Locals playing on military golf courses irk civilian course operators

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Representatives of Okinawa Golf Business Council Association, a local business group consisting of local golf course and golf driving range operators, visited the Prefectural Office on May 8th, to ask Okinawa Governor Takeshi Onaga to take steps to prevent local nationals from using the U.S. military golf courses on bases.

The association argues that local civilians are able to play on the U.S. military golf courses cheap. They specifically named the Marines’ Taiyo Golf Club and the Air Force’s Chibana Golf Course, and called for an action against the problem because local golf industry suffers economic loss.

They say that unlike other U.S. military golf facilities, it’s easy for local people to use these two golf courses because they have no gates with guards to restrict the access. In addition, the association pointed out that the golf facilities tax that players on local civilian courses are subjected to, cannot be collected from local nationals playing on military golf courses.

The association had brought up the same matter with the prefecture in 2013. However, they say “nothing has changed yet!”

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bob

The local nationals should not be allowed to play on US military golf courses, especially Anti base Anti American like Onaga.
WaychulDon

Local nationals SHOULD be allowed to play on base golf courses assuming they have proper authority to enter the base (pass or escort). No different than courses on bases across the CONUS.
- bob
  
  that old mentality of political correct is what is the problem, they don’t let Americans enter or eat a meal in many places across Japan, then the same should apply.
  - Okinawa Resident
    
    That was ages ago that they used to turn away Americans. The only places that do that now are either snack bars or places where illegal activity is taking place. Its been at least 10 years since I’ve been denied service anywhere in Japan. Then again I don’t go to snack bars sooooo. Yup.
    - bob
      
      Obviously you haven’t been to Tokyo near Uno station, right outside the train station is a restaurant that only serves Japanese only no foreigners. this was just yesterday…so these places exist today..as for Okinawa there is a restaurant in Ginowan that only serves and allows Japanese only no foreigners allowed even if with a local national, that was last month
Dan Daly

This still their land, we are not in America. That’s like saying Japanese military have their base in America and Americans can’t play golf in their golf course.
- bob
  
  That’s the whole problem, no spoils of war and thousands of life long dead. If resurrection were possible there would be many to agree with spoils of war.
ewacloser

It would be interesting to know just how much revenue the local golf course lose and how much tax the government does not collect.
hal

reminds me of the uber argument… “but they do it cheaper, and well, well, well that’s just not fair”