Samurai Golf Balls

Yesterday I was in Shinjuku and jump into Victoria Golf Shop. Victoria is a chain of sport shops with dedicated departments, such as golf, outdoor, etc. The shop located in Shinjuku is a 7 floors building, with a lot of stuff to check.

I found balls with images of samurais from Sengoku Jidai. there are 12 different designs representing 12 famous Daimyo as Oda Nobunaga, Date Masamune etc..

Sets are 3 balls pack of just 1 Daimyo for 750jpy ( around 8,25usd) and dozen with all Daimyo for 3000jpy (around 33usd). Balls are from Srixon.

3D Television

The other day I was able to check a 3D TV in Yodobashi Camera. It was really increadible the images as go out from the screen. Ryo Ishikawa is sponsored by Panasonic and has filmed TV commercials of this fantastic TV. Just to see the US Open in 3D must be indeed something spectacular.

Here's one of the commercials.

Driving Ranges in Tokyo

Just to got to shot some balls in Tokyo, sometimes can be sort of a complicated matter. Even when there are so many places where you can shoot balls ( known as 練習場, renshuujou \ practice place) due to small place is hard to find driving ranges with over 100yards long.

So if you are willing to improve your long shots, or just to practice some ball effect, it can be very frustrating to hit the other side of the range.

However there are some huge drivings, with a lot of services and spots to hit long shots. One of the latest to be built it has been Tokyo Jumbo at Adachi ward, where besides the 250 yards range with spots in 3 stories, there are a golf shop, Cafe, Grill Dinning and of course lessons services. Prices are quite high, but cost per ball dependes of the story you shot, being more expensieve the spot on ground level and the cheaper the 3rd story spots. On weekends and holidays prices are higher than labour days being 20JPY/ball (about 0,22USD) on ground level and 14JPY/ball (about 0,16usd) on 3rd story. A fee must be added for every time you enter the range.

Another one big driving is Meijijingu Gaien , a sports and art complex located n Shinjuku ward.

In other hand some have difficult access if you are not having a car, so going to this places by train or subway can be a headache as usually are so crowded.

Expensive and Exclusive Scotty Cameron Putters

Today I went to search some information to the JGA (Japan Golf Association) in Kiyobashi, close to Nihonbashi in Tokyo. When returning i just jumped in into Takashimaya department stores to take a look and I stopped by the golf section. I was so surprised to find a showcase where it was some putters by Scotty Cameron. The surprising was not the putters in the showcase, though they look so great, it was the prices!! Prices were between 235.000 JPY (about 2.575 USD) and 3.875.000 JPY. (about 42.500 USD). As I did not have so many time I could not check them well.

But I could find after investigating japanese sites same models of Scotty Cameron used by Tiger Woods in past years as this putter of Tiger first PGA WIN in Las Vegas Invitational 1996. The price is 288.000 JPY (about 3.160 USD).