Narita

Located a short 20-minute drive northeast of Narita city centre, Narita Golf Club was founded in the late 1980s, with Taizo Kawata setting out the course. Surprisingly for a tree-lined layout, playing corridors are relatively wide and forgiving.

The course appeared in The Rolex World’s Top 1000 Golf Courses with the following edited narrative extract:

“Narita is not far from Tokyo Airport in Chiba Prefecture – perhaps the best land for golf courses in Japan, having nice changes in elevation yet not encumbered with mountains that elsewhere cover some 4/5th of the country’s land mass. It is also less than 40 miles from the city and has become a club favoured by big business for corporate networking as well as relaxation.

It was originally conceived as somewhere for businessmen to meet and converse, yet not too far from the office. It is a product of Japan’s last truly affluent period and was put together with few budgetary restrictions. It was at the time extremely luxurious and has been well maintained since.”

Visiting golfers may be introduced by a member on weekdays but must play with a member at weekends. The club is also closed on Mondays.