Post.War Revival in Japanese Golf
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POST.WAR REVIVAL Golfers Number IN JAPANESE GOLF 300,000 • GOLFERS are too apt to think of the Thomsons come from. The Union of South United States and Britain as the sole Africa has produced Bobby Locke and the trustees of the game of golf,. that other promising young Gary Player. nations merely dabble in the game. But Now the spotlight is swinging right they get a pleasant shock when they take around to the Far East and focusing on the their clubs to the Continent and sample land of the Rising Sun. the several first class courses in the Paris Japanese professionals have occasionally area, Royal Antwerp or Le Zoute in Bel- visited the United States, many servicemen gium, Eindhoven in Holland or Villa have played in Japan, but apart from frag- D'Este, Italy. ments of information the average golfer is If business takes them out to Australia hardly aware that golf is popular in the they can play the dozen or more excel- Orient. lent courses on the sand belt outside Mel- Yet golf was introduced to Japan about bourne and realize where the Peter fifty years ago when British settlers in Many good courses are remembered for their water holes. The Kasumigaseki Country Club, Tokyo, where the Canada Cup will be held in October, is justly proud of its tenth hole. Here you see it viewed from the tee; the green is in the distance. 12 USGA JOURNAL AND TURF MANAGEMENT, JUNE, 1957 Yokohama and Kobe each laid out nine hole courses. It caught on and the first USGA PUBLICATIONS all-Japanese Club, the Tokyo Golf Club, was formed in 1913. OF GENERAL INTEREST In the 'twenties and 'thirties the game THE RULES OF GOLF, as approved by the gained in popularity to such an extent United States Golf Association and the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews, Scot. that it rivalled baseball as the premier land. Booklet, 25 cents (special rates for quan. sport. Prior to the war there were 62 tity orders, more than 500). courses throughout the country, but by No charge. the time that some had been given over USGA GOlF HANDICAP SYSTEM FOR MEN, containing recommendations or computing to agriculture and others to military needs, Basic and Current Handicaps and for rating only 18 survived the war. courses. Bookl'.!t, 25 cents. Poster, 10 cents. The intervening decade has been one of THE CONDUCT OF WOMEN'S GOLF, contain. tremendous golfing revival. Helped in ing suggestions for guidance in the conduct of women's golf in elubs and associations, in" several instances by the United States oc- eluding tournament procedure, handicapping cupational forces, Japan now boasts 59 and course rating. 25 cents. private clubs and 16 public courses for its HANDICAPPING THE UNHANDICAPPED, a upwards of 300,000 enthusiasts. reprint of a USGA Journal article explaining the Callaway System of automatic handicap. If golfers in this country feel that they ping for occasional players in a single tour- have a course shortage problem, their nament. No charge. worries are slight in comparison. Nearly TOURNAMENT FOR YOUR CLUB, a reprint every club in Japan has a membership of of a USGA Journal article detailing various types of competitions. No charge. over 1,000, and in some instances as many PROTECTION OF PERSONS AGAINST LIGHT- as 2,000. NING ON GOLF COURSES, a poster. No Golfers who cannot join a club are flock- charge. ing as guests of members, and most clubs MOTION PICTURES: have reluctantly had to bar visitors at "Play Them as They Lie," an official USGA film (16 mm. color, with sound, runs 16% week-ends. min. Rental $15.) Descriptive folder. No charge. New courses are constantly being de- "Inside Golf House," an official USGA signed, twelve are at present under con- film (16 mm. black and whit-e, with sound, struction, but that is chicken feed com- runs 27 min. Rental $15). Descriptive folder. No charge. pared with the estimated 5,000 new liThe Rules of Golf-Etiquette," an official golfers who are taking up the sport each USGA film (16 mm. color, with sound, runs month. Driving ranges have sprung up 17% min. Rental $15). Descriptive folder. No around all the big cities and professionals charge. These three films available in combination to ate teaching from early morning late at $25 for two or $35 for three. at night. List of films' on golf available from other Shun Normura, Vice-President of the sources. No charge. Japan Golf Association and President List of films on golf course maintenance of the Tokyo Golf Club, to whom we are available from other sources. No charge. HOLE-IN-ONE AWARDS. No charge. indebted for this information, foresees GAMBLING IN GOLF TOURNAMENTS, a reprint Japan as one of the great golfing nations of a USGA Journal article by Richard S. Tufts. of the future. It has a nucleus of first class No charge. courses, its scenic splendor can hold its MISTER CHAIRMAN, a reprint outlining the duties of the Chairman of the Green Com- own with courses throughout the world, tee. No charge. and its enthusiasm has probably never been TURF MANAGEMENT, by H. B. Musser (Mc- equalled. Graw-Hili Book Co., Inc.), the authoritative What matters more in the immediate book on green keeping. $7. USGA CHAMPIONSHIP RECORD BOOK. De- future is that as host to this year's Canada tailed results of all USGA competition since Cup in October it should be absorbed into their start in 1895. $2. the great fellowship of golfing nations USGA JOURNAL AND TURF MANAGEMENT, a which have done so much to foster good- 33-page magazine published seven time$ a will among the world's citizens. year. $2. a year. USGA JOURNAL AND TURF MANAGEMENT: JUNE, 1957 13.