Nikishima Sport Center, Tokyo, Japan

Something different this time on the Skygolfblog. 

Golf is pretty popular in Japan, with over 10 millions golfers and more then 2400 golf course.

But also more then 3000 driving ranges serve the japanese golfer.

While golf courses are mainly located on the outskirts of the japanese cities, driving ranges can be found almost everywhere, even on downtown Tokyo.

Many driving ranges here feature two or three levels of bays and almost all of them have an automated tee-up ball system, which is pretty cool.

Having a few hours in Tokyo I decided to hit some balls at one of the famous double decked japanese driving range. Nikishima Sport Center is located 20 minutes east by metro from Shinjuku Stn.

As many local practice facilities, Nikishima is a private club open to the public. 

Maximum length is 230 yds and it is ok to hit drivers There is also a synthetic grass putting green and a short game area.

I rented a few clubs at the front desk, payed 1500 Yen ($15)  for a 200 balls card and headed to my assigned bay. After inserting my card on the automated balls dispenser located on my bay, the dispenser started to load the balls and a digital countdown indicator showed me how many balls still remained me to hit.

A interesting way to spend a couple of hours on the Land of The Rising Sun.

Nikishima Sport Center Clubhouse

Synthetic putting green

Balls collecting time!!

Aggiungi didascalia

Balls dispenser located on my bay

Thee automated tee-up system

88 bays on this two levels driving range