Golf bars count their charges differently from venue to venue. The same two hours means something different depending on whether the price is per booth or per person.
Comparing the headline prices alone tells you nothing, so break them into their parts. Here is how to read golf bar pricing when choosing in Kyoto.
The price breaks into five parts
A golf bar bill divides into the booth charge, the per-person charge, the rentals, the drinks and the service charge. How much of that the headline price covers differs by venue.
Where it says ¥12,000 for two hours, the total changes greatly depending on whether that is for one booth or for one person. Settle this point first.
- The booth charge (per room, or per person)
- The rentals (free, or charged separately)
- The drinks (ordered as you go, or free-flow)
- The service charge (included in the headline price or not)
Per booth or per person: which is cheaper depends on your numbers
A per-booth charge means the more of you there are, the less each pays. It works out expensive for a small party and cheap for a large one.
A per-person set plan grows in proportion to the numbers. It is easy to read with a small party, and the total swells with a large one. For two or three, take the booth; for five or more, it is worth working out which comes cheaper.
The rentals swing it by thousands of yen
Where clubs, gloves and shoes are charged separately, that adds several hundred to a thousand-odd yen per person. For a party of four, that alone is a difference of a few thousand.
At a venue that lends them free of charge, arriving empty-handed costs nothing extra. Stopping in on the way home from work or mid-sightseeing, this is the real difference in price.
Check how tax and the service charge are handled
Where the headline price excludes tax and service charge, what you actually pay can be about twenty per cent higher. Where the total shown includes both, you pay what you see.
When comparing, always bring everything to a total first. A venue that looks cheap can turn out expensive at the till.
- Whether tax and service are included or separate
- Whether there is a late-night rate
- The rate for extending
When a free-flow plan suits, and when it does not
A free-flow plan makes the bill easy to read and easy to split. It suits an after-party or a year-end party, where the numbers are large.
In a group where few people drink much, though, ordering as you go can come out cheaper. Choose with your party's drinking in mind and nothing is wasted.
The prices at Gion Country Club
At Gion Country Club, booths A and B are ¥12,000 for two hours, and the fully private VIP room with karaoke is ¥18,000 for two hours (both per booth). The prices shown include tax and a 20% service charge.
Clubs, gloves and shoes are lent free of charge, with no extra cost. Special plans with free-flow drinks start at ¥6,800 per person, and use of the bar alone carries a counter charge of ¥1,000 per person.
Frequently asked questions
What do golf bars in Kyoto usually cost?
It differs by venue, but reckon on the ten-thousand-yen range for a two-hour booth. Numbers, rentals and how drinks are handled change the total.
Do the prices shown include tax and service charge?
It varies by venue. At Gion Country Club, the prices shown include tax and a 20% service charge.
Are club rentals charged separately?
At Gion Country Club, clubs, gloves and shoes are lent free of charge.
