Deciding to take up golf, plenty of people hesitate over whether to sign up for lessons first. A monthly fee starts, and you do not yet know whether you will keep it up.
There is no need to commit straight away. Here is the order to work in: hit a few balls indoors, then decide.
Before lessons, find out whether you can swing
Some lessons assume you can already swing a club to some degree. From a standing start, the first few can pass without your knowing what you are doing.
Hit a few balls on an indoor simulator and you get a feel for the length and weight of a club. Going into lessons after that, what the instructor says makes sense.
Borrow the equipment before you buy
At a venue that lends clubs, gloves and shoes free of charge, you can start with no outlay. Which length and weight suit you is not something you learn without swinging a few times.
Thinking about buying is soon enough once you know you can go once or twice a month. A full set from the start costs dearly if it turns out not to suit you.
- Choose a venue that lends clubs, gloves and shoes
- Check in advance that left-handed play is catered for
- Buy once you can see yourself continuing
Know the difference between practice and lessons
A practice venue built on swing measurement, a school with an instructor, a golf bar with food and drink. Even indoors, the purpose and the pricing differ.
To rebuild your form properly, a school; to get a feel for it, a venue hired by the hour is enough. Using each at the right stage wastes nothing.
Who you go with decides whether you keep it up
Going first with an experienced player can mean corrections to your form and a tiring evening. Among fellow beginners, not getting it right is itself part of the fun.
To try it alone, choose a venue where the bays are partitioned and no one is watching. You can repeat it at your own pace.
- A first visit is easier alone or among beginners
- Whether the bays are partitioned
- Whether staff explain the controls
Know roughly what it costs
Indoor golf is charged by time. There is hire by the booth, and plans per person, where the more of you there are the less each pays.
About two hours is a good length for a first visit. Whether the rentals are free changes what you actually pay by a few thousand yen.
Indoor golf in Gion you can try in the evening
Gion Country Club is an indoor golf and bar lounge three minutes on foot from Gion-Shijo Station, open from 5pm until 5am. Clubs, gloves and shoes are lent free of charge.
We open at 5pm and take single guests. Left-handed play is catered for, so you can try it empty-handed on the way home from work.
Frequently asked questions
Can I enjoy indoor golf if I have never played?
Our staff will explain how it works. It is set up so that it plays as a game even when the ball does not go far.
How many times should I try before taking lessons?
There is no set number, but swinging until you have a feel for the length and weight of a club makes the decision easier.
Can I start without buying equipment?
Clubs, gloves and shoes are lent free of charge. You can come empty-handed.
