Driving range, Japan

F

 ew nations, if any, can claim to have embraced the game of golf with such enthusiasm and dedication than the Japanese have shown.

Historically records show the country’s first course was on a hill overlooking Kobe which opened in 1901 by British businessmen and consisted of just four holes.

Today there are 2.300 courses in Japan, more than there are in Scotland, which has limited the space for any more to be built.

Apart from the courses Japanese golfers have public driving ranges everywhere ideal for enthusiasts who don’t have a club membership. These are huge constructions, sometimes in the city centres, wrapped in large green nets, often as high as two or three stories.

The miracles of Kannon, goddess of mercy

But an earthly addiction to the game goes one further in Japan. A stone Buddhist image of the Golf Kannon was built in 1990 at a time when there was a surge of the number of people playing golf. It was built to pray for the prosperity and safety of people who worked at golf courses and people whop lived in the areas of the golf courses. Its purpose was also to protect the safety of golf players and for players to give prayers to improve their handicaps and scores and hole-in-ones.

Behind the Golf Kannon (who could be described as ‘The Goddess of Gimmies’, or as non-golfers know her as ‘The Goddess of Mercy’ are thirteen golf clubs and one putter signifying golf’s eightfold holy path, which is 1. Correct look – look properly at the distance and the turf. 2. Correct thought – adhere to golf manners. 3. Correct language – do not use vulgar language. 4. Correct conduct – refrain from impolite acts. 5. Correct order – don’t play golf when you are hung-over, etc. 6. Correct effort – master the basics well. 7. Correct attention – know yourself and your surroundings very well and 8. Correct attitude – don’t be greedy, don’t be too fussy. The temple sells good-luck key-rings and amulets that can be attached to golf bags, buggies, etc.

Windsor Park Golf & Country Club near Tokyo

In the 1980’s the nation had gone golf-crazy and golf course businesses were all the rage. Golf club memberships were fetching USD2 million plus at the most prestigious clubs and scores of real estate companies bet big on course developments. The balloon had to burst and it did in the early 90’s when Japan’s bubbling economy found itself knee-deep in a vast sand-trap. Basic economics and common sense began to prevail and at long last Japan is in the midst of one of the longest post-war recoveries even though it’s as golf-crazy as ever. As Business Week put it: “It is hard to find another economy on the planet where golf course memberships are followed almost as closely as the stock listings an golf membership price index published by “The Nihon Keizai”, Japan’s leading business daily, is up 37% from the end of March 2005, suggesting golf is back in the swing of things. The situation is also helped by the fact that the baby boomers are coming up to retirement age and both men and women see the attraction of limitless fairways ahead.

Fugikogen course with Mt. Fuji in the background

Well informed listings and comments on Japanese golf courses are in short supply and often misleading. For this reason the website  www.golf-in-japan.com was created. The site also has three columnists who regularly provide interesting features and articles giving an inside into the Japanese golf scene. Well worth a visit.

The golf courses of Japan, as you would expect, are manicured to perfection. They are designed with nature to give them a natural look. They are immaculately maintained with careful attention to the tiniest details. The maintenance of a Japanese golf course is something that always impresses the visitor. They have a reverence for nature and especially for trees and they go to great lengths to give them a “Japanese” look. It is not unusual to see maintenance workers up in the branches fine-tuning the shape of the tree, something never to be seen anywhere else in the world.

Tokyu course in Hokkeido

Golf courses usually have several refreshment stands along the way, most westerners would normally have a cold drink at this time, but the Japanese generally opt for a hot green tea (ocha) when they stop. Japanese and western snacks are also available.

Tokyo's Shinjuku district

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