Guest writer Sarah Forrest tells us why golf in Japan has a long, rich history and why it is the people and culture that make it a perfect golfing destination
For years Japan has been giving to golf. But it was not until recently, with the amazing tenacity and skill of Hideki Matsuyama, Masters champion, not to mention 17-year- old winner of the Augusta National Women’s Amateur, Tsubasa Kajitani, that it became clear the country had been ticking away in the background.
Japan’s first golf course, Kobe, opened in 1903. The second, Unzen Golf Club did not open until 10 years later. Fast forward a hundred years or so and the quantity of golf courses has surpassed those in England, with around 2,500 serving a population of 126 million people.
How golf is viewed as sport in Japan
Whilst you might think golf is the top, or near the top, for sports in Japan, it isn’t. Sumo still holds that top spot. Although it is recognised that the younger generations care less for sumo, golf only just makes it into the top ten, in ninth behind the sport such as baseball, rugby, basketball, football, martial arts, pro wrestling and boxing.
Japanese golf equipment
Japan’s golf evolution has earned them a solid reputation for the quality golf equipment it produces. Established forges, some coming from Himeji, home of the Samurai sword, turned their skilled hand to making golf clubs and the results were explosive.
Big names such as Mizuno, the largest manufacturer in Japan, to the more bespoke handmade clubs from Honma and Muira. It is also worth mentioning Srixon, Vega, XXIO, Fujimoto and Kyoei.
Whist Japanese forged steel is known for its strength, there is also a strong emphasis on aesthetics of the golf club. In fact Japanese people are quite particular when it comes to golf and golf apparel.
Professional golf
Japan may seem like a relative newcomer in terms of its professional golfers, but women have been paving the way for years. In 1977, at the LPGA Championship, aged 31, Hisako Higuchi was the first Asian born - male or female to win a major. Higuchi, alongside Ayako Okamoto, who herself won 62 international tournaments, dominated Japanese women’s golf during the 1970’s and 1980’s. Higuchi was also the first Japanese golfer to be inducted in the World Golf Hall of Fame in 2003. She later became President of the LPGA of Japan Tour.
More recently, the infectious smile of Hinako Shibuno, the Smiling Cinderella, who won at the 2019 British Women’s Open, smiling from ear to ear was as endearing as her great golf.
And now, of course, the show stopping play of Hideki Matsuyama and Tsubasa Kajitani at Augusta, has turned the eye of the golfing world and propelled Japan into the golfing public arena.
So, we have great golf equipment, strong professional golfers and a country with so many golf courses, what else could it possibly offer?
Japanese Tourism
It was Mie Prefecture, part of the Kansai region, who entered the world stage and pitched its wares at the International Golf Travel Market (IGTM) conference in 2015. The representatives came dressed in full Japanese national dress, the kimono, which was enough to make me start a conversation with them. If I am honest, I did not think they had much to offer a golfer.
Following my first trip in October 2018, I was more than happy to eat my words, I was totally wrong.
The golf courses
With a major influence from British course designer Charles Alison who arrived in Japan in the 1930’s, it did strike me that the golf is not too dissimilar to that of some UK golf courses. With one exception, the grass!
The Korai grass tends to die back in winter and takes on a whole new appearance of bright yellow. The greens are often bent grass, so stand out like a sore thumb lying in stark contrast against the yellow fairways.
The reality is anyone can play great golf in pretty much any country in the world, so I always ask the question, so what else is there when visiting Japan?
This question came totally unstuck as the quantity of unique, quirky, traditional, cultural and good old fashioned humble humour of the Japanese people became more apparent.
How tradition plays its role
Steeped in tradition, respect is of huge importance to the people of Japan. There still remains the hierarchical approach, which was endearing and delightful to witness on the golf course. The earlier designed golf courses often have two greens, one left, one right. One for winter, one for summer. With markers on the right of the fairways giving distances to the right green and left for the left green. A simple, yet logical approach.
Caddies are common place, it is less usual to tip them, but I think this will change as golf tourism takes hold. The buggies can be driverless, instead being operated by a remote control the caddy controls.
The golf is great, but it is the people and the culture which make visiting Japan an exceptional experience.
Sarah Forrest, Golf Guru Group - follow all of Sarah's travels via golfgurugroup.blogspot.com
