When you finish 18 holes, the final "twist" of Japanese golf awaits. The reason you never once took out your wallet all day — it's because your green fee, cart, meals, and pro-shop purchases are all settled at the end, at once, with a single "locker key." There's no tipping. Once you know the flow, it's done in 5 minutes.
After holing out, in order
- 18th hole ends → tidy and return the cartAfter finishing the last hole, return the cart to the designated spot (usually the cart storage in front of the clubhouse). At many courses you can leave your clubs on the cart and staff will take and clean them.
- Check your scoreGive the score on your scorecard or the cart terminal a final check. In a self-scoring system, reconcile scores with your group.
- Wash off the sweat at the onsen · shower (optional)Most Japanese golf courses have a large communal bath (onsen). You can do it either before or after settling up, so washing off and changing clothes before you settle leaves you refreshed. See the next chapter for how to use it.
- Settle everything at once at the front deskAfter changing clothes and gathering your things, hand your locker key to the front desk. The green fee, cart fee, meals, drinks, and pro-shop purchases — every amount charged to that number — are totaled on a single sheet.
- Pay → receive your receiptPay by card or cash and get a receipt. Return the locker key and you're done. A casual "arigatō gozaimashita" to the staff is all you need.
The locker key number you received at check-in was your account number all day long. The half-time meal, drinks, even the gloves and balls you bought at the pro shop — all of it was charged to this number. When you hand the key to the front desk at the end, an itemized bill comes out and you pay just that once. It's normal to have never paid separately along the way.
Payment methods — what's accepted?
| Credit card | Visa, Mastercard, JCB, and Amex mostly accepted. The most convenient, with reasonable exchange rates. Recommended |
|---|---|
| Cash (yen) | Accepted, of course. But once the green fee is added the amount is large, so don't rely on cash alone. |
| QR · e-payment | Possible at some courses, but linking with overseas cards may be limited, so we recommend a card. |
| Foreign currency (THB · USD) | Cannot be used to pay on-site. Only yen or card. |
In Japan there's no tipping culture at golf courses, restaurants, or with caddies. Pressing money on someone actually puts them in an awkward position. If you want to express thanks to a caddie or staff member, instead of money a single "arigatō gozaimashita (thank you)" and a slight bow are plenty. Just pay the bill amount as is.
Japanese to use at the payment desk
① Your receipt — it may be needed for group-trip accounting or refund confirmation.
② Items bought at the pro shop and belongings in your locker.
③ Clubs and personal items left on the cart or in the locker. Do a final check before returning your locker key.
Payment methods and settlement procedures differ from course to course. Check the total amount and items on the combined bill before paying, and if you have any questions, ask the front desk right away.