Mitsu's golf a game of the rising - and setting sun finds out what a passion for golf really means

We are all familiar with the stereotype of golf as she is played in Japan: hundreds of thousands of enthusiasts booking their bay at the floodlit driving range a fortnight in advance. A people passionate about a game which they are virtually prohibited from playing.

This summer the good people of Royal Dublin had the chance to appreciate first hand this passion for a game most of them probably take for granted. This summer, they kindly played host to Dr Mitsuhiro Osame, of Kagoshima University.

Dr Osame - or Mitsu, as he is known to his friends, and he now has a great many of them here - is one of the world's most eminent neurologists. Among his titles is that of director of one of the World Health Organisation's collaborating centres.

As part of his work, Mitsu spent July and August on a working sabbatical (Mitsu emphasises the working part) at UCD, and one of his colleagues there, Dr William Hall, was able through friends to arrange for Mitsu to become a temporary member of Royal Dublin for the duration of his stay.

He made, to say the least, full use of this opportunity. He played in the morning before work, he played in the evenings, he played every weekend, and along the way endeared himself to everyone he came across. In just one telephone conversation, his good humour and love for life came bursting down the line.

"Oh yes," he said, "I am so happy to have these weeks here, and have the opportunity to play these rounds. And to have lessons from the excellent teacher Leonard Owens. He is so nice.

"You know, my age is now 55, and my handicap in Japan is 11." He's been playing golf for 10 years, and, because of his position, he is "very fortunately" a member of two private courses at home. Had he improved during his stay?

"Oh yes, I think so. When I came here, I was so surprised at the links courses - it is so hard, you know, it is unbelievable. The rough is tough. I hitted one hundred and five in one round. So, ok, it is so challenging, and so I will conquer the course, you know," he laughed. "So I tried to round as much as possible, and I practise and have lessons."

Which brings us to Sunday, August 10th, a day that will live in the annals of Royal Dublin: "So, one day, I challenge, how many holes can I do in one day. You see, it is impossible to do this in Japan, the courses are so crowded. It takes six hours to go around there. "So, this challenge is impossible to do in Japan. Therefore, I tried one Sunday. I did first four rounds, and at the end I was a little bit tired. However, I keep going because I am having very, you know, how do you say, I am getting more energy I think. So finally I do five rounds, plus four holes."

That, in case your maths are poor, or simply because you don't believe your eyes, is 94 - count 'em, ninety-four - holes of golf in one day. His scorecard (see above) looks chaotic, but as he tells the story it all makes perfect sense (by the way, 0 is par, 1 a bogey, 2 a double).

Mitsu started at 5.50 a.m., on his own, and got through the first 18 in two hours and 15 minutes. By the time he finished, other golfers, who in different circumstances would be considered early birds, had got onto the course, so Mitsu had to improvise.

"I went to the first tee, but there were people already there. So then I decided to round the last four holes three times (see card: it makes sense if you know the geography of Royal Dublin). There was nobody there, so I rounded there three times.

"Then, already, people had reached there too, therefore, I decided to go to number one hole, and I met one gentleman, Mr Tony Stafford, and we decided to play together. Then he said he is very busy and he has to go back at the 14th, so I said goodbye.

"Then, I went back to number one hole and there I met Mr Peter Thornton, and we started. And he is a very good golfer, and I enjoyed playing with him." He played well, too. "Oh yes, I am sure that because he is very good and I was influenced, and I went round in 83 with him.

"Then, I went back to number one hole, and then there were four people in front, so I decided to play three and four later, and went to fifth. And then, after 14, I went to number one hole, and there were again more people, so I again skipped three and four.

"It was maybe 8.15 when I finished the five rounds. However, there is still light. So - I was very healthy, not tired - so I go to number 15 hole."

That's one way to become familiar with links golf. Are there links courses in Japan? "You know," he explains, "people say in Hakaido they have links course. However, I don't believe it, because it is different, you know? What people are calling a links course is just a course which is beside the sea."

Will he be back?

"Oh yes, you know, I love this country, this dreamy Dublin, and the people of Dublin. So I so much want to come back. And, also, I am almost addicted to Guinness," he laughs.

"It is my dream to have some sort of overseas membership of the Royal Dublin, then I have the chance to come here every year for two or three weeks to enjoy the people. But it is my dream. If I can get it, then Dublin will be my second home."

I think Mitsu can already book his flight for next summer.