Three strikes for the Japanese golf industry

You are all well aware of the catastrophes that hit Japan on March 11, 2011. Our hearts go out to all those who lost family members and loved ones. The 9.0 earthquake and tsunami that followed struck the shores of Iwate, Miyagi and Fukushima Prefectures, sealing the fate of not only some 30,000 unsuspecting people, but also affecting the livelihood of the whole country, including that of the entire Japanese golf industry.

The golf industry here in Japan is, and always has been, about the people. Most working in it are not here for the money, but for the love of the game and the possibility of getting in a few holes after work. Nowhere in the world can you find the level of dedication to their jobs that they show every day in Japan. The problem is, looking forward, with the gloom of a three-punch disaster: earthquake and tsunami followed by a nuclear incident, the hopes of international golf tourism taking hold here are gone for the short to mid-term, at best. Regardless of the courses’ proximity to the disaster-struck areas, nuclear radiation just isn’t something any country’s image can bounce back from easily. Without swift closure to the nuclear issue, people will just choose to travel and golf elsewhere. In an industry where perception equals reality, a discerned pre-emptive effort from the Japanese tourism authorities is needed. The sensationalist coverage by many in the world media has spun this disaster into a major PR issue for Japan.

The sad truth is that the ripple effect in the golf industry has caused a full stop, affecting the entire country’s courses, regardless of geographical location to, or from, the three affected prefectures. So a single mother who caddies part-time in Kyoto at a course that has seen zero effect from the radiation, earthquakes or tsunami, can’t pay her bills for the next six months as customers just aren’t showing up. The affected Iwate, Miyagi and Fukushima Prefectures have a total of 126 courses between them, making up approximately 5 percent of the courses in Japan. Although important, they are just a small part of the larger picture.

To read Galloway’s full column, click here.