Golf in Japan is one of the most popular and played sports...there are more than 2300 course all around the country and playing in Japan is a totally different experience...From the moment you enter the clubhouse, to when you finish your 18 holes round you fill like being in a total different world. Everything has its own ritual and tradition and japanese are always courteous and friendly. Almost every course provide you a caddie (most of the time a female caddie), on some courses golf-carts are remote controlled, after 9 holes players stop for a 40 to 60 min lunch break, and after 18 holes most golfers take the traditional hot bath, which is equipped in any Japanese club house, to relax from the long golfing day.
On my first experience in Japan I played Sports Nippon CC, a wonderful course located in Takarazuka, near Osaka. The course is easy reachable by train from Osaka station (20 min) and a courtesy shuttle bus waits for golfers in front of Takarazuka station for a 5 min journey to the clubhouse.
Sports Nippon is a tree lined course, like the majority of this area, surrounded by a pines and oaks forest, with many elevation changes that make it a little tough.
I played the course in Autumn and the colors where beautiful.
I joined a local tournament called the Mizuno Cup and played on a foursome...my golfing partners where Japanese, and although none of them spoke english we had a lot fun!!
A great golf day I'll never forget...hope to back soon!!!
More photos from Sports Nippon Country Club here:
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| The 18th green |
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| Loading the golf carts |
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| Great hole..Par 4 12th |
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| Our remote controlled golf cart |
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| The 14th green..a 190 yds Par 3 with a huge ravine between the tee box and the green |
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| Double right - left dogleg 16th |
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| Our team |
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| Hole 2 |
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| Par 3 4th |
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| Cart Path on the Par 5 5th |
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| Hole 7th green |
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