Some aspects of golfing in Japan may be different from your home country. Learn the general booking procedure for a round of golf, rules that may be unique to the Japanese way of play, and common courtesies practiced at golf clubs in Japan to make your game experience smoother and stress-free. 

As the population of golfers visiting Japan from abroad continues to grow, Baigolf will outlined some insight on the golf culture you’ll encounter and appropriate manner to demonstrate at golf courses in Japan.

1.  Arrive on time：

Most golf courses require players to arrive for check-in about 30 minutes prior to tee time – if you are late, your reservation might be cancelled automatically, so please ensure that you are there accordingly.Etiquette in Japan is for all players to be at the fi rst tee 10 minutes before their offi cial start time.

Please contact the course in advance if you are running late, and explain that you may need to change your tee time. 

Check-in

When you arrive at the club for the round you will be greeted with a reception area similar to a hotel check-in. You will be given a little card holder and locker key with a number on the front. If you want to buy something in the pro-shop or a halfway house, you sign the chits with your assigned number and everything is charged to the card. As you leave, you settle the bill.

2.  Keep quiet:

Please set your cell phone to silent.Don’t use your phone or other electronic devices during play. Be quiet and still when others are hitting their shots.

3.  No Smoking:

No smoking on the course except on the tee box and in designated areas. Please smoke while seated in the cart and dispose of cigarettes/stub in the cart ashtray after smoking if the cart is equipped with an ashtray.

4.  Lunch Breaks:

Almost no Japanese courses offer the global standard of playing 18-holes consecutively. In Japan, lunch-breaks, lasting 30-45 minutes, are required between playing the front-9 and back-9 holes. And Club House restaurants offer a variety of dishes including some featuring local produce unique to the course, and others highlighting local-specialty dishes.

Please rinse off the soles of your shoes before entering the clubhouse for a break or meal. The restaurants and clubhouses are almost always carpeted. Please remove your hat before entering the dining room and hang it on the coat rack designated at the entrance. Please note your tee time and do not be late.

5.  Dress Code:

Players are also expected to wear appropriate attire during the game; typically a collared shirt with slacks or a skirt for ladies, and always golf shoes or sneakers. In summer time, most courses are OK with shorts, however some may require knee-length socks. Some high-end clubs will require men to wear a jacket inside the clubhouse.

Anyone wearing a t-shirt, jeans, shorts, sneakers or sandals will not be allowed to enter the Club.Turtle-neck or polo neck wear is not allowed. Shorts may only be worn in combination with long socks, which must completely cover the ankle-area.Please cover tattoos with clothing as much as possible. So, 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.

6.  Baths, Showers & Tattoos:

Most clubhouse facilities in Japan will have an extensive locker room featuring an onsen hot spring or bath, so players can soak their muscles and relax.

In Locker Rooms of Japanese golf courses, there is communal bathroom which consists of an area for changing, and a bathroom containing a shower area and a large bath for communal bathing. The Locker Room area is where a player changes into golf-wear before playing their round. 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 procced 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 still strictly apply this bar on entry.

Anyone with tattoos wishing to play golf should consult with Baigolf or directly with the course-in-question to confirm that it is acceptable for their tattoos to be fully-concealed by long-sleeved clothing or covered by plasters. In case a member at a famous course in Japan were to register a complaint about another golfer’s tattoos, not only that golfer, but the whole of his party or group can and may be asked to leave the course immediately. This is a particularly important point for groups to be aware of, as their numbers inevitably make them stand-out, and bring particularly close attention.

7.  Notes:

For general visitors, only tee shots from the standard golf tees are allowed. If you need to tee off from any other golf tees, please contact BaiGolf Customer Service. Please play at the speed specified by the course, especially if you are followed by other golfers.It is ideal to play golf within 2 hours 15 minutes for a half nine hole. 

9th hole lunch

In Japan(except for through play), it is a no-no to attempt to play all 18 holes consecutively.No matter how good your game, everyone must down tools and decamp for a lunch break between the front and back-9 holes.Sit down with your fellow players and enjoy a hearty meal at the clubhouse, featuring local-specialty dishes.

You will be given a tee off starting time for the 10th tee whilst you’re there.In addition, please change your clothes and use the restroom so that you can be on the tee 10 to 15 minutes before the start of the second half to avoid being late for the start of the first half.

Having lunch break is mandatory regardless of your tee time – if you wish, you can skip having lunch but not the break time – it cannot be removed because all tee times for all players have been set based on this.

Auto-Driving Remote-Controlled Carts & Caddies

Japanese golf carts are generally auto-driving remote-controlled vehicles seating either 4-players, or 5 people including a caddy. And, on most courses are Cart Path Only. Some courses slightly restrict the speed at which these carts move to add an extra dimension of safety, but visiting golfers should also be made fully aware that they are likely to be issued with warnings in case of slow play, or slow cart-progress. In Japan, one caddy usually serves 4 players. These caddies (mostly ladies) move quickly and precisely across the course to support their players. Please pro-actively try to communicate with your caddy to get the best of their knowledge and support !

No tipping

In Japan, there is NO Tipping culture so there is no need to tip. it is neither required, nor expected, even at Golf Courses that offer Caddy service (in case your reservation includes one).This includes caddies, locker room attendants, etc.

8.  Payment Methods:

Please cash in local currency (JPY) or international credit cards in advance.

By following these customs, you will show respect for the Japanese golf culture and have a more enjoyable experience on the course!

※Very few Japanese courses have adopted the American-style of players paying green-fees at the Pro-Shop, not using a locker, putting their own golf clubs directly onto their cart, and, when their official start time comes, driving their cart to the 1st tee.

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