Originally published on metropolis.co.jp on June 2010
Golf can be deceptive. A friend of my wife’s thought we were rich because her husband, a professional golfer, always saw me at the local course. Which is ironic, in that I’m probably the poorest golfer in Japan—but it also says a lot about people’s perceptions of the sport here, years after the Bubble burst.
The truth is that I can play for as little as ¥5,800 (often including lunch) at my local course, Ichinomiya Country Club. (They even have a point card.) My wife’s friend also made the mistake of assuming that if it’s a foreigner playing golf, he must have money, and is probably working for a multinational corporation in Tokyo. In fact, most of my playing partners are English teachers—and they’re all richer than I am.
That’s where Grant Prentice’s Gaijin Golfers entered the picture. Prentice knew there were ordinary folk who, like him, just wanted to get out and play. He also knew the frustrations they had in arranging games, so he created the Gaijin Golfers group, as outlined in Metropolis last summer. Now, the Scotsman is destroying one of the misperceptions of his own clan—namely, that it was for foreigners only.
“In order to be more welcoming to Japanese golfers, I decided I needed to rebrand the group,” he tells Metropolis. “Gaijin Golfers worked very well at attracting the primary target for this group, but for many Japanese, it seemed exclusive. That was never the intention, so I’ve switched to Golfjin. It’s short, easy to remember, and not only does it encapsulate exactly what we all are, it also defines us in the only way that really matters: we are all ‘golf people.’”
Prentice’s basic aim still holds true: to help expats and English-speaking Japanese find golfing partners and arrange outings.
“Few foreigners are actual members of a course in Japan, so a key goal of mine is to provide all of the things they’re missing out on,” he explains. “For example, regular golf events and outings, driving-range sessions, lessons, golf schools, course and equipment information, handicap and score tracking, social events and so on. In a sense, what I’m trying to create is a virtual golf club.”
One of the elements missing from real-life Japanese clubs is the “bonhomie of the bar.” Golf clubs in the West are social centers for players and local communities: golfers drink at the bar, families eat in the restaurants, and many clubs are open to non-golfers. He may not have any physical premises of his own, but Prentice thinks he’s achieved something similar with Golfjin.
“One of our biggest successes has to be the camaraderie that’s developed amongst the core members,” he says. “Golfjin’s proving to be an excellent network for making golf buddies, and the vast majority of members are very welcoming and helpful to any new people that join—arranging car pools, Japanese speakers setting up tee times, experienced golfers helping novices, and so on. We’re a friendly bunch and no one need be hesitant to join an event, as we do what we can to make people feel welcome.”
As proof of that, over the past year the group has grown from 300 members to more than 800, with 40 nationalities represented. A Ladies League has been formed, and there are even occasional outings for kids. The group has also raised funds for Living Dreams, a charity for Japanese orphans.
Of course, one of the big attractions is to play in a competition, and there are several throughout the year, some of which take place over two days. Coming up next is the Zama Shootout on July 9 and 10, followed by the Ryder Cup-style Samurai Cup in September.
For more information, see www.golfjin.com.
