How to play golf in Japan
Most golf courses in Japan are membership courses and have strict etiquette and manners. Some of them are very unique. Please take a look at the following video. Make sure you study Japanese golf culture before you visit.
How to golf in Japan
- Dress Code
- Caddie
- Cart
- Auto-Driving Remote-Controlled Carts
- Lunch Breaks
- Baths, Showers & Tattoos
- Tattoos
- Club Delivery
- Golf Course Utilization Tax
Dress Code
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On Arrival, A Blazer or Jacket must be worn, except summer time, a Jacket need not be worn, but can be carried. Anyone wearing a t-shirt, jeans, shorts, sneakers or sandals will not be allowed to enter the Club. During Play, all players must wear a shirt with a collar. Shorts may only be worn in combination with long socks, which must completely cover the ankle-area. it’s very important to check Dress Code rules with any golf course on which foreign visitors plan to play in Japan. Stricter courses may refuse to allow those not adhering to their Dress Code to play.
Caddie
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Normally there’s 1 caddie per each group. Basically, golfers had been required to play with caddies, but recently due to the shortage of caddies, many golf clubs offer self-play, though it depends on the club. Tips : Tips for caddies are not necessary in Japan, however, tips will surely be appreciated.
Cart
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Most golf courses in Japan provide a cart shared with 5 people including a caddie per group. When self-playing, players need to manage the cart with a remote controller, sometimes without a controller.Walk-play with a caddie is required to play at some prestige golf courses which still have not introduced golf carts.
Auto-Driving Remote-Controlled Cartsress Code
Many Japanese golf carts are remote-controlled carts and cart-pas only with seating either 4-players, or 5 people including a caddy. Most courses are Cart Path Only.
Lunch Breaks
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One of the unique points in Japanese golf culture is the lunch break. Most of golf courses in Japan do not allow “playing through” except Hokkaido and Okinawa. After the first 9 holes, players need to take 40-60 minutes lunch break, and sometimes over 1 hour on weekends. It is a very good chance for you to try local food. Many golf courses prepared lunch menus with photographs that will be easy for you to select.
Baths, Showers & Tattoos
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When a player showers after their round, they should put on the slippers provided in the locker, take a change of clothing, lock their belongings in their locker, walk to the changing area (usually at the back of the Locker Room), undress, and proceed the bathroom to shower and then, if they choose, bathe (towels are provided in the changing area). People with tattoos are barred from entering Japanese golf courses. (In traditional Japanese society, tattoos signify ‘yakuza’, members of outlawed gangs, often referred to as the ‘Japanese mafia’, and such people are barred from golf courses.) In recent years, awareness of tattoos as a fashion statement has grown, so these traditions are now starting to change, but unfortunately golf-courses are not.
Tattoos
Anyone with tattoos wishing to play golf in Japan should consult with your travel agency, tour manager or directly with the course before you make reservations. It is acceptable for their tattoos to be fully-concealed by long-sleeved clothing or covered by plasters. You also need to cover our tattoos completely, as well as when you take a shower.
Club Delivery
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It’s possible to ship your clubs directly to/from the clubhouse at every course in Japan. Send your clubs from a courier counter at the airport/hotel/convenience store/sales office to the designated golf course. You can go to the course or travel by train or bus without carrying heavy luggage, just pick up your clubs at the course. * Require you to send your clubs at least two or three days before the day you will play.
Golf Course Utilization Tax
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The Japanese Government applies a tax to golf-play, which usually amounts to between JP\ 300-1,200 per person per day, depending on the size and play fee of golf clubs. And, some courses may charge for items such as ‘Sundry Costs’, ‘Locker Fees’ or ‘Facility Charges’, not familiar outside Japan, so please request full details of all costs when making reservations.