Hyogo (Osaka Area) golf courses

Ark Yokawa Golf Club is a very popular golf course owned and operated by PGM which around 45 minutes from the centre of Osaka and if you take the Chugoku Expressway it’s a few minutes from the Yoshikawa Interchange. AS a result of its proximity to the city the courses can get very crowded at weekends.

The course winds its way through the gently undulating terrain without too many elevation changes.  As the courses is quite flat and the fairways reasonably forgiving, the main defence are the many strategically placed bunkers and several ponds and other water hazards.

The par 3, 2^nd hole is interesting with a pond protecting the front of the green and two bunkers waiting if you over club. The par 4, 5^th hole is another interesting challenge as the fairway narrows as you approach the green with a pond to the right of the fairway.  As you make your way home the part 5, 13^th is long and narrow and demands great accuracy as well as distance.  The 15th is another par 3 protected by a pond and the round ends with a long par 3 – no water this time but the green is well bunkered.

Dai-Takarazuka Golf Club is one of the oldest golf courses in the area daring back to 1926 when it started life as part of a sports club attached to a hotel.

The course has 36 holes and each of the nines has a different name – the most interesting holes on the Takarezuka nine  is the par 4, 2^nd with its small, heavily guarded green which requires great accuracy.  The 8^th is a driveable par 4 with a large pond in front of the green. The 3^rd hole on the Nishinomiya nine is a difficult par 3 with OB along both sides and bunkers protecting the right side of the green.  On the Ashiya ninethe 4^th hole is a severe dogleg par 4 which is followed by a straightforward par 3.  The 9^th is a long par 5 with narrow fairways.  The Rokko nine is probably the easiest of the four with no water hazards and fewer bunkers.

It is a relatively narrow course built on a hillside surrounded by OBs and other hazards, making every shot extremely difficult, making this course appear more difficult than its course rating. The course is quite enjoyable because the course design is well calculated on difficult terrain with small ups and downs considering the location. The course will appeal to intermediate to advanced players not only because of its difficulty, but also because of its strategic design and the beauty of the scenery. Because there aren't many blind holes, even visitors can play without caddies. The hole can be more difficult depending on the pin position due to the large greens with a lot of undulation. All four par 3s are beautifully and strategically designed.

Set in the stunning Japanese countryside, Miki Yokawa Golf Club enjoys a privileged setting.

Designed by Robert Murashima the course enjoys 27-holes with a total par of 72.

The course has a rather interesting concept in that it has 2 greens for each hole which is actually a fairly good idea for preserving and maintaining the greens to the highest possible standards throughout the season.

Each 9-hole loop offers a different challenge and cater for every level of golfer, while still being enjoyable for all.

A lovely hill course surrounded by Ikeda Satsukiyama's lush nature. You can spend your time meaningfully after playing at this location, which is 40 minutes by car from Osaka city. Satsukidaira's fairways are wide and majestic. Ayaha, which is flat and elegant Ikakekake, which is diverse, such as crossing a pond. Enjoy three distinct courses at your leisure.

Shinyu Country Club is around  35 minutes from Osaka city, 25 minutes from Kobe Sannomiya, offers a relatively easy courses suitable for golfers of all standard.

A total of 18 holes that are dynamic but never forget the delicate and tricky atmosphere. Because the course is on hilly terrain, which is a unique topography of Kobe, it is a beautiful course with a wonderful view of the Rokko mountain range to the south and Kanoko Onsen to the mountains of Tanba to the north. There are many natural trees on the course, and there are six large and small ponds on the course, waiting for players to challenge themselves. 

The Rokko Course, part of the Taiheiyo Club is an example of how golf courses should be designed.

An exquisite “tudor-style” mansion clubhouse is ready to welcome you with open arms and a delectable smile from staff.

Beautifully decorated the clubhouse offers both members and visitors a complete service, with bar and restaurant facilities catering for your culinary needs before or after the round. Plush locker-rooms and a well-stocked pro-shop complete the clubhouse experience.

Once onto the course the quality continues, with knowledgeable caddies on hand to offer advice and a course presented to the exacting standards demanded by the Taiheiyo group.

Set in an incredible 1.48 million square metres the Taiheiyo Takarazuka Golf Course is a wonderful design by Tomikatsu Kato.

Opened in 2001 the 6823-yard par 72 course has quickly gained recognition for its design and high standard of course maintenance.

Set on the gently sloping hillside, amongst native forests each hole enjoys panoramic views of the immense jungle from which the course was created.

Picturesque at every turn, a golfer can be excused for getting distracted with the stunning natural beauty that surrounds the course but look closely and you will be even more appreciative of the intricate and intelligent design of the course which demands concentration from start to finish.

One of the many great aspects of playing golf in Japan is the various locations you visit in the country.  Yokawa Country Club is located in Miki, which is a city in the Hyogo Prefecture of Japan.

The closest major city to Miki and Yokawa Country Club is Kobe and it takes just 45 minutes to reach the golf course from the city centre.  Kobe Airport only handles domestic flights but it is possible to fly to Tokyo or Osaka from international destinations and make the short trip from there.