Japan Relocation - Looking for suggestions

[Max Sternberg]

It’s been a while since I have been on GCA but I am relocating to Tokyo next month and thought this might be a good place to get some suggestions as to clubs to join, courses to check out with architecture worth seeing (other than the obvious ones), etc.


I am under 30, not sure if that helps or hurts in Japan on the club front.


Any help would be greatly appreciated!

[Jon Wiggett]

Max,


from what I understand the golf membership market is very exclusive. Most Japanese golfers I have met have no membership and many have never played on a course in Japan.

[Pete Lavallee]

Jon is correct, golf is a tough nut to crack in Japan. Your best bet would be to befriend a US Military member, there is a course at Atsugi Air Base which is fairly close to Tokyo.


Kawana is an Alison designed resort course open to the public and surely in the Japanese Top 5.

[Greg Gilson]

Max, I am not an expert but my thoughts are:


-assuming you are not permanently relocating then you will probably find it difficult to justify the upfront costs of joining a typical "members club"...but you should feel free to investigate


-I have had 2 close friends spend 2 to 10 years in expat roles. They, like the majority of locals, were not club members. They played their golf on vacations and/or at a number of the relatively accessible non-member accessible public & semi-private courses in Tokyo general vicinity


Hope this helps!

[John Kavanaugh]

Here you will find a nice little ditty on the the course in the movie Lost in Translation.


https://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-g298184-i861-k2481792-Lost_in_Translation_Golf_Scene-Tokyo_Tokyo_Prefecture_Kanto.html

[Terry Lavin]

Max,


Nice hearing from you. Many tough translations and tough transitions, yet to come! 


All the best!

[Quinn Thompson]

Hi ya Max,


Not sure how the "Gaijins" get a membership in Japan...l imagine it's a tricky ( and expensive ) ordeal.


I'm living down Yokohama way if you ever fancy a game at the 9 hole pitch-n-putt; still costs 50 bucks !


Did some work there at Yokohama West though and if you ever fancy a bat; lemme' know.


Safe travels and welcome to Japan ! Ain't no place like it ( except the South Side of Chicago...funny how they relate)


Quinn.

[Jeff Schley]

How exciting Max, I hope you enjoy your Expat experience as I'm sure you will with Japan being a lovely country. I'm heading there in April with some buddies for a golf trip and it isn't easy getting onto the top courses I have learned. Wish you many blessings in your journey ahead.