“Subarashi shotto,” which means “great shot” or “subarashi shotto” in Japanese, was the music 24 Golfweek’s Best panelists heard on their recent first-ever trip to the Land of the Rising Sun.
The 11-day-long trip featured seven top-ranked courses in Japan, along with some non-golf days for relaxation, enjoyment of Eastern culture, and a few sights.
The first thing on the list for the tired crew was to get to bed and have a good night’s sleep. Some even drank a couple of beers before going to bed.
A bus tour of Tokyo was the first activity of the day. It highlighted many of Tokyo’s most famous landmarks. The Asakusa Senso-ji Temple, Japan’s oldest Buddhist temple at more than 1,300 years of age, was our first stop. After being destroyed during World War II, the current shrine was rebuilt.
The temple’s communal incense was enjoyed by the raters while they negotiated for traditional sweets, kimonos and fine chopsticks from the numerous shops around the temple grounds. To consult the oracle to find answers to their questions, some even paid 100 yen (about 75c) at the O-mikuji stalls. Unfortunately, there were no responses to requests for lower handicaps.
Tokyo Skytree (Courtesy Golfweek raters).
Tokyo Skytree was the next stop on our tour. The Skytree is 2,080 feet tall and the third-tallest building in the world. It was built in 2011 and is the highest tower in the world. Skytree is more than a stunning sight. It also contains one of the most powerful elevators in the world. Skytree’s earthquake-proofing system includes one of the best seismic damping and cushioning systems in the world. Golfweek’s Best Raters oohed, aahed and marvelled at the breathtaking views from the observation deck.
Many raters returned to the hotel to refresh themselves. They were soon back out to enjoy the city’s sights and a delicious sushi dinner.
Now, back to business.
Toyko Golf Club was the first to be on the golfing docket. The club has been around for more than 100 years. However, the current course, designed by Komei Okani, opened in 1940. It occupies the third club location. Each of Toyko’s 18 holes features two greens, which was once more common than it is today. Double greens allow club members to play the course all year round, even in the extreme seasons of Japan.
A group of Golfweek’s best raters in Japan (Courtesy Golfweek’s Top raters).
The course was a gentle, rolling walkable course with challenging approach shots to nearly perfect greens and stern bunkering. This club is a great place to hang your hat, and you’ll be proud to play at.
Jim Simmons, a veteran rater, said that while Scotland may be the home for golf in Scotland, Japan is the place where the game is most revered. It’s more than a round of golf. It’s the polite, beautiful customs and idiosyncrasies that make it a special day of Japanese golf.
The once-strong caste system of Japan, where you could be a farmer, a craftsman, artisan, or warrior, is gone. The society that remains today is one where the traditions of order, status and respect are respected and honored without the rigid social segregations of the past.
Origi is the Japanese word for bowing. It is a fundamental part of Japanese etiquette and salutations. A bow is made from the waist and straight back. A slight bow or head nod could be misinterpreted as lazy or disrespectful.
The ojigi is a way to show respect for the status of the person bowing to and the person being bowed. At a young age, proper bowing is taught. Modern Japanese companies offer training in bowing to their employees.
Another top Japanese club was next on the tour. The Yokohama Country Club has two golf courses. One is restricted to public play (East), and the other is open largely to members (West). Takeo Aiyama originally designed the West Course in 1960. In 2016, American architects Ben Crenshaw and Bill Coore redesigned it. The West Course is a rolling, hilly piece of land (escalators are needed at some holes). It features beautiful views, stern approaches to smaller greens, and an excellent set par 3. The East Course was saved for future visits.
