From Tee to Tragedy: The Meteoric Rise and Fall of Japan's Golf Empire

During Japan's "bubble economy" era, golf courses sprouted like mushrooms after a rainstorm.

These emerald pastures became the hub of Japanese business culture.

Golf courses were where deals were struck, relationships cultivated, and status asserted.

For wealthy Japanese men, golf memberships were the ultimate status symbol.

And as stock prices soared skyw…