After cancelling my first Silver Week round because of the typhoon forecast, I was looking forward to playing on September 23.
Then Typhoon No. 25 brought heavy rain to the Kanto region on September 21. Warnings were issued repeatedly in Yokohama, where I live. Fortunately, my neighborhood escaped damage—but the situation at our planned course in Chiba was different.
A Closure Call on a Sunny Morning
On the morning of September 22, the golf course called.
“We’re sorry, but the course will be closed tomorrow.”
Outside, the storm had given way to a beautiful autumn sky. I asked whether the typhoon had caused any damage.
“Yes. There have been landslides in several parts of the course. We’re still assessing the damage and don’t yet know when we can reopen.”
That explained it. The blue sky told only part of the story.
More Than a Month’s Rain in One Day
The Japan Meteorological Agency recorded approximately 310mm of rain at its Chiba observation station on September 21—about one and a half times the city’s average rainfall for the whole of September, falling in a single day. JMA daily rainfall · Climate averages
These were not measurements taken at the golf course, but they help explain the scale of the downpour.
“We’ll Be Back When You Reopen”
We play this course often, so hearing about the damage was upsetting. Alongside assessing the course and arranging repairs, the staff were also calling everyone with a booking.
“We’ll be back as soon as you reopen,” I said before hanging up.
It wasn’t the Silver Week golf break I had hoped for. For now, though, I hope the restoration work can proceed safely. I’m looking forward to returning to those familiar fairways.