Budding Golf Interests in the Land of the Rising Sun

Ai Miyazato, Japanese golfing phenom, has been sweeping the LPGA world. Her success in the US aside, her influences reach far beyond prize money in Japan. Young golfers, like Ai, are encouraging a golf surge in Japan. This surge is allowing for citizens to have a hobby once seen as "unhip" and "expensive", and according to Golf Today News has boosted the economy as well. In 2006, the biggest golf course operator in Japan, Pacific Golf International Holdings K.K. boasted share raises of 45% in their first year, and the popularity trend doesn't show any signs of stopping.