20 Surprising Facts That May Change Your Mind About Evil Dictators
8. Kim Jong Il Shot A World-Record 38-Under-Par Round Of Golf According To His Biography
It's probably a good thing that former North Korean dictator Kim Jong-il never took part in any golf majors because, judging by the only round he ever played in his career according to his official biography, he would have surpassed Jack Nicklaus' record haul of 18 titles within his first 19 tournaments. The biography claims that, after picking up his first-ever golf club in 1994 at North Korea's solitary golf course, he produced 11 holes-in-one and finished with a remarkable round of 38 under par. It also states that he was so pleased with his performance that he immediately retired from golf, never to pick up a club again. Other incredibly believable claims in his biography include: that he authored 1,500 books during three years at university, he composed six operas, he produced a 100-part documentary series on the history of North Korea, and that he was born in a secret military camp on Baekdu Mountain at the age of 69 following a prophecy from a swallow and a new star appeared in the heavens to commemorate the occasion. Wow - it seems North Korea really is the place everyone should want to live!
NUFC editor for WhatCulture.com/NUFC. History graduate (University of Edinburgh) and NCTJ-trained journalist. I love sports, hopelessly following Newcastle United and Newcastle Falcons. My pastimes include watching and attending sports matches religiously, reading spy books and sampling ales.
It's probably a good thing that former North Korean dictator Kim Jong-il never took part in any golf majors because, judging by the only round he ever played in his career according to his official biography, he would have surpassed Jack Nicklaus' record haul of 18 titles within his first 19 tournaments. The biography claims that, after picking up his first-ever golf club in 1994 at North Korea's solitary golf course, he produced 11 holes-in-one and finished with a remarkable round of 38 under par. It also states that he was so pleased with his performance that he immediately retired from golf, never to pick up a club again. Other incredibly believable claims in his biography include: that he authored 1,500 books during three years at university, he composed six operas, he produced a 100-part documentary series on the history of North Korea, and that he was born in a secret military camp on Baekdu Mountain at the age of 69 following a prophecy from a swallow and a new star appeared in the heavens to commemorate the occasion. Wow - it seems North Korea really is the place everyone should want to live!