The other Tom Watson
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Ibaraki Prefecture has over 50,000 foreigners from over 130 different countries. Of the 200 or so Australians in the prefecture, Tom Watson tells us about the slightly different thing he does here.
Would you like to give us a brief self introduction?
I come from a small country town just outside Melbourne. I'm 27 years old, I'm a Professional Golfer, Caddie and Golf coach and I really, really hate nattō!!
You have a bit of a famous name. Does it ever get you into trouble?
My dad was a mad golfer too and that how I ended up with this name. I wont tell you what my mum wanted to call me. . . .
One time, at the driving range in Mito, a Japanese man came up to me to say hello. I shook his hand and said who I was, and he came back joking with "I'm Jack Nicklaus". He wouldn't believe me that my name was Tom Watson until I showed him my driver's license!
FYI: For those who don't follow golf, (the other) Tom Watson is one of the most famous Professional Golfers in the world. He is from the US and now aged 57. He started his golf career in the 70's and went on to win 8 major championships.
What is your previous Japanese experience?
I had a Tamagocchi when I was young, and I've had Japanese food thrown at me by a chef at a Teppanyaki restaurant in Melbourne.
What triggered you to come to Japan?
A friend of mine who I played competition golf with when I was younger asked me to be his golf coach and caddie in Japan back in October 2003, and I thought why not. . . .
What was your first impression of Ibaraki?
The first time I came to Mito, I walked out of the station and thought "WOW this place looks like there is so much to do!" After 10 minutes walking around I thought "WOW there's not much here at all!" But I have grown to like the place.
How does life in Ibaraki compare to life back home?
It's completely different. The place where I lived back home had a population of about 200 people, compared to . . . well. Seems like a billion people here!
I'm used to a lot of space, here I can't even try to put a t-shirt on inside our apartment without hitting something. But there are lots of things I do here and it certainly beats drinking scotch with Grandma on a Saturday night. . . .
Tell us about the town you live in now?
I live in Mito at the moment.
In regards to my apartment, I have a wonderful view of the Electricity farm that is 5 yards away (it's a kind of training center for electricians but it really looks like an electricity farm!)
I am about 50 yards from the nearest "Conbini", but then again who isn't. Also the supermarkets are close and where about a 10-15 min bike ride to the station. I think I am also privileged to have the largest crow population in Ibaraki, just a hundred or so yards from my house (they live in the electricity farm next door), which is great when you want to listen to them at 5 a.m. in the morning . . . not!!!
What is the strangest thing you have come across in Ibaraki?
It was the other day at Ogitsu station. This Crow was pecking at a homeless person who was trying to sleep, the homeless guy didn't care, and everyone at the station was laughing and taking photos. I couldn't work out if it was weird, funny, or cruel!!
What is the best thing about Ibaraki?
I like that the fact it's not over populated by houses and there still a bit of space, but without a doubt the number 1 thing is that Ibaraki has the most golf courses in Japan!!
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Tell us about your job?
Do you really wanna know! You might fall a sleep!!
Well, at the moment I'm English teaching (I doubt you need a description of that) but when the Professional Golf Tour starts in April, I start caddying and coaching. My week consists of this:
- Tuesday: Get to the course at 7:30 a.m., check the golf course for correct distance on each hole. By 11 o'clock or so I will do some work on my players golf swing. Then we will go out and play 18 holes.
- Wednesday: This is called a "Pro-am" day (short for Professional and Amatuer) This is where the Professional will play with the sponsors of that particular tournament. My job is mainly working out a game plan for the course, talking to the amateurs and pretend that I'm interested in what they are saying!
- Thursday: This is the first day of the tournament. My job is to give the distances on each shot, tell them where the wind is (I know that sounds weird but it helps with choosing which club to hit, tell the crowd to shut up or stop moving (the word for "Stop" sounds a lot like the word "Tomato" in English so its easy to remember) and be a Psychologist as usually my player starts to act like a 10 year old when he's playing bad.
- Friday-Sunday: much the same except on the weekend only the top 60 scores from the 120 players will play for cash on the weekend. If we don't make it into the top 60, its holiday time till the following Tuesday, when the cycle starts again at a different course in a different part of Japan.
- Monday: It's the only real rest day but most of the day is spent traveling. It is not uncommon for one tournament to be in Hokkaido one week and then Kyushuu the next.
Ibaraki has 2 tournaments a year, one on 29 June - 2 July at Shishido and one on 21 - 24 September in Ishioka. Come along to visit. It's much more fun to see it in person than on the TV.
It all sounds like a lot of work, and it really is! You really have to love golf to be able to put up with it. You spend probably 10 hours a day at the golf course and you don't even get to have a hit yourself! On top of that you have to carry 30 kgs worth of someone else's golf clubs and walk with them over 10 kms each day. But, even though I don't get to play, the atmosphere is great and I really enjoy it when I am there. Sadly it takes me away from Ibaraki for up to 30 weeks of the year.
How do you spend your spare time here?
I guess just like everyone else, going to Izakaya (Japanese pubs), visiting temples, scaring Japanese kids and karaoke. I went to the snow a couple of weeks ago and really enjoyed it, even though I was really bad at skiing. I am getting into road bike riding and obviously playing a few rounds of golf here and there is right up there.
What are your plans for the rest of your stay?
Number 1 is to get a decent level of Japanese so I can achieve number 2. Number 2 is to teach golf to more Japanese people and then to learn how to eat nattō without throwing up!!
Thank you for sharing your thoughts and experiences with us. Anything else you would like to add?
Keep up the good work!
