Skip to navigation Skip to main content

Editor's Pick

Titleist Introduces Its Next Generation Of Golf Balls Three New Models Released to the Japan Market

Titleist, a company renowned for dominating the golf ball market with both Pro V1 and Pro V1X models, has announced the simultaneous release of three new golf balls into the Japan market: The new AVX, Tour Soft, and TrueFeel model balls.

Aiming to cover a wider spectrum of golfers, the new lineup has something for everybody in terms of feel, performance, and price point, bringing the total to seven different ball offerings.

Let’s take a look at each ball’s information:

Travel

JNTO Launches New Inbound Golf Site

The Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO) has launched a fantastic new comprehensive golf guide for tourists. This site is the official guide of the Japanese government and is a tremendous guide for golfers coming to Japan.

You can discover some great courses, routes, and activity planners and it ties in with all the other amazing experiences in Japan- which are also part of the larger site.

Please check it out here: https://www.japan.travel/en/sports/golf/

AIR Golf Media was a proud collaborator in helping to create some of the golf guides and course listings, check out the 'Golfing Japan's Golfing Golden Route' here:

https://www.japan.travel/en/sports/golf/golfing-japans-golden-route/

What's it like to golf in Japan? FAQs when it comes to Asia's best kept golfing secret

Golf in Japan is as unique as the country itself. Across the more than 6,852 islands - including the four main islands of Honshu, Hokkaido, Shikoku and Kyushu - there are no less than 2,349 golf courses, varying from revered top-100 courses to riverside pitch and putts. The below information is aimed at newcomers to Japan and attempts to cover the basic questions on teeing it up in Asia's best-kept golfing secret!

Image: © shibuya246.com

Courses

Setouchi Golf Resort Takehara, Hiroshima Prefecture

Perched above the picturesque Seto Inland Sea, Setouchi Golf Club offers one of the best golf resort experiences in Japan. It has the 3 most important ingredients for any golfing trip; 1. The Setting: The sweeping vistas of the turquoise sea with beautiful wooded islands, and hemmed by the surrounding mountains are on par with any view in Japan. 2. A player's course: This is a golfing gem- challenging holes, superbly routed that demand your attention and are as beautiful as the backdrop- but more on that later... And no. 3. The Hospitality: This is one point where Setouchi soars above the rest; it is full of local, authentic charm, amazing cuisine, and friendly, good-natured people -are what defines this place.

Kasumigaseki Country Club Kawagoe, Saitama

Not much is known about Kasumigaseki Country Club outside of its domestic fanbase, but an upcoming appearance in the world’s greatest sporting contest is about to change all of that. Kasumigaseki CC beat other prestigious Japanese golf courses, including Yokohama Country Club and Wakasu Golf Links, to lay claim to Japan’s second Summer Olympics hosting gig – and its first Olympic golf competition.

Following last year’s completion of the redesign from legendary American golf course architect Tom Fazio, the course is now ready to welcome the best golfers on the planet as the countdown to July 29 begins. I was able to pay the course a visit in early May and get a preview of its impressive new layout, as well as learn more of its fascinating history.

News

10 THINGS YOU (PROBABLY) DID NOT KNOW ABOUT JACK NICKLAUS

The name Jack Nicklaus needs a very little introduction in the world of golf. He holds the most major victories in history with 18 titles and has won 73 times on the PGA TOUR. The 84-year-old is also known as the Golden Bear and has carved his legacy by building and designing numerous golf courses around the world.

He also supports philanthropic and charitable efforts in the U.S., including Play Yellow which encourages fans to wear yellow on Sunday to celebrate his longtime connection with the colour and a Children's Miracle Network Hospitals campaign with the goal to raise funds to help the 10 million kids treated at local children's hospitals each year.

While his name is synonymous with the game, below are 10 things that you probably didn't know about Nicklaus as he...

Bob MacIntyre Wins Maiden PGA Tour Victory at The RBC Heritage Open

MacIntyre, 27, secured an emotional first PGA TOUR win with his father, Dougie by his side as a stand-in caddie. He held off Griffin and Frenchman Victor Perez who finished solo third who also fired a 64. “It was incredible,” said MacIntyre, who was part of the victorious European Ryder Cup team last year.

This triumph, achieved in his 45th start, comes at the age of 27 years, 9 months, and 30 days. MacIntyre's impressive performance makes him the fifth player this season to convert a four-stroke 54-hole lead into a win, joining the ranks of Jake Knapp (Mexico Open at Vidanta), Akshay Bhatia (Valero Texas Open), Chris Gotterup (Myrtle Beach Classic), and Davis Riley (Charles Schwab Challenge).

MacIntyre earned 500 FedExCup points, propelling him to No. 32 in the...

Equipment

New Titleist GT Drivers debut At The Memorial Unveiling of the GT2, GT3 and GT4 drivers

The introduction of the new Titleist GT2, GT3 and GT4 drivers this week at Muirfield Village signals the start to the tour seeding and validation process that will continue over the coming weeks and months across the worldwide professional tours. The new Titleist GT fairway metals will also be making their debut this week in Ohio.

Collaborating with the game’s best players throughout the R&D process, and then earning their final validation, is foundational to the development of all high-performance Titleist golf equipment.

PGA Tour player Cameron Young said: “The whole [Titleist Golf Club R&D] team from top to bottom is just obsessed with making things as good as they can and they have such a deep...

Titleist Introduces Its Next Generation Of Golf Balls Three New Models Released to the Japan Market

Titleist, a company renowned for dominating the golf ball market with both Pro V1 and Pro V1X models, has announced the simultaneous release of three new golf balls into the Japan market: The new AVX, Tour Soft, and TrueFeel model balls.

Aiming to cover a wider spectrum of golfers, the new lineup has something for everybody in terms of feel, performance, and price point, bringing the total to seven different ball offerings.

Let’s take a look at each ball’s information:

Instruction

Threading Shots Through Gaps In The Trees Stroke Savers

I have played golf for more than 40 years. Most days on the course I find myself shaking my head at the dreadful decisions people make, especially after hitting their tee shot into the trees. The sound of the ball pinging around amongst Japanese cedars happens far to often and even has begun to creep into my dreams. You cannot imagine my frustration as I watch hard-working students not improve their scores because they try to weave their ball through a gap in the trees that even Phil Mickelson wouldn't attempt. Inevitably they end up with scorecard wrecking 9 and I realise their recent lobotomy was a complete success.

Golf courses in Japan are mostly parkland-style courses whose fairways are heavily tree-lined. It is quite a rare occurrence to play links golf here. Even the...

How to prepare mentally for Matchplay 4 keys to remember

Golf is a sport that requires both physical and mental preparation in order to perform at your best. While many golfers focus on the physical aspects of the game, such as swing mechanics and course management, it is equally important to focus on the mental aspects of matchplay. Get yourself ready for that monthly medal and learn how to mentally prepare for matchplay in order to give yourself the best chance of success.

First and foremost, it is important to understand that matchplay is different from strokeplay. In stroke play, the goal is to shoot the lowest score possible over the course of a round. In matchplay, the goal is to beat your opponent. This shift in mindset can be difficult for some golfers to adjust to, but it is essential to understand that matchplay is a...

Lifestyle

Italian Fine Jewelry Brand "FOPE" Opens First Flagship Store in Tokyo's Ginza Distric

Italian fine jewelry brand "FOPE" has opened its first flagship store in Japan, "FOPE GINZA," marking a significant milestone for the brand. Nestled amidst the opulence of Ginza, where luxury brands reign supreme, FOPE GINZA will captivate discerning shoppers with its understated elegance, becoming the brand's third flagship store in the world, following locations in Piazza San Marco in Venice and Old Bond Street in London.

Amidst the towering buildings that define the vibrant cityscape of Ginza, FOPE GINZA stands out with its new elegant two-story white building, housing FOPE's finest creations and representing its inaugural flagship presence in Japan.

BMW I7

The electric car market has been rapidly expanding in recent years, and the BMW i7 is one of the latest additions to this growing market. As the world continues to shift towards more sustainable transportation options, electric cars are becoming increasingly popular. And with charging stations becoming more widespread, electric cars are becoming more practical for everyday use.

BMW, along with other car makers, is investing in increasing the availability of charging stations. BMW has partnered with ChargeNow, a network of public charging stations that offers BMW i owners access to over 65,000 charging points in 30 countries. The company is also investing in the development of high-speed charging stations that can provide a full charge in just a few minutes. This is essential...

More on Air

What happens if your ball strikes another players ball? Golfing Rules, Seriously!

On the course this past weekend, I putt from just off the green and my ball struck my playing partners ball, knocking it closer to the hole.

After a quick giggle, we began to discuss the ruling, 'I'll play from there and its a one-shot penalty for you' my friend said. 'I was off the green' I said, 'Doesn't matter' he said. Right, I said. 'Hang on, and I'll consult the rule book'.

Luckily, I had The R&A's Rules of Golf on my phone (Well worth a download and it's FREE)

Without quoting the book verbatim, there are basically three scenarios which you should be mindful of:

On the Fairway (updated June 14th, 2023) If your ball strikes a fellow player's ball on the fairway by accident, The 9.6 rule comes into affect, meaning If my ball...

What happens if I ground my club in a bunker? The new rules of golf explained

In 2020, the US Golf Association (USGA) and the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews (R&A) made several changes to the rules of golf.

One major change was to the "drop procedure" when a ball is lost or out of bounds. Players are now allowed to drop the ball from shoulder height, rather than knee height, making the process more consistent and less prone to mistakes. Another change was to the rule regarding penalty strokes. Players will no longer be penalized for accidentally moving a ball on the green, such as when marking or lifting it.

Additionally, players are now allowed to repair almost any damage to the course, such as spike marks on the green. The changes also include simplifying the rules for bunkers, allowing players to touch or move loose impediments...