Japanese maker of turf machinery. By doing so, HKI became the exclusive distributor of Baroness Equipment in South Korea. Within just a few years, HKI grew its presence in the industry by signing an exclusive sales agreement for golf carts with Yamaha Motors.
In 2003, HKI formed HJ (HKI Japan) to acquire its first golf club in Chiba, Japan. Since this initial acquisition, HJ expanded steadily into the Tohoku, Chubu, and Kanto regions becoming the proud owner of 6 golf clubs throughout Japan.
In 2018, HKI America, Inc. and its affiliates was formed to acquire golf clubs in the United States. Along with its partners, HKI America now owns 18 golf courses along the west coast of the United States boasting clubs in Texas, Washington, Oregon, and several in Southern California.
Today, HKI continues its focus to ensure the vision and core values which started the business, and remains at the forefront of everyday work. The company's goal is to deliver the highest quality service and product to its clubs for their members and guests.
About the Founder
Mr. Shin Il Yoo has been involved in the golf industry for over 30 years. In 2003, Mr. Yoo became the first Korean to acquire a golf course in Japan. Building on this initial investment, Mr. Yoo’s presence in the industry expanded rapidly as he was approached by numerous club owners to acquire and enhance their properties. Over time, he steadily grew his portfolio to six operating golf clubs in Japan.
In 2018, Mr. Yoo expanded into the U.S. market with the acquisition of seven golf courses. As a long-time member of Wood Ranch Golf Club, he brought extensive knowledge of both the courses and their management. While his Japanese portfolio is primarily managed in-house, he shortly thereafter partnered with Century Golf Partners (CGP) to acquire eleven additional golf courses in La Quinta, California and Dallas, Texas, which are managed by CGP. He also entrusted CGP to manage and operate the original seven U.S. courses.
Mr. Yoo's passion for the game is well known. He has played over 800 courses worldwide and aims to reach 1,000. Demonstrating his dedication, he once played 18 holes a day for 45 consecutive days - suggesting that this milestone may not be far off.
