Golf in Japan versus the US

I lived in Japan from 1991 to 2016, starting in the urban Tokyo area, then migrating an hour north to the suburbs for most of my time there

One-half of all of the golf courses in Asia are in Japan. They range from high-end private clubs to public courses to the bottom of the barrel – riverside courses that are cheap, but boring places. Golf courses are for golf only, there are no private clubs with family memberships, swimming, tennis, dinners or Sunday brunches.

What’s Different?

No tattoos allowed (only the yakuza have them), except for one specific private course. Clubhouse dress code: sport jacket and leather shoes (jacket can be draped over arm in July/August). Bring a change of clothes and golf shoes. No hats upon entry. Everyone gets a locker. Riverside courses are walking only (some rare courses require a caddy for walking). Other courses use carts. College/high school teams can walk in the afternoons for a low fee, carrying bags and sand/shovel for divots. Starting times are reservation only; singles cannot just show up. Twosomes are common but not paired with others. Upon check-in, you receive a scorecard cover with your locker number and key. All charges are linked to your locker and paid at the end. Cash is preferred in Japan. Some places have self-checkout using the scorecard cover. No tipping. The driving range is for players only, not casual practice. Business people, not JPGA pros run courses; lessons are not typically available at the course. Caddies are optional. Courses start from both “in” and “out” tees (like in Europe), not “front” or “back” nine. Lunch is at the “crossover.” Private club play is limited (2-4 times/month) with per-round fees of approximately $200-$400.

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