| Operator information | YARD/Golfplan Japan |
|---|---|
| Principal | Yuji Azuma |
| TEL | 090-4847-1336 |
| info@yard-golfplan-com | |
| Address | 〒181-0001 Park Inokashira202. 5-16-5, Mitaka city Tokyo Japan 181-0001 |
| Business content | Consulting golf course design and management |
The first golf course experience in my life was viewing the Kobe Golf Club which is the first golf course in Japan from the summit of Mt. Rokko when I was 4 or 5 years old. When I was in junior high school, one of my friend got a set of golf clubs and he asked friends to go play a short course. That was my first time to play real golf. Soon, I saved up some pocket money, bought rusty clubs at second hand shop under the rail way in Kobe.
Hitting plastic balls on a vacant lot or a school ground with some friends, and went to a municipal course during summer vacation and spring vacation. It was my biggening era of golf. It may be the first course design that decided the position of the green and tee on the vacant ground.
Soon I started watching Masters and overseas golf programs on TV, but I felt uncomfortable about the difference between courses on TV and the ones in Japan.
When I listen to Jack Nicklaus’ thoughts on the course design that creates the shot value, I was impressed by the design philosophy and interested in course design itself.
Immediately after the bubble economy in Japan, I got an opportunity to take charge of golf course design work at IMG Tokyo (International Management Group Tokyo, now IMG Japan).
We handled not only independent golf course design but also residential or resort accommodation complex development in Asian countries including Japan. I usually worked with the architect in the US headquarters, coordinating practical works by picking up intentions of our client professional golfers.
Until then, I had knowledge about course design at the trivia level, but it was worth for me reading English books and learning the process of authentic course design with the work experience.
It was also an asset to hear the ideas and philosophies from the client superstars such as Gary Player, Greg Norman, and Isao Aoki.
After retiring from IMG, I decided to participate in the international conference complex facility development project in Hainan Island, China. However it was difficult for me to achieve the course design goal with unexperienced local staff, it was fun and I was enthusiastically instructing works and educating them. And then with their honest work, we got a good result of work.
The course became the first golf course at the Boao Forum venue, which is held annually by inviting Asian business people, and also the venue for the Asian professional golf tour.
After that, I was looking for the next project, it was rare to have those kind of opportunities especially for Japanese people in the region. Further more, Japan-related businesses have almost ended due to the bursting of the bubble economy. Reluctantly, I could not find out any other choice leaving golf course design business.
Meeting with Mr. Nick Price
Design meeting with Mr. Isao Aoki
Site visit with Mr. Isao Aoki
Meeting with Mr. Gary Player
I started working for a company in Japan again and a few years after I got an opportunity to start a new business. It was a challenge to an inexperienced field, however, I could make it grow as one of the major business for the company with careful communication with the customers to know our business plan and understand mutual benefit on business. I learned essence and interests on business with the experience.
In the past, I was simply thinking about designing a good course from the player’s perspective, but I got recognized the business perspective leads to sustainability and is important for customers and architects. It was a valuable and necessary experience.
Time has passed, most of the Japanese courses have been open for more than 20 years, and it is time to think about management such as the condition of turfgrass, tree management, irrigation equipment, and bunker renewal.
A lot of matters are to be considered such as the position of the tees and bunkers, whether they are working as the original design intentional features or not.
In addition, with more than 2,000 golf courses and a unique golf culture being fostered in Japan and Asian region, the population and golf population are declining. The local industry is becoming more competitive and change is required.
I took this opportunity to provide our service for those golf courses with business management perspective and technical artistic skill on renovation design and issues in various courses.
Furthermore, in collaboration with David Dale of Golfplan, a global architect who shares the same idea, we can provide world-class design and supervision service in various situations with efficient convenient our support.
We hope we can help not only players and owners but also contribute to society and mature sustainable golf courses and the golf culture.
