How Does Golf in Japan Compare to Golf in the U.S.?

The face of the game is changing in the United States and Japan, the two countries leading the way in number of golfers.

Buoyed by the pandemic surge, the rise of golf entertainment venues and the emergence of golf streetwear brands, the post-pandemic golf wave continues to roll on, altering the landscape of the game in both places.

While COVID-19 has had a positive impact for golf in both countries, there are still key differences between the two when it comes to accessibility, pace of play, customs and other factors.

In this article, we’ll examine the similarities and differences between golf in the United States and ゴルフ (gorufu) in Japan.

Accessibility and Participation

There is no other country that offers as many opportunities to play golf than the United States. There were 15,963 golf courses across 13,963 golf facilities in the country at the end of 2023—surpassing the amount of Starbucks or McDonald’s locations in the country—according to the NGF.

Because of this unmatched accessibility, coupled with the increasing number of off-course golf options including driving ranges, golf-entertainment venues and simulators, an estimated one in seven Americans (41.1 million) played golf in 2022, up from 32 million in 2016.

On the other side of the world, golf in Japan has also been a story of recent highs and lows. Despite boasting the second-most courses (3,169) dropped from 12 million to 6.5 million due to economic slowdown, an aging golf population and the high cost of participation. An estimated 6.7 million people played golf in Japan in 2017.

But with surges in interest after Hideki Matsuyama became the first Japanese player to win the Masters in 2021, the COVID-delayed 2020 Tokyo Olympics and the launch of the ZOZO Championship in 2019, golf is again growing in popularity in The Land of Rising Sun thanks to younger players—just like Matsuyama hoped.

“Hopefully, I’ll be a pioneer and many other Japanese will follow,” Matsuyama said after his historic triumph. “I’m glad to be able to open the floodgates and hopefully many more will follow me. I hope it will affect golf in Japan in a good way. Not only those who are golfers already, but hopefully the youngsters who are playing golf or thinking about playing golf, I hope they will see this victory and think it’s cool and try to follow in my footsteps.”

According to the R&A’s 2023 Global Golf Participation Report, outside of the United States, the top five on-course adult golfer markets in 2023 were Japan (8.1 million), Canada (5.6 million), Republic of Korea (5.4 million), England (3.4 million) and Germany (2.1 million).

“It has changed a lot after the pandemic,” says Toru Kamatari, who created the first modern American-Asian distribution model centered around high-end, up-market golf equipment and apparel. “Many golf courses closed but we have more brand-new golfers and returning golfers. The average golfer’s age checking in at golf courses used to be 64 years old…

“We also have many Korean golfers visiting Japan to play because they don’t have enough golf courses.”

Golf is generally more expensive in Japan, although it has become more affordable in recent years. A budget course on a weekday might cost around $80 USD with that number going up dramatically on weekends. Transportation to courses (normally outside city center) often include Shinkansen trains (bullet trains) that will add to the cost.

The average cost of a round of golf in the U.S. is under $50, making it a lot less expensive than Japan.

Customs and Traditions

The American custom is for golfers to play a course with the intent of being efficient and effective in order to preserve pace with average times for twosomes between 3-3.5 hours and foursomes at 4-4.5 hours per 18 holes. 

To further promote golf’s accessibility and speed, the U.S. has seen a rise in participation at par-3s and short courses, golf entertainment venues and simulator golf—all of which give players a modified golf experience in a shorter time with less of a financial commitment than a traditional 18-hole round.

“You can play a round in an hour,” Five Iron Co-founder and CEO Jared Solomon previously told MyGolfSpy. “It certainly provides access and it just keeps golf top of mind for a lot of people in our cities that just carries over to becoming consumers of the industry. I think that’s an underrated aspect in how we’ve grown the sport overall.” 

Yet unlike in the United States, golf in Japan isn’t about rushing—it’s about appreciating, especially as the sport comes at a high price tag.

Involving more of a time commitment if making the trek from cities like Tokyo, a day on the golf course is just that, especially at private clubs where golf is complemented with post-round spa treatments and dinner.

One glaring discrepancy between the average round of golf in the U.S. and Japan comes at the turn. Rather than quickly pit-stopping to refill the cooler or grab a hot dog, golfers in Japan typically take an hour-long lunch break to rest and refuel for the remainder of their round while enjoying the scenery and company.

“In America, people try to play as fast as they can and get about their day,” says Malbon co-founder Stephen Malbon, “but in Japan, this is your day.”

Also noticeable on Japanese courses is a yellow flag or pole on the fairway approximately 230 yards from the tee box (the average driving distance for golfers there) to denote where a good tee shot would land and help prevent groups from hitting up into one another. 

There is also a forward tee rule for shots that go out of bounds or into water. After going OB, players move their next shot up to a set of designated forward tees rather than replaying the shot from their original tee box.

Another difference? Getting a hole-in-one in Japan will usually cost you a lot more than in the U.S.

Fashion and Style

As golf as a whole continues to get younger and more diverse, the accompanying fashion is undergoing a metamorphosis as well. Players are expressing themselves as much with their game as they are their headcovers, ball markers, grips and clothes.

Up-and-coming streetwear-inspired brands are taking the sport by storm as endemic legacy brands see the value in partnering with them for collaborations and collections to engage new audiences or golfers itching to break the mold.

“What we’re seeing now in today’s game is that people are more willing to bring their fashion sense from the street onto the course and it’s more welcomed than ever before,” adidas Golf President Jeff Lienhart previously told MGS.

Golf fashion in Japan is also undergoing a transformation spearheaded by its younger, social media-savvy players. More playful patterns and graphics in a tongue-in-cheek style that can be described as Kawaī (cute) are paving way for a more sophisticated and clean style led by brands like Beams, Double Eagle, Clubhaus and United Arrow.

Even U.S.-based brands like Malbon see the changing golf fashion and culture in Asia, particularly in South Korea and Japan. Malbon, which is available in 40 stores in Korea while also boasting a flagship store in Seoul, is looking to open its first brick-and-mortar retail store in Tokyo.

“Those brands are all taking notice of this new Covid wave of creative golfers,” Malbon says. “You’re kind of seeing the turn from tongue-in-cheek to sophisticated, clean and a little more in line with the overall fashion and vibe of Japan historically.”