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[The Dog Ate My Keitai]

Who here's a golfer? Have any of you golfed in Japan yet? I am so stoked! I just got back from Tokyo, having purchased a (cheap) new set of golf clubs. The irons were separate, but I managed to get a putter, set of drivers and a really nice bag, all for 6,000 yen -- so the entire set cost me under 15,000. At the local golf shop I got me a glove, balls, tees and other miscellaneous items.....

So now, after almost a 10-year hiatus, I'm getting back in the game! I had to stop playing back home in Canada because I was a university student and had neither the money, time, nor transportation to get out to the golf courses. It's so refreshing to get back into a game I really enjoy.

Anyway, I hit the driving range last night. It was one of those Japanese driving ranges of lore -- you know, the multi-story jobs where you can essentially hit balls from the equivalent of a third story apartment balcomny? I had fun! I paid 10 yen per ball, and didn't even realize I hit 250 of them by the time I was done! Great stuff.

Well, I have a whole slew of questions for you all. If you can answer any of them, that would be great!

What's the cheapest course you know of? How much? Any tips would be greatly appreciated -- even if the course is nowhere near where I live, we do tend to travel within country a fair bit and if I have a chance to take my clubs and squeeze in a round, I will. Around here, average price for a round of golf is 12,000 to 17,000 (on the weekend). (A far cry from $15 green fees back home -- I know). As much as I enjoy the game, and am willing to pay to do it, I'd still like to make it as affordable as possible.

What do you think is the best way to make the most of your driving range time? As I sat and watched some of the locals do their thing, it seemed that EVERYONE at the driving range had the same procedure... First, they'd do some warmup stretches, then they'd hit about a dozen short pitches with a wedge, then move up to a mid-range iron, and then, finally hammer away at some with their driver. Then, they'd have a drink (or smoke -- or both) and do the same thing over again. I've never followed such a strict regimen so I thought it was really interesting....

Does anyone have any golf resources (like websites) which are specific to golfing in Japan? Is there a magazine (in English)?

[canuck]

[JimDunlop2]

Golf-hodai for 3000? Wow! That's like sugoi-cheap! Do you know if it is a regular course or a Par 3?

[theoldman]

The best web site for golf in Japan is, I think, golf-in-japan.com. This is an English web site, however most golf course links are in Japanese. I have found one or two golf courses that have English pages. There is plenty of cheap golf around Japan, however it is usually of a weekday. The thing about golf around Tokyo is that it is very expensive, but once you get out into Saitama, Chiba, Ibaraki and Tochigi you can also get some cheap weekend golf as well.

10 yen per golf ball is a good price at a golf range. As you get closer to the centre of Tokyo the price can go as high as 30 yen per ball.

A lot of Japanese golfers don't even get on to a course very often, so their routine at a range is just like playing 18 holes. Stretching hitting down through their clubs, having a break after nine???? holes and then starting again. If you have a close look you will see that some of them even dress for the occassion in full golf gear.

I have been playing golf around the Kanto area for almost 4 years, at least once a month, plus plenty of time on the practice range, and IMO there are some excellent golf courses to be experienced.