Golf, Japanese Style

If this is your first experience of playing golf in Japan, it is quite different than what you are probably accustomed to. The great game is the same but the procedure is quite different…..very unique and very enjoyable. Many non-Japanese that I have taken there have used the same phrase to describe it. They call golf in Japan “very civilized”. I would have to agree.

First, a word about the courses. They are designed with nature to give the courses a natural look. They are immaculately maintained with careful attention to the minutest details. The maintenance of a Japanese golf course is one thing in particular that impresses me greatly. The Japanese have a reverence for nature and especially for trees and they go to great lengths to give the trees a “Japanese” look. It is not unusual to see maintenance workers up in the branches fine-tuning the shape of a tree, something I don’t believe I have ever seen on a golf course anywhere else in the world.

When you arrive at the golf course each day, you check in at the reception desk. You will be given a numbered locker key and a scorecard in a small leather wallet. Your locker key is the way you will be identified by the courses and charged for any purchases in the Pro Shop, etc.

After you have changed your shoes, you report to your caddy outside. The caddies in Japan are almost invariably women. They will probably not speak English but they do know the game very well and are very good and knowledgeable caddies. When you meet her, she will most likely be tending to the golf cart, organizing, counting and cleaning all of the clubs. I do not believe that these caddies are golfers but I am consistently amazed at their uncanny awareness of a golfer’s needs on the golf course. I recall several occasions where I have gone to my ball with, say, a 3 or a 4 iron and, arriving at my ball, discovered that I need a 5 iron. More often than not, caddie-san is standing nearby with my 5 iron and a knowing smile.

The golf courses usually have several refreshment stands along the way. Most Westerners would normally have a cold drink at this time. The Japanese, however, generally opt for a hot green tea (ocha) when they stop. Cold drinks are also available, as are Japanese and some Western snacks.

In Japan, the custom is to stop for a full lunch after nine holes. As you go up to the dining room, you are given a back nine starting time, which will give you about 45-50 minutes for lunch. After a delicious and relaxed lunch, it’s on to the back nine or, as they say in Japan, the “in” nine. They refer to the nines in the traditional Scottish parlance, “out” for the front nine and “in” for the back.

Japanese Baths (o-furo)

After the round is completed, most Japanese take the traditional baths, which are a fixture at every Japanese golf club. Although this custom is quite foreign to us Westerners, it is wonderfully relaxing and one of the things that make golf in Japan so civilized.

There is a very strict protocol for the Japanese baths (o-furo). If you wish to try the baths (and I highly recommend them), this is the procedure. First of all, there are separate bath facilities for both men and women. When you get to the bath area, you remove your shoes and put on a pair of the slippers provided there. In the changing area, you will find wicker baskets on shelves. These are for your clothes. After you undress, you proceed to the bath area. YOU DO NOT GET INTO THE BATH BEFORE YOU HAVE TAKEN A COMPLETE SHOWER. The Japanese sit on the small stools and wash completely. There are also Western “stand up” showers similar to those in the West. After you have showered and rinsed, then you can get into the tub. (Note: One of the things that Japanese find curious about Westerners is that they get into the bathtub when they are dirty. Here, in order to ensure the pristine cleanliness of the bathing water, everyone is already completely clean when they get into the bath.) The water is hot (but not overly so), crystal clear and very relaxing. After a leisurely soak, you get out, dry off and dress. While you’re here in Japan, give the baths a try. I guarantee that they will soothe your aching muscles like nothing else. Personally, I like a beer or two after playing golf. After the Japanese o-furo, the beer becomes almost a religious experience.