Once a first round is booked, what worries people is less the swing than not knowing how the day actually runs. A driving range cannot show you that.
On an indoor simulator you can play a hole through from start to finish. Here is what you can prepare indoors before your first round.
First, play eighteen holes through once
A driving range has you hitting from the same spot. On a course the situation changes, tee shot, second, approach, putt, and you change clubs with it.
Play a round on a simulator and that order becomes physical. You see how many shots a hole takes, and where the time goes.
The rules you need are few
For a first round you need the order of play, roughly how long to spend looking for a ball, and keeping distance from the group ahead. The finer rules your companions will tell you.
What matters is being able to ask. Saying up front that it is your first time moves the day along faster than puzzling it out in silence.
- The order of play and the pace
- How long to spend looking for a ball
- Distance from the group ahead
Know your club lengths and distances
Knowing roughly how far you hit each club takes a lot of hesitation out of the day. Indoors, numbers appear for every shot, so the pattern emerges quickly.
The aim is a range, not precision. Even "this club goes about a hundred metres" changes how you decide on a course.
Check what to bring and wear in advance
Golf courses have stricter dress codes than driving ranges. A collared shirt, golf shoes and a change of clothes may all be needed.
If you have no clubs, ask when booking whether they can be hired and how many. Borrowing a set indoors first also tells you which lengths suit you.
- The course dress code
- Whether clubs can be hired
- A change of clothes and shoes
Tell your companions it is your first time
Finding out on the day that you cannot hit makes the pacing hard to manage. Say so when you are invited and they can arrange the groups around it.
If you are nervous, hitting a few indoors together is worth doing. Knowing what each of you can do makes the day's pace easier to share.
Playing a round through in Gion before your first
Gion Country Club is an indoor golf and bar lounge three minutes on foot from Gion-Shijo Station, open from 5pm until 5am. You can play a full round on courses from around the world.
Clubs, gloves and shoes are lent free of charge. We take single guests, so you can come after work just to walk through the order of play.
Frequently asked questions
How much should I practise before a first round?
There is no set amount, but playing one round through takes a lot of the hesitation out of the day.
Will practising indoors mean I can play a course?
Slopes and wind are not reproduced. It suits getting the order of play and your club distances.
Can I prepare without owning clubs?
Clubs, gloves and shoes are lent free of charge. You can come empty-handed.
