Invited through work, a friend has taken it up, or simply curious. The reasons for starting golf vary, but the first step that trips people is where to try it.
There is no need to go straight out onto a course, or to buy clubs. Here is how to start gently, beginning with indoor golf you can try in the evening in Kyoto.
Not a course or a driving range: indoors is the easiest way in
We often hear that a golf course is daunting for its bookings and its etiquette, and that a driving range has too many experienced players and you feel watched. Indoor simulation golf is divided into separate booths, so you can try it without anyone's eyes on you.
You play a round on a course on screen, so it works as a game even when the ball does not go far. Enjoying the time you cannot hit it cleanly, too, is the advantage for a beginner.
The equipment can be borrowed. Buy once you have decided to continue
At a venue that lends clubs, gloves and shoes free of charge, you can start with no outlay at all. Which club length and weight suit you is not something you learn until you have swung a few times.
Thinking about buying is soon enough once you know you can keep it up once or twice a month. Assembling a full set from the start makes it expensive 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
Everyday clothes are fine as long as you can move
Indoor simulation golf has no dress code like a course. You can play in what you wore to work, or in a skirt, though clothing that lets your arms and hips turn makes swinging easier.
Most venues lend shoes, so arriving in heels is no problem. Long hair is best tied back, so it does not get in the way of your view during the swing.
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.
Going as a group of friends, choose a venue where someone who is not playing can still enjoy the evening, and it becomes far easier to gather people. With a bar or karaoke alongside, a difference in interest does not matter.
- A first visit is easier among beginners
- Whether there is a place for those not playing
- Whether it is the kind of place you can take photographs
Know roughly what it costs
Indoor golf is charged by time. There is hire by the booth, and set plans per person, where the more of you there are the less each pays.
A plan with free-flow drinks or drinks included lets you enjoy the evening without watching every extra order. About two hours is a good length for a first visit: neither too long nor too short.
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 cater for left-handed play, and there is a women-only plan for a night out with friends. With the fully private VIP room and its karaoke, you can also come with someone who is not playing.
Frequently asked questions
Can I enjoy indoor golf if I have never played?
You can. 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.
Are there clubs and shoes for women?
Clubs, gloves and shoes are lent free of charge. Let us know your sizes when you book.
Can left-handed players use it?
Gion Country Club has booths set up for left-handed play. Please tell us when you book.
