While there are nearly 2500 golf courses in Japan, many are high end private club establishments with prices per round that are out of reach from the recreational golfer like you and I. Even the course I live on Kiminomori Golf Community is pricey at over 20,000yen, regular price per round (about 215USD). As a resident I only have to pay half price but that still equates to over 100USD. (Keep in mind though that there are always specials here and at other courses). Many of the residents here are of course golfers and this includes my neighbors to the left, directly in front, front left and behind me. In talking to them, even living on a golf course, we are all always looking for good value courses to play.
Japanese golf courses have a reputation for being very lush and well kept. There is a reason they cost so much. Service and prestige is everything. Kiminomori is a very nice course that is meticulously kept. So last week, my neighbor Taka asked me if I would like to try a city public course. Chiba Central Golf Club, a 27 hole course in Ichihara was having a weekday special of 6,800yen including power cart and lunch (around $71USD) so I thought it would be cool to check out the course in comparison to some of the more expensive clubs around my area. Ichihara is a hot bed of golf courses, as is Chiba really where we have access to 157 courses. Chiba Central is located right amongst 6 other golf courses all within 10-15 minutes of each other (see google map below).
Chiba Central had a reasonable sized clubhouse. When we first arrived you could tell it was a public course as the main enterence had a sign that said “Self Serve” in other words we had to unload our golf bags from the car by ourselves. After checking in and confirming our tee off time, we were given locker keys and safety deposit boxes which were included in the price. A marshall greeted us in the back and gave us our cart number and explained to us the course route and told us it wasn’t too busy today (we were teeing off at 7:34 am on a weekeday). Chiba Central has an A, B and C course, each 9 holes. You play a combination of two of the courses to make 18. Having the A B C courses allow Chiba Central to stagger the start times across three different courses. We loaded our bags onto our 4 man cart and hit the practice green for putting time. Everything around the start area was very spacious and well organized.
I was excited to see the course as from the start area it looked very good. Far superior to any public course you can find in Canada. We started on the B course and I was very happy to see the course very well groomed and fairways lush and soft just like more expensive private clubs. The greens were relatively fast, a sign of good maintenance. The overall course itself was rather interesting and fun to play. While not overly difficult, it had a mix of wide and narrow fairways, some flat holes and up and down holes, shallow and very deep bunkers as well as thick deep forests and water hazards. The B Course in was easier for me and I was able to hit fairways and stay out of bunkers. (Course pics taken by Taka as mine is on the fritz)
After 9 holes on the B Course a course attendent parked our cart for us and directed us to the clubhouse for lunch. We had a choice of Zaru Soba, Zaru Udon or Curry Rice. I had the Soba and Taka had the Udon. The meals were average but pretty much what I expected at this price. We headed out on the C course after lunch (it was more like a late breakfast). The C course was more difficult and I found myself in bunkers on 3 holes. The bunkers were deep, some chest high but the sand very soft.
I’m glad to say every one fills their divots and fixes their ball marks. The course was beautiful (carts are not allowed off the path in Japan) and it was unusually cool for August in Japan which made it great. Overall I was very impressed with what a public course like this offered and will definitely go back again. The staff was very helpful though no English speaking support. All the course employees had a big smile on their face and look glad to be there. The pace was very good and very smooth. We were never held up on any holes even though we were a twosome with a foursome in front of us. One note, the par 72 Chiba Central is not championship length, overall length is around 6400 yards depending on which combination of courses you play. Chiba Central gives good value for its price with a power cart and lunch and a day of fun golf. I’d say it was worth my yen. You can check out Chiba Central here.
Side notes: Best club in the bag today… PRGR EGG Spoon PX-03. Club was a beast as I reviewed earlier in the blog. Worst club was the putter though it was not the itsy bitsy’s fault… more my lack of putting practice. Ball in play… Taylormade XR with LDP, very good feel.
