
Japan
Japan is a country of surprises, formality, exemplary manners, reliable cars, sumo wrestling and sushi. The Japanese people are also proud of their four seasons, which can be quite extreme in terms of weather conditions. This is why many Japanese courses have dual greens, one for summer and one for winter.
Hirono Golf Club
Kinki (Kansai), Japan
Hirono Golf Club
Hirono Golf Club has played host to all the major Japanese championships and, although it measures a mere 6,925 yards from the back tees, it’s a supreme test of golf.
Kawana Hotel (Fuji)
Chubu, Japan
Kawana Hotel (Fuji)
There are two courses on the Izu Peninsula at the Kawana Resort and the Fuji course is universally considered to be the best.
Naruo Golf Club
Kinki (Kansai), Japan
Naruo Golf Club
Naruo shares all the traditional aspects of Japan’s older golf clubs. The continuity in tradition here is maintained by the 700 members whose average age is 71.
Tokyo Golf Club
Kanto, Japan
Tokyo Golf Club
You’ll need an invite to play here at Tokyo Golf Club but if you are lucky enough to receive one, take it immediately. This is a world-class golf course that is mature way beyond its years.
Yokohama Country Club (West)
Kanto, Japan
Yokohama Country Club (West)
Yokohama Country Club was founded in 1960 and over the following six years architect Takeo Aiyama designed and built both the East and West 18-hole layouts.
Kasumigaseki (East)
Kanto, Japan
Kasumigaseki (East)
The East course at Kasumigaseki Country Club employs the traditional Japanese dual green system, one for the winter and one for the summer, which takes a bit of getting used if you’re not familiar with this feature.
Hokkaido Classic
Hokkaido, Japan
Hokkaido Classic
One of seven golf facilities operated by the same management company in Japan, the course at Hokkaido Classic Golf Club is a Jack Nicklaus Signature design that debuted in 1991.
Fujizakura
Kanto, Japan
Fujizakura
Located in the northern foothills of Mount Fuji, Fujizakura Country Club is set at altitude in the heart of the popular resort area of Fuji Five Lakes.
Shimonoseki
Chugoku, Japan
Shimonoseki
Founded in 1956, the course at Shimonoseki Golf Club was designed by Osamu Ueda and proudly played host to the Japan Open in 1991 (won by Tsuneyuki Nakajima) and 2002 (won by David Smail).
Tokyo Classic
Kanto, Japan
Tokyo Classic
Built on the site of a former cedar tree farm, an hour’s drive west of downtown Tokyo, the course at Tokyo Classic was more than a decade in the making.
Kasumigaseki (West)
Kanto, Japan
Kasumigaseki (West)
A major change to the West course at Kasumigaseki Country Club was made by Taizo Kawata when he converted the traditional Japanese dual greens into conventional putting surfaces...