Golf in Japan - User Survey 2007

The Golf-in-Japan.com team would like to know more about our readers and their interests. And we're offering a pair of Ecco's World Class top of the line leather & Gortex lined shoes to sweeten the deal.

This survey was aimed at golfers residing in Japan or those who have experienced golf in Japan on several occasions. The responses should also reflect the golfing experiences in Japan (exept in questions related to golf travel)

Among those who responded to the survey, we made a drawing for a pair of Ecco's World Class top of the line leather & Gortex shoes with a retail value of over 50,000 yen.
The winner was Geroge Johnson, pictured right.

Thank you to all who participated in the survey!

SURVEY RESULTS

Survey period and responses
The survey period was from July 7 to August 15, 2007 and we received responses from a very diverse demographic representing a good cross section of the international business community here in Japan.

1. Respondents Age?
The largest share (42%) of the respondents were in the 46 to 60 year bracket. See graph at right.
The average age was 43 years.

2. Respondents Gender?
93% of the respondents were male, 7% female.

3. How would you rate your annual household income?
The majority of the respondents rated the household income as medium or medium-high, total 86%. High income earners accounted for 9% while low and medium-low had 2% each.
See graph at right.

4. Your Residence?
64% reported Tokyo as their residence, 7% Kanagawa, Hokkaido, Aichi and Shizuoka 4 % each. Other prefectures represented in the survey were Saitama, Chiba, Gunma, Yamagata and Shiga.

5. Are you a member of a golf club in Japan?
32% said that they were member of a golf club. This is surprisingly high, but we have to assume that a large portion are so called priviledged members at e.g. Windsor Park G&C.C. and Aqualine G.C., and have not actually purchased a membership.

6. Number of rounds you play on average per month?
62% of the respondents play golf once or twice a month, only 2% plays more often than once a week.
See graph at right.
The average round played was 2.16.

7. Hours you spend at a driving range per month?
(driving range, putting, lessons, etc.)
The respondents were fairly lazy going to the practise range. 40% used two hours or less per month, 30% 3-5 hours. 14% went at least twice a week (if average time spent on the range is 2 hours).
See graph at right.
Average hours spent per month was

8. Golf Lessons

Do you currently take golf lessons here in Japan?
Only 16% are currently taking golf lessons.

Are you interested in taking golf lessons in English here in Japan?
57% of the respondents stated that they would be interested in taking golf lessons.

9. Amount you spent on golf products/equipment within the last year?
(clubs, shoes, apparel, balls, tees, lessons, etc.)
More that half (52%) of the repondents have spent mote than 50,000 yen on golf products and equipment duirng the last year. 5% got along on a shoestring budget, spending les than 10,000 yen.
See graph at right.
The average expenditure was 71,500 yen.

10. Average travel time spent to a course here in Japan?
A majority (62%) of the golfers spen 1hr to 1 hr. 30min. to get to the golf course. Only 2 % are prepared to use more than 2 hrs.
See graph at right.
Average: 1 hr 29 min

11. When selecting a course, what are the key influencers?
Scale: 5=most important, 0=no importance
Access was the most important (4.16) criteria when selecting a course, closely followed by Condition (4.02) and price (3.98). Least important was difficulty and scenery (2.73), followed by reputation.
See graph at right.
Other factors mentioned were: no lunch break, fast carts, lexibility of management, friendly staff & atmosphere, membership, crowds. allow 1 person play, looking for flat courses, hospitality, English speaking staff and pace of play.

12. When selecting a new course to play, what is the main way you find information about the course?

The singlemost important factor when selecting a course is word-of-mouth, which 68% of the respondents selected. Second was the Golf-in-Japan site (this site) with 59%. Third was TV (27%) followed by Internet/Reader reviews (20%). Only % contacted the course via phone to find out information.
See graph at right. (note: multiple choices)
Other sources mentioned included Rakuten golf, Niseko Golf, golf handbook on Hokkaido and pamphlets at the driving range.

13. When obtaining golf information online, what are the most important items to find?

Course reviews was the most important (mentioned by 57%), followed by Course Photos (55%), Course contact information (50%), Golf deals and Access/Reservations in English
Golf news and Product/equipment reviews were not considered important.
See graph at right (note: multiple choices).
Others mentioned included Players' comments, Availability vs. price, course guide, hole information and green fees.

14. Currently, what is your main source for golf news and information in Japan?
75% sees the Internet most important media for golf news and information. Magazines were second (9%) and television third (5%). Interestingly, no-one selected newspapers.
See graph at right.
Other responses included word-of-mouth and friends.

15. Average total amount spent on a golf day here in Japan?
The majority of players spend 10,000 - 20,000 yen on a golf day, both the 10,000 - 15,000 as well as the 15,001 - 20,000 yen ranges got 29% of the responses. 20% manage with less than 10,000 yen. Noteable that there some big spenders, 4% using more than 40,000 yen on a golf day.
See graph at right.

16. Preferred seasons for golf travel? (outside Japan)
Although the differences were small, there was a small preference (47% ) for taking a golf vacation in the winter season. Summer and fall both got 41%, while spring was the least popular with 36%.
See graph at right (note: multiple choices).

17. When taking a golf vacation, with whom do you go?
Golf buddies are the most popular companies when going on a golf vacation, 66% selected this option. Second most preferred partners where colleagues, 18% and third family and family friends 13%. Other partners (11%) included students and "by myself".
See graph at right (note: multiple choices).

18. Favorite golf destinations? (where you have always wanted to go)
Mainland USA (California, Florida, etc.) and Hawaii where the two most popular destinations. See below graph where the first choice was given 3 points, second choice two points and thris choice one point. Listed below are all those destinations which got more than one mentioning.

19. What would you like to see more of on Golf-in-Japan.com?

Course reviews
Overseas courses info. Hot deals for Japan golf
Offers for courses close to Japan. A "GIJ" monthly medal at various courses.
It would be great to have "booking on line". Also a space where you can make recommendations like value for money (= low green fees) courses. Now you can rate each course, but I'd like to have a summary page.
Golf specials, networking/golf events
News or comments on Golf courses
Special offers from golf clubs for subscribers to Golf-in-Japan.com
More products / equipment review.Much more advices for golf courses.More information on deals golf + plane within Japan.
Livivng in Japan it is always good to know when International Organizations are holding competitions.Meaning Amcham, Weekender Magazine, EEC etc.These are great opportunities to "network". Regular information, condensed in to one section of your E - News would be really a plus.
More articles
Its very accomodating but more shuttles from stations would be great!
Feature articles with pros, equipment or daily fee deals
Golf articles such as in golf magazines and equipment news and reviews.
A better forum. Short course information
Special discount golf play
Golf deals, discounts. Group programs
Tournament information around the country, eg, national and regional amateur dates and results and Japan tour info.
Discounts to courses, more reviews of the courses, ie lay-outs, crowds, best times to go.
I would love to see a tool to help me find the most accessible golf courses by price, distance, and travel method (i.e. train or car). After looking at your site today, I think that you have done a great job. Thanks for so much info in English. The only thing i would like is course guide information in English. IE HOLE INFORMATION. With saying that i also understand that it would be impossible to do it for every course.But every thing else is fantastic, thanks again
I think it woul be nice to set up with a golf course maybe once or twice a months a T-Time (weekend) where singles can join. Like there is a t-time at a specific course and the one who wants can book himself into that one. I found out it is difficult in Japan to join a different flight at Japanese Golf course when you are a single player. I went to Okinawa last year in Oshugatsu and it was impossible to join a flight. Only 2 courses it was then possible to play by myself for a little higher greenfee.Otherwise your website is really nice. I took the recomendation and booked my summer vacation in Niseko. www.nisekogolf.com. 1 Week in August, 6 days golf...
More contributars and destination features The forum is a great idea buts lacks participation. I gave up on it several years ago. Give it some life!
I am a Japanese who is bilingual and interested in the party or golf mates who are international minded to enjoy being golf caltural and language bilingual. Also social networking. I am still at beginner/intermediate level (120+) but would like to have more rounds and I cannot go by myself only... If there's EJ mixed social networking golf rounds, it would be very fun!
Want to see more information on the layout of the courses such as if they are flat or not.
A lot of courses in Japan have elevated tees and greens its just not fun. Would like to avoid these types of layouts.
More information on golf courses that have very easy access e.g. free shuttle bus to and from the train station, I don't have a car so I travel by train to play golf all the time, Forum pages for golfers to give advice/tips etc.
If the map window would not automatically pop up each time you open a prefecture's courses.
I think you are providing a great service! Great job and my hat's off to you!