I haven't yet seen this, though I really want to.
One thing - I know foreign movie titles often get weirdly translated in the U.S., and vice versa, but - if I'm right, the original title would translate pretty easily into "Empty House" or "Vacant House." People who have seen it - do you think the translated title is better? Is the golf club important, symbolically?
Yes, I've seen it and I think the Korean title is much better, and you are correct that it means "Empty House." I'm guessing they changed the English name to something that would roll off the tongue more easily, and in that way be similar to the Korean title. The golf club plays a key role, but is not that symbolical.
shareEnglish title " 3 iron " is chosen by director kim ki-duk himself,not US distributor..
and he said English title(3 iron) is more appropriate name than Korean title(empty house).. the reason kim ki-duk didn't title 3 iron in korea is that in S.korea golf has bourgeois images.
http://www.cine21.com/Magazine/mag_pub_view.php?mm=005001001&mag_id=26407