Golf for Everyone

Stick + Ball + Hole = Fun!

Golf was introduced as early as the 15th century, when the Scottish used a wooden stick-like device to knock a pebble around a mecca of sand dunes and various tracks. While this was first conceived as a simple ‘stick and ball’ game, the vital ingredient was later added to create golf’s uniqueness: the hole. Or, if you buy Robin Williams’ version of events, a bunch of [expletive] drunk Scotsmen got together and decided to whack a [expletive] ball down a [expletive] gopher hole, and put loads of [expletive] trees and [expletive] sand in the way. Either way, in the hundreds of years that have passed since then, golf has remained relatively unchanged, save for the materials the equipment is created from.

But what about golf in our adopted home, Japan? It was in the 70’s that golf really began to take off here. The economy was booming, money was flowing, and the Japanese wanted a slice of the stick and ball action. Golf courses sprang up all over Japan, and most of them flaunted the kind of membership fees that needed extra long checks to write them on. We’re talking 3,000,000 yen joining fees plus 25,000,000 yen annual fees, and you still had to pay to play each round. These uber-courses were members-only affairs that relied on inflated corporate membership fees paid by companies’ expense accounts.

Nowadays, the golf industry is still feeling the pinch of the recession. Golf courses and country clubs, if they haven’t been bought by foreign-owned conglomerates and Americanized, have been forced to open their doors to non-members and attract new customers. Courses have begun to offer lower green fees, developed junior programs for golfers-to-be, and taken steps to welcome (shock!) women into the world of golf.

Now, over 30 million people all over the world enjoy golf as a prominent national sport. From amateur tournaments to international championships, players worldwide have become fascinated with everything about golf, from the lush greens to the multimillion dollar endorsements afforded to the very best players. Japan, with its power players (many of them women) and increasing market share, is a firm part of the world’s obsession with the sport. Not least, there’s Miyazato Ai from Okinawa, who has been playing since she was four and has her eye on the world number one spot.
The Japanese Golf Experience

Japan has a wonderful habit of borrowing things from other countries and thoroughly Japanerizing them. Golf is no exception. From strict tee times to luxury locker rooms and lunch in between, golf in Japan is not without its differences. But, some of these twists can make your round of golf even more enjoyable.

A typical day of golf in Japan usually starts the day before; tee time bookings are almost always essential, and some clubs won’t accept same-day bookings. Your tee time determines the order of play for the day – who is before you and who comes after. This order is also maintained after the lunch break, but we’ll get to that later. Turn up to the course before your scheduled tee time, to give you enough time to get started, and take advantage of the warm-up area where you can practice your putt or your swing. In many Western countries, there’s a Starter who helps to match singles with an odd-numbered group, for the sake of efficiency. In Japan, however, in line with the reserved culture, it is not as common to impose yourself on another group, or have someone forced to join your group.

Next, you’ll have to decide if you want a caddy, and what kind of cart you need. A caddy will serve as your assistant while you are playing, offering advice, tracking and collecting your ball, and generally ensuring your game goes smoothly. For this reason, often when first visiting a course, or playing with a business group, players take caddies. However, it is usually an extra cost, and if you know the course or are an experienced golfer, a caddy is not always essential. Carts in Japan can range from a simple, motorized cart to a GPS-enabled, remote controlled, possibly sentient golf-mobile. As you’d imagine, the price scales accordingly.

So, you’re playing golf. You swing. You miss- badly. You walk over to your ball, begin to swing again, and look up to see a group of golfers waving at you to keep it movin’. Huh? In Japan, missing your target doesn’t mean a penalty shot and another start where the ball landed. It’s zenshin yonda: heading to a designated spot up the fairway and playing as if it were your fourth shot. Efficient, these Japanese!

Why spoil a good walk?
What is it that drives seemingly sane men and women, to pick up a stick and hit a ball until it falls in a hole? And as Mark Twain said, “Golf is a good walk spoiled.” So why do so many millions play it?

It’s good exercise in the fresh air (especially if you’re no good…)
The feeling of hitting a ball on the sweet spot and seeing it sail away…
You can play it until you’re old and gray
The beautiful nature of the courses
Like sex, you don’t have to be good to enjoy it
It’s a very social sport, good for networking
As prices drop, it’s becoming an affordable slice of luxury
You can learn new curse words
As a game, golf is very challenging, and very rewarding
Lunch, Etiquette and More

Then comes lunch. It is customary on a Japanese golf course to break for lunch. Many foreign golfers are used to scarfing down hot-dogs between holes, barely breaking stride, but here in Japan, it’s sticks down and off to the clubhouse. While you are not obliged to buy lunch, you are required to maintain the play order, so no swooping in before the salarymen have finished their refuelling.

Now you’re back on the course. If, at this point, you’re naked and attracting pitiful stares, it’s because you didn’t read this important section on what to wear. There are a few simple rules to remember when choosing your threads for the golf course. First, don’t wear jeans. Shorts are acceptable, in the hot summer, as long as they aren’t Rip Curl boardies. Golf shoes are still preferred by almost all clubs, but the kind with softer, plastic ridges, rather than lawnmower-esque metal-spiked grass-munchers. The old rule used to be ‘wear a collar’, but since the trendsetting megastars of golf, such as Tiger Woods, started wearing the neoprene / dri-fit / possibly sentient pseudo shirts, the line is less clear. If in doubt, wear something with a collar. If it cost a lot of money and is made by Nike Golf, it’s probably acceptable.

Take note of the instructions the club gives you for repairing any divots you may hack out of the ground. Some places will give you a bucket of seeded sand to fill your hole with; others will ask you to find your divot and pat it back into the hole. Generally, it’s considered poor form to leave a trail of destruction behind you on the course.

Courses in Japan tend to close earlier than elsewhere. Many believe this is because Japanese golfers enjoy the full day’s golfing experience. They like to play, stop for lunch, play some more, stop for a bath (which are, by the way, often grand affairs, and in the best courses, rival the best onsen in terms of luxury), and head to the clubhouse for dinner. So, for the keen non-member, it may feel as though courses are closing early. For now, this is just the way it’s done; however, some forward-thinking courses are offering later tee times, extended playing hours, and even night golf.

Get That Ball Rollin’ – Literally!

If you want to get started, you’ll need a basic set of clubs, some lessons, and somewhere to practice. You don’t need a full set of clubs to get started. “You only need 3 or 4 clubs to really get goin’ on the ranges,” Sambhavo Patrick, an avid Canadian player, says. “A driver, a couple of mid-irons, and a wedge. That’s it.” Clubs can be bought at secondhand shops throughout Fukuoka – and for as little as 100 yen/club! However, if you’re serious about starting, you can pick up a decent, full set for under 10,000 yen. “Most of them are in great condition,” Sambhavo says. “Just chucked out because some guy decided to buy a new set.” But left-handers beware! The chances of you finding these bargains are few and far between, so if you’re out of luck, don’t forget the major sport stores, most of which will carry a small selection of clubs just for you.

Is Golf Expensive?

Assuming that experienced・golfers can play 18 holes in about five hours, and that it’s pretty easy to find a course offering 18 holes for 5,000 yen on a weekday, we can conclude that golf can be played for just 1,000 yen/hour. How does that compare to other activities?

Watching Toto in concert: 8,500 yen – around 4,250 yen/hr
Kabuki Theater: 20,000 yen – around 5,000 yen/hr
Private English lessons: 3,000 yen/hr
Thai Massage: 3,500 yen – around 2,300 yen/hr
Go-Carts: 1,500 yen for an 8-minute lap – around 11,250 yen/hr

Golf Guru

Did you notice the big ad on the inside of the front cover this issue? Yes, Fukuoka is very fortunate to have someone like Jeff Jackson, PGA Professional Class A, around and available for golf lessons in English!

Jeff is the General Manager out at the beautiful Yasukogen C.C. Call him at 0946-42-2211 or visit their site at www.yasukogen.com

Next, head for a driving range. Those giant nets you see strung up around the city aren’t for catching fish after a tsunami; they’re called uchippanashi, and are perfect places to practice your swing. More often than not, they have a professional player on site who offers lessons, at a price, and Japanese language ability is almost always required. Many ranges are also offering junior prices, so you can bring your kids along and get them started, too. Courses also have a professional golfer on site who can give private or group lessons, but again Japanese language ability is a must. Unless, of course, you head out to Yasukogen (0946 42-2211) where Class A PGA pro Jeff Jackson can give you lessons in perfect American!

If you want to get out on a course, it’s a good idea to search for, and check, the club’s homepage first. Most homepages are in Japanese only, but you’ll often find special offers and discount tee times that you’d otherwise be unaware of. It’s also recommended to visit the golf shops around town and pick up the free golfing magazines; these, too, often carry vouchers and special deals.

There are, of course, many other resources to improve your game far too numerous to mention – books, DVDs, the internet, substituting household objects for clubs… Head to www.pgatour.com as a place to start on the web, and flip the page for an even cheaper way to get going. You should also visit www.golf-in-japan.com for very useful and comprehensive information on golf in Japan, including detailed course lists and reviews by fellow golfers. Best of all, it’s in English!

Tee-shot Trivia!

– In Japan, if you score a hole-in-one, you are ‘required’ to buy everyone in your group expensive gifts. So…

– Japan is the only country in the world to offer hole-in-one insurance. With your monthly premiums, you’ll be covered should you ever hit that miracle shot.

– There are 336 dimples on a regulation golf ball.
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– Golf is the only sport that has ever been played on the moon.

– Before 1850, golf balls were made of leather and were stuffed with feathers.

– In Japan, wild pigs that find their way to the green have become a major problem

– Fore! is thought to have been originated by the Scots military, playing golf on their off days and warning golfers in front of them by shouting “Fore!”, short for afore or before, meaning look out in front.

– The Voyager spacecraft safely arriving at Neptune was the equivalent of hitting a hole-in-one on a 3,630km golf course

Parlez vous Golfais?
Every country has its own golf lingo. Here are some essential words for golfing in Japan.

Betapin
When you hit a shot that lands close to the hole’s flag.

Wanpin
When your ball is the length of the flag away from the hole.

Kyoichi
The best shot of the day (usually used to describe a tee shot). Literally, ‘today number one’.

Ikepocha
When the ball lands in the water. Ike – pond, pocha – the unfortunate sound of your ball.

Zenshin Yonda (also ‘Play Four’)
Will come in handy for beginners. Describes when you hit a ball out of bounds from a tee shot, and play on from halfway down the course as if it were your fourth shot.

Fah!
The Japanese version of Fore! , to be shouted when you hit a ball that goes in the direction of other people. Remember to shout Fah! instead of Fore! (unless you were aiming at other foreigners).

Choro
A missed shot that rolls slowly along the floor. The Japanese equivalent of the pea-roller.

Naisu Sho
Nice shot… In Janglish.

Tempura
When a tee shot flies straight up in the air and back down again.

The Fukuoka Swingers Club
So, you’ve read the article, and you want to get out there and see what it’s all about. Or perhaps you’ve hit a few balls in your home country but have yet to venture out onto the Japanese greens. But who to go with? Here’s a suggestion. There’s a golfing group, with a selection of very friendly foreigners including Sambhavo Patryck, Justin Poores and Scott Newby, who love nothing more than to get out on the links one or two times a week. Why not hook up with them? Email Sambhavo at golfkyushu@hotmail.com. If you’re ‘carless’, he’ll even pick you up, for a small fee!

Selected Courses
Here is just a small selection where you might just bump into the gang above, offering value, a bit of luxury, and good opportunities for beginners or the golfer on a budget.

Fuji Country Club (Minami – South Course)
Description: Excellent value, with a cart included. The course is relatively short, so good for beginners, occasional golfers or non power-hitters.

691 Kami-kumakawa, Fuji-machi, Saga-city
Tel: 0952-64-2281
Closed: Never
Open: 8:00 – , last tee off 13:00
Prices: Weekdays 9H 2,000 yen – , 18H 2,800 yen – / Sat., Sun. & Hol. 9H 2,500 yen – , 18H 4,500 yen –
* By reservation only / prices above are per person in a group of 4

Train: To JR Saga station, then 20 min. by taxi
Car: 8 min. drive from Nagasaki Expressway Saga Yamato IC
URL: www.sagafujicc.com

Otake Short Course
Description: A flat, brilliantly maintained course by the sea near Uminonakamichi, it offers a moderate challenge and good value. Walk the course and enjoy the views.

4-3-1 Otake, Higashi-ku, Fukuoka
Tel: 092-603-0488
Closed: January 2nd Wed. & April 2nd Monday
Open: 8:00 – 20:00 (July – Sept.: 6:00 – )
Prices: Weekdays 9H 2,415 yen, 18H 3,675 yen, night games 1,890, Sat., Sun. & Hol. 9H 3,255 yen, 18H 4,725 yen
Access:
Train: To Saitozaki Stn. (JR Kashii line)
Car: 30 min. drive from Koga IC / Urban expressway Kashiihama ramp
URL www.saitozaki.co.jp/sho.html

Kurate Country Club
Description: Challenging and moderately expensive, but offers the true Japanese golfing experience, complete with onsen. Great design, luxury and variety – even night golf!
1331 Yahiro, Kurate-machi, Kurate-gun, Fukuoka
Tel: 0949-42-8200
Closed: Never
Open: 8:00 – , last tee off 12:12, night golf from 4/1 – 17:00 start (weekdays)
Price: Weekdays 18H 8,650 yen / Sat., Sun. & Hol. 15,700 yen / Early morning, afternoon and night games 9H 3,000 yen, Sat., Sun. & Hol. 5,000 yen

Train: 25 min. taxi ride from Akama station (JR Kagoshima line)
Car: 8km from Wakamiya IC, 30 mins drive from Fukuoka IC
URL www2.ocn.ne.jp/ – kccnews/index1.htm

 

 

 

 

みんなのゴルフゲーム？
ゴルフ…。でそれって楽しいワケ？プレー費も高そうだし流行ってない…なんて声が聞こえてきそうだが、んナーこたぁない！日本でもゴルフは身近なスポーツになってきているし、ちゃんと探せばリーズナブルにも楽しめる方法もあるのだ。さあ、これを読んで君もゴルファーの道へ一歩前進だ！

ゴルフのはじまりと今
時は15世紀、スコットランドでは砂山で小石を棒で突っつくという遊びが流行っていた。このシンプルなゲームが、後に変化して現在のゴルフになったと云われている。日本では戦国時代の頃、遠い地で始まったゴルフが我が国ニッポンに入ってきたのは明治時代（1903年）、そして高度経済成長に乗っかり一気にゴルフコースが増えた1970年代。当時の日本のゴルフはとにかく高価な遊びだった。なんたって遊ぶには、会員権代金2500万円に加え、高額な年会費、そして毎回のプレー費が必要。会員以外のお客はお断り！なんてゴルフ場もザラ、インフレ真っ只中、会社の経費もしくは接待でゴルフ三昧といったところだろうか。しかーし！この平成の長期不況のご時世、そんな事言っていられない。現在は会員でなくともリーズナブルな料金で楽しめる本コースやショートコースが増えてきた。そして現在、日本のゴルフ業界は元気なのは、宮里藍プロを初めとする女性プレーヤーの活躍もあるだろう。ジュニアクラスにも若いゴルファー達が、世界の舞台を夢見て日々練習に励んでいる。今や日本のゴルフ人口は3千万人を超える勢いなのだ。

ゴルフを楽しむ～まずは蘭??
日本でのゴルフは、事前にスタートタイムを蘭?をすることから始まる。ほとんどのゴルフ場は、当日蘭??受け付けていないので注意したい。蘭?桙ﾉはキャディ付きかセルフかを決める。キャディさんを頼むにはお金がかかるが、プレーのアシストをしてくれるので、ビギナーゴルファーや接待ゴルフでプレーする人たちにはお勧めだ。蘭??ﾏませたらあとはイメージトレーニングに励む、これ大切。

ゴルフを愛さずにはいられない諸々の理由
かのマーク・トウェインも皮肉ったように、チマチマと玉転がしをする為に、何故ゆえ広大な芝生を歩き回らねばならんのか。その理由はきっとこんな事だろう・・・
・新鮮な空気を吸って、適度な運動ができるから（まあ、すごくヘタな場合の言い逃れ、か）
・青い空に一筋の糸を引くように飛んでいくボールを眺める感動があるから。
・今後、数諸N間は楽しめるから（生きていれば、ですが）
・コンクリートジャングルでは滅多に楽しめない自然環境
・とある有名なプロゴルファーが言ったように「ゴルフと○○○だけは、どんな下手でも楽しめる」から。
・新しい出会いがあり、いろんな人との交流ができるから。
・昔に比べプレー料金も随分安くなって、身近でありつつまだまだ贅沢気分が味わえる。
・ゴルフ用語（もしくはゴルフ悪たれ口）を覚える楽しさ。
・我が身は常に安全でありながら、「池越え」などチャレンジができるから。
ゴルフは安い！とは云わないけれど…
18ホールまわるのに約5時間、プレー費が5,000円かかるとすると1時間あたり約1,000円。他の娯楽と比較してみてゴルフが本当に「高い」のか？！早速リサーチ開始。
・TOTOのコンサート 8,500円（1時間4,250円の計算）
・歌舞伎鑑賞 20,000円（1時間あたり5,000円）
・英語レッスン（プライベート）1時間3,000円
・タイ式マッサージ　 3,500円（1時間あたり2,300円）
・ゴーカートレース　8分で1,500円、1時間11,250円
いざゆかん、緑あふるるゴルフコースへ
外国では飛び込みで別の組に入ったりすることもあるのだが、ここは日本。同行したプレーヤー達と18ホールを廻るべし。ゴルフの服装、いわゆるドレスコードだが、どこのコースでもゴルフシューズは着用は必須。もちろんジーンズは避け、動きやすい服装を心がけよう。かつては”襟付き”のシャツがお決まりだったが、タイガー・ウッズがゴルフウェアのトレンドを築き上げ、服装ルールも柔軟になった。そして、日本のゴルフは基本、途中に昼食が入る。たいていはここでビールなんぞ飲んでしまったりして、午後からのプレーが多少ブレてしまう事もある。飲み過ぎには充分注意したい。さて、ゴルフといえば紳士のスポーツ。ディボット（クラブで削り取られた芝生）をちゃんと元に戻す事、スロープレーはやらない等の最低限のマナーは知っておきたい。さあ、日中緑に囲まれたコースで充分にゴルフを楽しんだら、夜は温泉で汗を流すのも悪くない。ゼータク？

用意は気楽に、かつ周到に
ゴルフを始めるのにボール・クラブ一式揃えなきゃ、なんてことはない。もちろんドライバーやﾔ手の違うアイアンを数本、ウェッジとパタ－位は持っていれば理想的。だが心配は要らない。街のリサイクルショップなどでは1本100円程度のクラブや、1万円以下で買えるゴルフセットなんかもある。一式を手に入れたら、ゴルフ練習場などでスイングの練習だ。プロのインストラクターのもとレッスンが受ける事も可狽ｾ。通常、レッスンは日本語のみなので外国人の友人と一緒なら、外国人プロが教えてくれるゴルフコースがある（夜須高原カントリークラブ 詳細はp.9もしくはp1を参照）。コースの情報はホームページなどで事前に下調べをしておく事。インターネットのみならず、ゴルフのフリーマガジンを始めとするゴルフ雑誌には、地元エリアのゴルフコースクーポン券がついているので是非利用したい。

ゴルフトリビア
・ホールインワンを達成した場合、記念パーティを主催して同伴のプレーヤーに記念品を用意しなきゃいけない。
・日本には唯一「ホールインワン保険」なるものが存在する。諸々の出費を考えるとミラクルショットも考えもの。
・標準ゴルフボールのディンプル（くぼみ）は336個。
・なんと、ゴルフは 「月」でプレーされた唯一のスポーツ。
・1850年頃までのゴルフボールは、羽毛をつつんだ手作りの革製だった。
・日本では、ゴルフコース（グリーン）に迷いこんでくるイノシシが悩みの種なんだ。
・自動運転制御のゴルフカートなんてものあるニッポンのゴルフ。ボタン一つで次のホールまで…。運転する必要がないなんて！
・「ファー！」とはスコットランドの軍隊が休日にゴルフをプレーしていた際、危ない時にFore（「前方」を浮ｷ古期英語）と叫んでいたのが始まりらしい。
・米国のボイジャー宇宙探査機が海王星に着陸するには、3,630kmのホールでホールインワンを打つのに匹敵する精度の計算が必要だとか。
バーチャルゴルフ！
そうはいってもやっぱり高いじゃん！という学生諸君、OLさんにサラリーマンのオジさまよ、心配する事なかれ。こういうゴルフ練習法もあるんです。

オジサマ用 （The Oji-san）
1.　クラブを選ぶ。

3番ウッド
サンドウェッジ
パター

2.　公園等の静かな場所を選び、スイングの練習開始。
3.　ナイスショッ！飛ばすのは脳内ボールだけでお願いします。

ヤッピー用
1.　アプリ付きのケータイを手に入れ、”フルスウィングゴルフ”をダウンロード。
2.　さあ、ゲーム開始。勢いあまって歩行者にケータイを投げつけない事。

もちろんインターネットではゴルフゲームのャtトがごまんと手に入る。会議で疲れた頭にフルスウィングして、明日を乗り切ろう。
ゴルフ用語あれこれ

べたぴん

わんぴん

きょういち

いけぽちゃ

ぜんしんよんだ（又は、ぷれいふぉー）

ふぁー

ちょろ

ないすしょっ

てんぷら
外国人ゴルフフリークの会
さて、これでゴルフの事が少しはお分かりいただけただろうか。いや、まだまだ？！そんなアナタには、やはり実際にやってみる事。福岡在住の外国人サンバボ、スコット、ジャスティンの3人は足繁くコースに通うゴルフフリーク。一緒にプレーする仲間を募集中、ゴルフのコツや情報も教えてくれるはずだ。golfkyushu@hotmail.comまで。
ゴルフフリークオススメコース
上記の外国人フリークゴルファー達も利用しているゴルフコース。お財布と相談しながら練習したい人、初心者でもどんとこい！（マナーは守りましょうね）

○ フジカントリークラブ（南コース）

9Hのみの丘陵コース。2周して18Hの1Rとなる、短いコースの為、初心者や女性にも優しい。カート付きでこの値段とは有り難い。

佐賀県佐賀市富士町大字上熊川691
電話: 0952-64-2281
休み: 年中無休
営業: 8:00～最終エントリーは13:00
料金: 平日 9H 2,000円～、18H2,800円～/土日祝　9H 2,500円～、18H 4,500円～（*1組4人の場合、完全蘭?ｧ）

＜アクセス＞
長崎自動車道「佐賀大和IC」から車で8分 / JR長崎本線 佐賀駅から車で20分
○ 大岳ショートコース
海の中道近く、メンテナンスの行き届いたフラットなコースはショートゲームの上達にもってこいだ。平日回り放題のおトクなプランもあり。
福岡市東区大岳4-3-1
電話: 603-0488
休み: 1月 第2水曜・4月 第2月曜のみ休業
営業: 8:00～20:00 （夏季7～9月 早朝 6:00～営業）
料金: 平日 9H 2,415 円、18H 3,675 円／土・日・祝 9H 3,255 円、18H 4,725 円／ナイター 1,890 円

アクセス:
電車: JR香椎線・西戸崎駅
車: 九州長崎大分道、古賀ICまたは都市高速・香椎浜ランプから30分
URL www.saitozaki.co.jp/sho.html

○ 鞍手カントリー倶楽部

丘陵コースで打ちおろし打ち上げの続く中・上級者向けだ。8・9番は池を配した、造形も美しく贅沢な気分が味わえる。

福岡県鞍手郡鞍手町八尋1331
電話: 0949-42-8200
休み: 年中無休
営業: 8:00～18:00 (11:02 / 12:12 ナイター営業 4/1～ 17:00～（平日）
料金: 平日 18H8,650 円、土E冝E祝15,700 円／早朝・夕刻・ナイター 9H 3,000 円、土・日・祝5,000 円

アクセス:
九州自動車道/若宮ICより8km/JR鹿児島線赤間駅より

 

 

 

 

Stick + Ball + Hole = Fun!

Golf was introduced as early as the 15th century, when the Scottish used a wooden stick-like device to knock a pebble around a mecca of sand dunes and various tracks. While this was first conceived as a simple ‘stick and ball’ game, the vital ingredient was later added to create golf’s uniqueness: the hole. Or, if you buy Robin Williams’ version of events, a bunch of [expletive] drunk Scotsmen got together and decided to whack a [expletive] ball down a [expletive] gopher hole, and put loads of [expletive] trees and [expletive] sand in the way. Either way, in the hundreds of years that have passed since then, golf has remained relatively unchanged, save for the materials the equipment is created from.

But what about golf in our adopted home, Japan? It was in the 70’s that golf really began to take off here. The economy was booming, money was flowing, and the Japanese wanted a slice of the stick and ball action. Golf courses sprang up all over Japan, and most of them flaunted the kind of membership fees that needed extra long checks to write them on. We’re talking 3,000,000 yen joining fees plus 25,000,000 yen annual fees, and you still had to pay to play each round. These uber-courses were members-only affairs that relied on inflated corporate membership fees paid by companies’ expense accounts.

Nowadays, the golf industry is still feeling the pinch of the recession. Golf courses and country clubs, if they haven’t been bought by foreign-owned conglomerates and Americanized, have been forced to open their doors to non-members and attract new customers. Courses have begun to offer lower green fees, developed junior programs for golfers-to-be, and taken steps to welcome (shock!) women into the world of golf.

Now, over 30 million people all over the world enjoy golf as a prominent national sport. From amateur tournaments to international championships, players worldwide have become fascinated with everything about golf, from the lush greens to the multimillion dollar endorsements afforded to the very best players. Japan, with its power players (many of them women) and increasing market share, is a firm part of the world’s obsession with the sport. Not least, there’s Miyazato Ai from Okinawa, who has been playing since she was four and has her eye on the world number one spot.
The Japanese Golf Experience

Japan has a wonderful habit of borrowing things from other countries and thoroughly Japanerizing them. Golf is no exception. From strict tee times to luxury locker rooms and lunch in between, golf in Japan is not without its differences. But, some of these twists can make your round of golf even more enjoyable.

A typical day of golf in Japan usually starts the day before; tee time bookings are almost always essential, and some clubs won’t accept same-day bookings. Your tee time determines the order of play for the day – who is before you and who comes after. This order is also maintained after the lunch break, but we’ll get to that later. Turn up to the course before your scheduled tee time, to give you enough time to get started, and take advantage of the warm-up area where you can practice your putt or your swing. In many Western countries, there’s a Starter who helps to match singles with an odd-numbered group, for the sake of efficiency. In Japan, however, in line with the reserved culture, it is not as common to impose yourself on another group, or have someone forced to join your group.

Next, you’ll have to decide if you want a caddy, and what kind of cart you need. A caddy will serve as your assistant while you are playing, offering advice, tracking and collecting your ball, and generally ensuring your game goes smoothly. For this reason, often when first visiting a course, or playing with a business group, players take caddies. However, it is usually an extra cost, and if you know the course or are an experienced golfer, a caddy is not always essential. Carts in Japan can range from a simple, motorized cart to a GPS-enabled, remote controlled, possibly sentient golf-mobile. As you’d imagine, the price scales accordingly.

So, you’re playing golf. You swing. You miss- badly. You walk over to your ball, begin to swing again, and look up to see a group of golfers waving at you to keep it movin’. Huh? In Japan, missing your target doesn’t mean a penalty shot and another start where the ball landed. It’s zenshin yonda: heading to a designated spot up the fairway and playing as if it were your fourth shot. Efficient, these Japanese!

Why spoil a good walk?
What is it that drives seemingly sane men and women, to pick up a stick and hit a ball until it falls in a hole? And as Mark Twain said, “Golf is a good walk spoiled.” So why do so many millions play it?

It’s good exercise in the fresh air (especially if you’re no good…)
The feeling of hitting a ball on the sweet spot and seeing it sail away…
You can play it until you’re old and gray
The beautiful nature of the courses
Like sex, you don’t have to be good to enjoy it
It’s a very social sport, good for networking
As prices drop, it’s becoming an affordable slice of luxury
You can learn new curse words
As a game, golf is very challenging, and very rewarding
Lunch, Etiquette and More

Then comes lunch. It is customary on a Japanese golf course to break for lunch. Many foreign golfers are used to scarfing down hot-dogs between holes, barely breaking stride, but here in Japan, it’s sticks down and off to the clubhouse. While you are not obliged to buy lunch, you are required to maintain the play order, so no swooping in before the salarymen have finished their refuelling.

Now you’re back on the course. If, at this point, you’re naked and attracting pitiful stares, it’s because you didn’t read this important section on what to wear. There are a few simple rules to remember when choosing your threads for the golf course. First, don’t wear jeans. Shorts are acceptable, in the hot summer, as long as they aren’t Rip Curl boardies. Golf shoes are still preferred by almost all clubs, but the kind with softer, plastic ridges, rather than lawnmower-esque metal-spiked grass-munchers. The old rule used to be ‘wear a collar’, but since the trendsetting megastars of golf, such as Tiger Woods, started wearing the neoprene / dri-fit / possibly sentient pseudo shirts, the line is less clear. If in doubt, wear something with a collar. If it cost a lot of money and is made by Nike Golf, it’s probably acceptable.

Take note of the instructions the club gives you for repairing any divots you may hack out of the ground. Some places will give you a bucket of seeded sand to fill your hole with; others will ask you to find your divot and pat it back into the hole. Generally, it’s considered poor form to leave a trail of destruction behind you on the course.

Courses in Japan tend to close earlier than elsewhere. Many believe this is because Japanese golfers enjoy the full day’s golfing experience. They like to play, stop for lunch, play some more, stop for a bath (which are, by the way, often grand affairs, and in the best courses, rival the best onsen in terms of luxury), and head to the clubhouse for dinner. So, for the keen non-member, it may feel as though courses are closing early. For now, this is just the way it’s done; however, some forward-thinking courses are offering later tee times, extended playing hours, and even night golf.

Get That Ball Rollin’ – Literally!

If you want to get started, you’ll need a basic set of clubs, some lessons, and somewhere to practice. You don’t need a full set of clubs to get started. “You only need 3 or 4 clubs to really get goin’ on the ranges,” Sambhavo Patrick, an avid Canadian player, says. “A driver, a couple of mid-irons, and a wedge. That’s it.” Clubs can be bought at secondhand shops throughout Fukuoka – and for as little as 100 yen/club! However, if you’re serious about starting, you can pick up a decent, full set for under 10,000 yen. “Most of them are in great condition,” Sambhavo says. “Just chucked out because some guy decided to buy a new set.” But left-handers beware! The chances of you finding these bargains are few and far between, so if you’re out of luck, don’t forget the major sport stores, most of which will carry a small selection of clubs just for you.

Is Golf Expensive?

Assuming that experienced・golfers can play 18 holes in about five hours, and that it’s pretty easy to find a course offering 18 holes for 5,000 yen on a weekday, we can conclude that golf can be played for just 1,000 yen/hour. How does that compare to other activities?

Watching Toto in concert: 8,500 yen – around 4,250 yen/hr
Kabuki Theater: 20,000 yen – around 5,000 yen/hr
Private English lessons: 3,000 yen/hr
Thai Massage: 3,500 yen – around 2,300 yen/hr
Go-Carts: 1,500 yen for an 8-minute lap – around 11,250 yen/hr

Golf Guru

Did you notice the big ad on the inside of the front cover this issue? Yes, Fukuoka is very fortunate to have someone like Jeff Jackson, PGA Professional Class A, around and available for golf lessons in English!

Jeff is the General Manager out at the beautiful Yasukogen C.C. Call him at 0946-42-2211 or visit their site at www.yasukogen.com

Next, head for a driving range. Those giant nets you see strung up around the city aren’t for catching fish after a tsunami; they’re called uchippanashi, and are perfect places to practice your swing. More often than not, they have a professional player on site who offers lessons, at a price, and Japanese language ability is almost always required. Many ranges are also offering junior prices, so you can bring your kids along and get them started, too. Courses also have a professional golfer on site who can give private or group lessons, but again Japanese language ability is a must. Unless, of course, you head out to Yasukogen (0946 42-2211) where Class A PGA pro Jeff Jackson can give you lessons in perfect American!

If you want to get out on a course, it’s a good idea to search for, and check, the club’s homepage first. Most homepages are in Japanese only, but you’ll often find special offers and discount tee times that you’d otherwise be unaware of. It’s also recommended to visit the golf shops around town and pick up the free golfing magazines; these, too, often carry vouchers and special deals.

There are, of course, many other resources to improve your game far too numerous to mention – books, DVDs, the internet, substituting household objects for clubs… Head to www.pgatour.com as a place to start on the web, and flip the page for an even cheaper way to get going. You should also visit www.golf-in-japan.com for very useful and comprehensive information on golf in Japan, including detailed course lists and reviews by fellow golfers. Best of all, it’s in English!

Tee-shot Trivia!

– In Japan, if you score a hole-in-one, you are ‘required’ to buy everyone in your group expensive gifts. So…

– Japan is the only country in the world to offer hole-in-one insurance. With your monthly premiums, you’ll be covered should you ever hit that miracle shot.

– There are 336 dimples on a regulation golf ball.
t
– Golf is the only sport that has ever been played on the moon.

– Before 1850, golf balls were made of leather and were stuffed with feathers.

– In Japan, wild pigs that find their way to the green have become a major problem

– Fore! is thought to have been originated by the Scots military, playing golf on their off days and warning golfers in front of them by shouting “Fore!”, short for afore or before, meaning look out in front.

– The Voyager spacecraft safely arriving at Neptune was the equivalent of hitting a hole-in-one on a 3,630km golf course

Parlez vous Golfais?
Every country has its own golf lingo. Here are some essential words for golfing in Japan.

Betapin
When you hit a shot that lands close to the hole’s flag.

Wanpin
When your ball is the length of the flag away from the hole.

Kyoichi
The best shot of the day (usually used to describe a tee shot). Literally, ‘today number one’.

Ikepocha
When the ball lands in the water. Ike – pond, pocha – the unfortunate sound of your ball.

Zenshin Yonda (also ‘Play Four’)
Will come in handy for beginners. Describes when you hit a ball out of bounds from a tee shot, and play on from halfway down the course as if it were your fourth shot.

Fah!
The Japanese version of Fore! , to be shouted when you hit a ball that goes in the direction of other people. Remember to shout Fah! instead of Fore! (unless you were aiming at other foreigners).

Choro
A missed shot that rolls slowly along the floor. The Japanese equivalent of the pea-roller.

Naisu Sho
Nice shot… In Janglish.

Tempura
When a tee shot flies straight up in the air and back down again.

The Fukuoka Swingers Club
So, you’ve read the article, and you want to get out there and see what it’s all about. Or perhaps you’ve hit a few balls in your home country but have yet to venture out onto the Japanese greens. But who to go with? Here’s a suggestion. There’s a golfing group, with a selection of very friendly foreigners including Sambhavo Patryck, Justin Poores and Scott Newby, who love nothing more than to get out on the links one or two times a week. Why not hook up with them? Email Sambhavo at golfkyushu@hotmail.com. If you’re ‘carless’, he’ll even pick you up, for a small fee!

Selected Courses
Here is just a small selection where you might just bump into the gang above, offering value, a bit of luxury, and good opportunities for beginners or the golfer on a budget.

Fuji Country Club (Minami – South Course)
Description: Excellent value, with a cart included. The course is relatively short, so good for beginners, occasional golfers or non power-hitters.

691 Kami-kumakawa, Fuji-machi, Saga-city
Tel: 0952-64-2281
Closed: Never
Open: 8:00 – , last tee off 13:00
Prices: Weekdays 9H 2,000 yen – , 18H 2,800 yen – / Sat., Sun. & Hol. 9H 2,500 yen – , 18H 4,500 yen –
* By reservation only / prices above are per person in a group of 4

Train: To JR Saga station, then 20 min. by taxi
Car: 8 min. drive from Nagasaki Expressway Saga Yamato IC
URL: www.sagafujicc.com

Otake Short Course
Description: A flat, brilliantly maintained course by the sea near Uminonakamichi, it offers a moderate challenge and good value. Walk the course and enjoy the views.

4-3-1 Otake, Higashi-ku, Fukuoka
Tel: 092-603-0488
Closed: January 2nd Wed. & April 2nd Monday
Open: 8:00 – 20:00 (July – Sept.: 6:00 – )
Prices: Weekdays 9H 2,415 yen, 18H 3,675 yen, night games 1,890, Sat., Sun. & Hol. 9H 3,255 yen, 18H 4,725 yen
Access:
Train: To Saitozaki Stn. (JR Kashii line)
Car: 30 min. drive from Koga IC / Urban expressway Kashiihama ramp
URL www.saitozaki.co.jp/sho.html

Kurate Country Club
Description: Challenging and moderately expensive, but offers the true Japanese golfing experience, complete with onsen. Great design, luxury and variety – even night golf!
1331 Yahiro, Kurate-machi, Kurate-gun, Fukuoka
Tel: 0949-42-8200
Closed: Never
Open: 8:00 – , last tee off 12:12, night golf from 4/1 – 17:00 start (weekdays)
Price: Weekdays 18H 8,650 yen / Sat., Sun. & Hol. 15,700 yen / Early morning, afternoon and night games 9H 3,000 yen, Sat., Sun. & Hol. 5,000 yen

Train: 25 min. taxi ride from Akama station (JR Kagoshima line)
Car: 8km from Wakamiya IC, 30 mins drive from Fukuoka IC
URL www2.ocn.ne.jp/ – kccnews/index1.htm

 

 

 

 

Stick + Ball + Hole = Fun!

Golf was introduced as early as the 15th century, when the Scottish used a wooden stick-like device to knock a pebble around a mecca of sand dunes and various tracks. While this was first conceived as a simple ‘stick and ball’ game, the vital ingredient was later added to create golf’s uniqueness: the hole. Or, if you buy Robin Williams’ version of events, a bunch of [expletive] drunk Scotsmen got together and decided to whack a [expletive] ball down a [expletive] gopher hole, and put loads of [expletive] trees and [expletive] sand in the way. Either way, in the hundreds of years that have passed since then, golf has remained relatively unchanged, save for the materials the equipment is created from.

But what about golf in our adopted home, Japan? It was in the 70’s that golf really began to take off here. The economy was booming, money was flowing, and the Japanese wanted a slice of the stick and ball action. Golf courses sprang up all over Japan, and most of them flaunted the kind of membership fees that needed extra long checks to write them on. We’re talking 3,000,000 yen joining fees plus 25,000,000 yen annual fees, and you still had to pay to play each round. These uber-courses were members-only affairs that relied on inflated corporate membership fees paid by companies’ expense accounts.

Nowadays, the golf industry is still feeling the pinch of the recession. Golf courses and country clubs, if they haven’t been bought by foreign-owned conglomerates and Americanized, have been forced to open their doors to non-members and attract new customers. Courses have begun to offer lower green fees, developed junior programs for golfers-to-be, and taken steps to welcome (shock!) women into the world of golf.

Now, over 30 million people all over the world enjoy golf as a prominent national sport. From amateur tournaments to international championships, players worldwide have become fascinated with everything about golf, from the lush greens to the multimillion dollar endorsements afforded to the very best players. Japan, with its power players (many of them women) and increasing market share, is a firm part of the world’s obsession with the sport. Not least, there’s Miyazato Ai from Okinawa, who has been playing since she was four and has her eye on the world number one spot.
The Japanese Golf Experience

Japan has a wonderful habit of borrowing things from other countries and thoroughly Japanerizing them. Golf is no exception. From strict tee times to luxury locker rooms and lunch in between, golf in Japan is not without its differences. But, some of these twists can make your round of golf even more enjoyable.

A typical day of golf in Japan usually starts the day before; tee time bookings are almost always essential, and some clubs won’t accept same-day bookings. Your tee time determines the order of play for the day – who is before you and who comes after. This order is also maintained after the lunch break, but we’ll get to that later. Turn up to the course before your scheduled tee time, to give you enough time to get started, and take advantage of the warm-up area where you can practice your putt or your swing. In many Western countries, there’s a Starter who helps to match singles with an odd-numbered group, for the sake of efficiency. In Japan, however, in line with the reserved culture, it is not as common to impose yourself on another group, or have someone forced to join your group.

Next, you’ll have to decide if you want a caddy, and what kind of cart you need. A caddy will serve as your assistant while you are playing, offering advice, tracking and collecting your ball, and generally ensuring your game goes smoothly. For this reason, often when first visiting a course, or playing with a business group, players take caddies. However, it is usually an extra cost, and if you know the course or are an experienced golfer, a caddy is not always essential. Carts in Japan can range from a simple, motorized cart to a GPS-enabled, remote controlled, possibly sentient golf-mobile. As you’d imagine, the price scales accordingly.

So, you’re playing golf. You swing. You miss- badly. You walk over to your ball, begin to swing again, and look up to see a group of golfers waving at you to keep it movin’. Huh? In Japan, missing your target doesn’t mean a penalty shot and another start where the ball landed. It’s zenshin yonda: heading to a designated spot up the fairway and playing as if it were your fourth shot. Efficient, these Japanese!

Why spoil a good walk?
What is it that drives seemingly sane men and women, to pick up a stick and hit a ball until it falls in a hole? And as Mark Twain said, “Golf is a good walk spoiled.” So why do so many millions play it?

It’s good exercise in the fresh air (especially if you’re no good…)
The feeling of hitting a ball on the sweet spot and seeing it sail away…
You can play it until you’re old and gray
The beautiful nature of the courses
Like sex, you don’t have to be good to enjoy it
It’s a very social sport, good for networking
As prices drop, it’s becoming an affordable slice of luxury
You can learn new curse words
As a game, golf is very challenging, and very rewarding
Lunch, Etiquette and More

Then comes lunch. It is customary on a Japanese golf course to break for lunch. Many foreign golfers are used to scarfing down hot-dogs between holes, barely breaking stride, but here in Japan, it’s sticks down and off to the clubhouse. While you are not obliged to buy lunch, you are required to maintain the play order, so no swooping in before the salarymen have finished their refuelling.

Now you’re back on the course. If, at this point, you’re naked and attracting pitiful stares, it’s because you didn’t read this important section on what to wear. There are a few simple rules to remember when choosing your threads for the golf course. First, don’t wear jeans. Shorts are acceptable, in the hot summer, as long as they aren’t Rip Curl boardies. Golf shoes are still preferred by almost all clubs, but the kind with softer, plastic ridges, rather than lawnmower-esque metal-spiked grass-munchers. The old rule used to be ‘wear a collar’, but since the trendsetting megastars of golf, such as Tiger Woods, started wearing the neoprene / dri-fit / possibly sentient pseudo shirts, the line is less clear. If in doubt, wear something with a collar. If it cost a lot of money and is made by Nike Golf, it’s probably acceptable.

Take note of the instructions the club gives you for repairing any divots you may hack out of the ground. Some places will give you a bucket of seeded sand to fill your hole with; others will ask you to find your divot and pat it back into the hole. Generally, it’s considered poor form to leave a trail of destruction behind you on the course.

Courses in Japan tend to close earlier than elsewhere. Many believe this is because Japanese golfers enjoy the full day’s golfing experience. They like to play, stop for lunch, play some more, stop for a bath (which are, by the way, often grand affairs, and in the best courses, rival the best onsen in terms of luxury), and head to the clubhouse for dinner. So, for the keen non-member, it may feel as though courses are closing early. For now, this is just the way it’s done; however, some forward-thinking courses are offering later tee times, extended playing hours, and even night golf.

Get That Ball Rollin’ – Literally!

If you want to get started, you’ll need a basic set of clubs, some lessons, and somewhere to practice. You don’t need a full set of clubs to get started. “You only need 3 or 4 clubs to really get goin’ on the ranges,” Sambhavo Patrick, an avid Canadian player, says. “A driver, a couple of mid-irons, and a wedge. That’s it.” Clubs can be bought at secondhand shops throughout Fukuoka – and for as little as 100 yen/club! However, if you’re serious about starting, you can pick up a decent, full set for under 10,000 yen. “Most of them are in great condition,” Sambhavo says. “Just chucked out because some guy decided to buy a new set.” But left-handers beware! The chances of you finding these bargains are few and far between, so if you’re out of luck, don’t forget the major sport stores, most of which will carry a small selection of clubs just for you.

Is Golf Expensive?

Assuming that experienced・golfers can play 18 holes in about five hours, and that it’s pretty easy to find a course offering 18 holes for 5,000 yen on a weekday, we can conclude that golf can be played for just 1,000 yen/hour. How does that compare to other activities?

Watching Toto in concert: 8,500 yen – around 4,250 yen/hr
Kabuki Theater: 20,000 yen – around 5,000 yen/hr
Private English lessons: 3,000 yen/hr
Thai Massage: 3,500 yen – around 2,300 yen/hr
Go-Carts: 1,500 yen for an 8-minute lap – around 11,250 yen/hr

Golf Guru

Did you notice the big ad on the inside of the front cover this issue? Yes, Fukuoka is very fortunate to have someone like Jeff Jackson, PGA Professional Class A, around and available for golf lessons in English!

Jeff is the General Manager out at the beautiful Yasukogen C.C. Call him at 0946-42-2211 or visit their site at www.yasukogen.com

Next, head for a driving range. Those giant nets you see strung up around the city aren’t for catching fish after a tsunami; they’re called uchippanashi, and are perfect places to practice your swing. More often than not, they have a professional player on site who offers lessons, at a price, and Japanese language ability is almost always required. Many ranges are also offering junior prices, so you can bring your kids along and get them started, too. Courses also have a professional golfer on site who can give private or group lessons, but again Japanese language ability is a must. Unless, of course, you head out to Yasukogen (0946 42-2211) where Class A PGA pro Jeff Jackson can give you lessons in perfect American!

If you want to get out on a course, it’s a good idea to search for, and check, the club’s homepage first. Most homepages are in Japanese only, but you’ll often find special offers and discount tee times that you’d otherwise be unaware of. It’s also recommended to visit the golf shops around town and pick up the free golfing magazines; these, too, often carry vouchers and special deals.

There are, of course, many other resources to improve your game far too numerous to mention – books, DVDs, the internet, substituting household objects for clubs… Head to www.pgatour.com as a place to start on the web, and flip the page for an even cheaper way to get going. You should also visit www.golf-in-japan.com for very useful and comprehensive information on golf in Japan, including detailed course lists and reviews by fellow golfers. Best of all, it’s in English!

Tee-shot Trivia!

– In Japan, if you score a hole-in-one, you are ‘required’ to buy everyone in your group expensive gifts. So…

– Japan is the only country in the world to offer hole-in-one insurance. With your monthly premiums, you’ll be covered should you ever hit that miracle shot.

– There are 336 dimples on a regulation golf ball.
t
– Golf is the only sport that has ever been played on the moon.

– Before 1850, golf balls were made of leather and were stuffed with feathers.

– In Japan, wild pigs that find their way to the green have become a major problem

– Fore! is thought to have been originated by the Scots military, playing golf on their off days and warning golfers in front of them by shouting “Fore!”, short for afore or before, meaning look out in front.

– The Voyager spacecraft safely arriving at Neptune was the equivalent of hitting a hole-in-one on a 3,630km golf course

Parlez vous Golfais?
Every country has its own golf lingo. Here are some essential words for golfing in Japan.

Betapin
When you hit a shot that lands close to the hole’s flag.

Wanpin
When your ball is the length of the flag away from the hole.

Kyoichi
The best shot of the day (usually used to describe a tee shot). Literally, ‘today number one’.

Ikepocha
When the ball lands in the water. Ike – pond, pocha – the unfortunate sound of your ball.

Zenshin Yonda (also ‘Play Four’)
Will come in handy for beginners. Describes when you hit a ball out of bounds from a tee shot, and play on from halfway down the course as if it were your fourth shot.

Fah!
The Japanese version of Fore! , to be shouted when you hit a ball that goes in the direction of other people. Remember to shout Fah! instead of Fore! (unless you were aiming at other foreigners).

Choro
A missed shot that rolls slowly along the floor. The Japanese equivalent of the pea-roller.

Naisu Sho
Nice shot… In Janglish.

Tempura
When a tee shot flies straight up in the air and back down again.

The Fukuoka Swingers Club
So, you’ve read the article, and you want to get out there and see what it’s all about. Or perhaps you’ve hit a few balls in your home country but have yet to venture out onto the Japanese greens. But who to go with? Here’s a suggestion. There’s a golfing group, with a selection of very friendly foreigners including Sambhavo Patryck, Justin Poores and Scott Newby, who love nothing more than to get out on the links one or two times a week. Why not hook up with them? Email Sambhavo at golfkyushu@hotmail.com. If you’re ‘carless’, he’ll even pick you up, for a small fee!

Selected Courses
Here is just a small selection where you might just bump into the gang above, offering value, a bit of luxury, and good opportunities for beginners or the golfer on a budget.

Fuji Country Club (Minami – South Course)
Description: Excellent value, with a cart included. The course is relatively short, so good for beginners, occasional golfers or non power-hitters.

691 Kami-kumakawa, Fuji-machi, Saga-city
Tel: 0952-64-2281
Closed: Never
Open: 8:00 – , last tee off 13:00
Prices: Weekdays 9H 2,000 yen – , 18H 2,800 yen – / Sat., Sun. & Hol. 9H 2,500 yen – , 18H 4,500 yen –
* By reservation only / prices above are per person in a group of 4

Train: To JR Saga station, then 20 min. by taxi
Car: 8 min. drive from Nagasaki Expressway Saga Yamato IC
URL: www.sagafujicc.com

Otake Short Course
Description: A flat, brilliantly maintained course by the sea near Uminonakamichi, it offers a moderate challenge and good value. Walk the course and enjoy the views.

4-3-1 Otake, Higashi-ku, Fukuoka
Tel: 092-603-0488
Closed: January 2nd Wed. & April 2nd Monday
Open: 8:00 – 20:00 (July – Sept.: 6:00 – )
Prices: Weekdays 9H 2,415 yen, 18H 3,675 yen, night games 1,890, Sat., Sun. & Hol. 9H 3,255 yen, 18H 4,725 yen
Access:
Train: To Saitozaki Stn. (JR Kashii line)
Car: 30 min. drive from Koga IC / Urban expressway Kashiihama ramp
URL www.saitozaki.co.jp/sho.html

Kurate Country Club
Description: Challenging and moderately expensive, but offers the true Japanese golfing experience, complete with onsen. Great design, luxury and variety – even night golf!
1331 Yahiro, Kurate-machi, Kurate-gun, Fukuoka
Tel: 0949-42-8200
Closed: Never
Open: 8:00 – , last tee off 12:12, night golf from 4/1 – 17:00 start (weekdays)
Price: Weekdays 18H 8,650 yen / Sat., Sun. & Hol. 15,700 yen / Early morning, afternoon and night games 9H 3,000 yen, Sat., Sun. & Hol. 5,000 yen

Train: 25 min. taxi ride from Akama station (JR Kagoshima line)
Car: 8km from Wakamiya IC, 30 mins drive from Fukuoka IC
URL www2.ocn.ne.jp/ – kccnews/index1.htm