Mie (Kansai Region) golf courses

Situated almost halfway between the cities of Kyoto and Nagoya you will find Chunichi Country Club. Close to the city of Suzuka, home to the famous Formula 1 racetrack and located in Mie Prefecture, this 27 hole golf course boasts a tremendous view of the magnificent Suzuka mountain range.

Chunichi Country Club is mostly flat throughout but the trees and forest which surround the golf course make for a strategic test for players of all abilities. As with many 27 hole golf courses, Chunichi Country Club has been divided into three sets of 9 holes which are called West Course, Middle Course and East Course.

Mie Country club is set in the north of the Hokusei region of Japan.

The natural terrain of the area dictates the style of the course, but clever design and attention to detail have blended together seamlessly to create a course that sits perfectly within its natural environment.

At 6585-yards and a par of 72, the course is mid-length making it accessible to all golfers, as long as you choose the correct tee for your level of play.

Across the 18-hole layout the course is relatively flat with few elevation changes, making it ideal for beginners.

The Hakusan Village Golf Course is part of the Cocopa resort Club and boasts superb accommodation and dining options, as well as two spectacular 18-hole golf courses.

 Set within the rolling Japanese countryside the Hakusan Village courses are built and maintained to championship tour standards, with both being recognised by the LPGA as one of their venues and a qualifying venue for the Japan Tour. 

The first of the two courses is the Kings Course. At 7095-yards the King course is the longer of the two although arguably the slightly easier.

Generous fairways are immaculately presented, it is like playing from your living room carpet, and are bordered by native trees and pristine white sand bunkers that provide form to the holes and a strategic obstacle.

At 7035-yards the championship course of Mie Hakusan is a superb golfing facility that has all the traits a true championship course should have. Having undergone a renovation to new greens the course is better than ever and is continually evolving to become the best it can be.

Undulating fairways, elevation changes and spectacular views create an aesthetically pleasing course that is pleasurable to play for all handicap levels.

The hillside location is delightful and lends itself to wonderful hole designs and variety within the course.

Fairways are narrow and lie with trees creating the perfect frame to each hole and a character different from the rest.

Set in an area of around 1.3 million square metres in the beautiful countryside you will find the Mie Phoenix golf course.

As part of the Cocopa group MaiePhoenix is a resort style course, that would not look out of place in more tropical climes.

The course measures 6846-yards from the back tees and has a further 3 tee options from which you can choose to lay depending on your handicap level or the difficulty you wish to face.

Lush green fairways are lined with tropical palm trees that create an unusual course layout for the region and with the stunning blue skies and water hazards the contrast in colours is a feast for the eyes.

Excellent Golf Club Ichishi Onsen Course was designed by legendary golfer Gary Player and opened for play in 1999. It enjoys an enviable position close to the banks of both the River Kumozu and River Haze. Being situated next to the Meisho Line, with two train stations located within just a few minutes of the Golf Club, Excellent Golf Club Ichishi Onsen Course is easy to reach.

For those travelling by car and wanting to stay in a major city close by, Suzuka, Kyoto and Nagoya are all options.

Close to Ise City, in the Mie Prefecture of Japan, you will find Excellent Golf Club Ise Futami Course. This golf course opened for play in 1999 and has quickly risen up the ranks to become one of the best golf courses in this region of Japan.

The 18 hole par-72 golf course plays quite short by modern standards, reaching only 6,585 yards from the back tees. There are 3 additional tee positions to choose from on each hole but the short nature of the golf course does not mean you should underestimate Excellent Golf Club Ise Futami Course in terms of the challenge it provides.

Excellent Golf Club Ise Ootori Course is located in Tsu City, the capital of the Mie Prefecture. This is a lovely area of Japan to view the cherry blossoms in spring and the scenery around the golf course is equally tremendous.

Some people may be familiar with the name of this Japanese Golf Club but unsure exactly how they know it. Excellent Golf Club Ise Ootori Course became famous worldwide for the golf match between Tiger Woods and Hideki Maruyama . The 18 hole golf course opened for play in 1998 and has a choice of four tee positions, with the back tees playing to just over 7000 yards.

Set in between Iono Lake to the east, Ise Bay to the south, Suzuka mountain to the west and the Yunoyama plateau to the north the Yokkaichi Golf course is blessed with incredible panoramic views that only add to the natural beauty of the golf course.

A heathland course that is reminiscent of the beautiful inland courses of the United Kingdom Yokkaichi Golf is a wonderfully laid out, taking complete advantage of the hillside location that it enjoys.

At 6959-yards from the back tees, Yokkaichi Golf offers a challenging layout, which due to a further 3 teeing grounds can be played by any level of golfer.

Wide and inviting the rolling fairways direct the golf ball down to gathering points, from which the approach shots can be played over gentle mounding that create fantastic optical illusions and require superb strategic planning to ensure you find the best position from which to attack this golf course.

Established in 1975 and situated close to the city of Nabari, in the Mie Prefecture of Japan, Green Highland Country Club is held in high esteem by local golfers. Designed by Yasuo Itami, the 27 hole golf course is split into three sets of 9 holes called East, Middle and West.

Beginning with the longest of the three sets of 9 holes, which is the Middle Course, it plays to 3,413 yards from the back tee but there is a choice of three tees on each hole. This applies to all three sets of 9 holes at Green Highland Country Club. Despite being the longest of the three courses, the Middle Course only features one hole over 500 yards, which is the 567 yard 5^th hole. The fairway narrows at the landing point from the tee, making both accuracy and distance important.

Established in 1994, Ichishi Golf Club is close to the Kumozu River and the Kintetsu Osaka train line. Situated between these cities of Matsusaka and Tsu, there are many options in terms of accommodation when enjoying a golf holiday in this region of Japan.

One of the key features of Ichishi Golf Club is that the 18 hole golf course has been designed with every player in mind. Regardless of your level of play, it is possible to enjoy a round of golf at Ichishi Golf Club thanks to the wide fairways which are mostly flat but do have subtle undulations throughout the course.

There are many new golf courses emerging in Japan and it can be difficult to choose between the great selection when planning a Japanese golf holiday.  However, one of the older golf courses in Japan deserves your consideration and can be found near Iga, in the Mie Prefecture.

Iga Golf Course was established in 1964 and designed by Mano.  The closest major tourist town to Iga Golf Course is Nara and there is plenty of accommodation options there but in terms of an entry point, Osaka is the best bet.

Osaka International Airport accepts flights from the around the world is a great place to begin a Japanese golf holiday.  Within 90 minutes you can transfer from Osaka International Airport to Iga Golf Course.

Designed by a master craftsman Ise Golf Course has a layout that offers a unique challenge at every turn.

Designed by Seiichi Inoue, the Ise Course is considered to be the first course in Japan to use two greens per hole, which is still favoured by many clubs today.

Ise golf measures almost the same distance over 18-holes regardless of which you green you are playing to.

The course, ranked 19^th in Japan is a good test of both mental and physical skill with the need for sensible shot making and at times power.

Rolling across the natural terrain the course has subtle elevation changes throughout and some very nasty run off areas if you do not find the fairways.

Established in 1992, Kasumi Golf Club Is located in the Mie Prefecture of Japan. This prefecture is situated within the Kansai region on Japan’s main island of Honshu, making it a tremendous base for a Japanese golf holiday.

Kasumi Golf Club is an 18 hole golf course which plays to 7,100 yards from the back tee. However, there are four tee positions on each hole which makes this golf course suitable for players of all abilities. There is a good mix of par-3, par-4 and par-5 holes with the longest hole being the par-5, 13^th which plays to 596 yards from the back tee.

Kikyougaoka Golf Course is situated in a privileged setting on the slopes of the Mount Kuroyama and Muroyu Volcanoes.

As you would expect, Kikyougaoka Golf course is a hillside course, with plenty of native flora and fauna and sublime imagination combining to create a superb golf course that you must play if you are in the region.

Double greens are a feature here and depending on the green in play the holes can change dramatically, resulting in the sense of two separate golf courses.

A short course at 6560-yards from the back tees Kikyougaoka Golf course is a delight to play.  The 18-holes meander through the native jungle, providing a sense of “millionaires” golf as you rarely see another player as you are shrouded by the trees framing each hole.

Kintetsu Hamajima Country Club is a beautiful seaside resort that runs along the Ago Bay and the Pacific Ocean.

Being so close to the sea brings additional challenges for the golfer with unpredictable sea breezes changing throughout the day creating a totally unique experience every time you visit.

A mid-length course at 6824-yards from the back tees, Kintetsu Hamajima golf is a course of two halves that take complete advantage of the natural terrain on which they are built.

Having such a wonderful location allows for the front nine to weave through the native woodland, with sweeping fairways, gentle undulations, water hazards and beautiful white sand bunkers creating a sublime parkland layout, with superb greens and multiple challenges.

Opened in 1975, the Shunsuke Kato designed Karuizawa Golf course lies 1300 metres above sea level.

The club enjoys two beautiful golf courses spread out across 2.2 million square meters of prime Japanese countryside.

A superb clubhouse stands century to the courses and houses all that any member or visiting golfer may require. Spacious locker and shower rooms, a large bar with terrace and a superb restaurant serving local cuisine. A well-stocked pro-shop and good practice facilities along with 87 western-style rooms to accommodate guests complete the off-course facilities.

Asama, the first of the two 18-hole courses measures 6941-yards from the back tees. It plays considerably shorter than its yardage due to its location.

Designed by Shozo Kosasa Matsusaka Golf Club enjoys, as many in the region, double greens. The courses measure 6787-yards and 6746-yards depending on the green of the day.

Regardless of which green you are playing the course is wonderfully strategic.

Kosasa has created a masterpiece on the slopes of Mount Fuefuku making the most of the hilly and wooded terrain.

The holes are all individually created, with as much respect being shown to the native terrain and the natural path in which the hole have been carved.

Glistening ponds add to the tranquillity of the design and continues the traditional Japanese feel to the course which sits so close to the historic Matsusaka city.

Meihan Chisan Country club, known locally as Nagasaki Chisan Club is a splendid selection of golf courses.

Offering 5 nine-hole loops the course is able to cater for every golfer type and a large number of golfers, although booking is advisable especially at weekends.

The first of the loops is the Aoyama loop, measuring 3488-yards from the back tees the course is characterised by narrow, rolling fairways, small, subtly undulating greens and beautiful ponds that create a tricky selection of holes.

Ali Inn, is the second loop of nine holes, generally paired with the Aoyama loop the characteristics of the course are similar, although the woodland is slightly less dense and encroaches a little less on the play. Measuring 3369-yards from the back tees the total for the 18-hole loop is 6987-yards.

Booking a golf holiday in the Mie Prefecture of Japan opens a wealth of opportunities when it comes to golf courses. Arguably one of the best golf courses in this region of Japan is Menard Country Club Aoyama Course. This is one of two golf courses at Menard Country Club and is a par-72, 18 hole golf course.

Menard Country Club Aoyama Course opened for play in 1977 and has developed into one of the top golf courses in Mie Prefecture. The golf course is mostly flat but there are subtle undulations throughout the 18 holes which add a bit of variety, especially when playing approach shots from the fairway. The course plays to 6,866 yards from the back tee if playing to the main greens and 6,589 yards from the back tee if playing to the special greens.

Nanzan Country Club is a very prestigious golf course designed by Seiichi Inoue, one of he most famous golf course designers in Japan.  The course is beautifully landscaped and the designer has followed the natiral shape of the land without the need for major shaping.  It is in wonderful condition with narrow tree-lined fairways and fast greens.  The course is not too hilly but there are a few blind tee shots and some severe drop offs if you miss the fairway.  The clubhouse is very traditional and has the feeling of an exclusive club - jackets are required here.

Nemu Golf club recently underwent a major remodelling and is now a premium golfing destination in Japan.

Overlooking Agoga Bay the course is a wonderful mix of seaside splendour and woodland retreat.

The remodelling included the re-routing of the course, with holes being swapped to create a more flowing course layout.

At 6768-yards the course is not the longest you will come across, but the intricate design and the ever-changing sea-breezes will keep all golfers on their toes.

The fairways are a deep green colour and set against the beautiful blue sky create an amazing canvas, and the design of the holes sits perfectly upon it.

The Mie Prefecture of Japan is a fantastic region for a golf holiday thanks to the mild climate and huge range of golf courses available to play. One of the most popular golf courses in Mie is Reiho Golf Club. Close to the city of Suzuka, Reiho Golf Club is very easy to reach being situated between Lake Biwa and Ise Bay and it is just 90 minutes away from one of the finest cities in Japan, Kyoto.

Reiho Golf Club boasts 27 holes of golf, overlooking the spectacular Suzuka Mountains and Ise Bay. This is arguably one of the best settings for a round of golf anywhere in Japan thanks to the tremendous views from many of the holes. The main features of the golf course are the trees and ponds which can be seen throughout.

Inabe is a Japanese city located in Mie Prefecture between Nagoya and Kyoto. It is close to Lake Biwa and is also home to one of the most spectacular golf courses in Japan, Ryosen Golf Club. Golfers are spoilt for choice when it comes to golf clubs in this region of Japan but you cannot afford to miss playing a round at Ryosen Golf Club.

This golf club was established in 1992 and is a par-72, 18 hole course. It is very easy to reach from either Nagoya Station or Chubu Centrair International Airport, both of which are within 80 kilometres of the venue. Once there, you are treated to a superb round of golf.

For those who are planning on heading to the Mie Prefecture of Japan for a golf holiday, you must include a round of golf at Sakakibara Onsen Golf Club. Established in 1994, Sakakibara Onsen Golf Club is an 18 hole, par-72 golf course designed by Greg Norman. Over the years it has played host to several top tournaments including the Sanko Mid Ladies Golf Tournament, Professional Baseball OB Golf Championship and the PGA Senior Tour.

Situated at the foot of a mountain, Sakakibara Onsen Golf Club is a beautiful place to enjoy a round of golf but expect to be challenged throughout the 18 holes. Fairways feature natural undulations plus many large bunkers and several water hazards. The course plays to 6,844 yards from the back tee, which is not particularly long but there are 3 other tee positions from which to choose.

If you are looking for a golf course that provides you with first-class service, first-class practice facilities and a prestigious golf course then you have to visit the Suzuka Country Club.

The clubhouse is superb, spacious, luxurious and built in harmony with the natural surroundings, you will be able to enjoy a superb post-round meal in the airy restaurant that serves local cuisine to the highest standard.

Practice facilities are great, a large driving range, putting and chipping greens and a golf studio where you can diagnose and analyse your swing.

Designed by Kato Kuichi the 54-holes are sublime, meandering through the beautiful native woodland.

The championship course is outstanding and a true test of golf. Measuring 7046-yards the course is set in the rolling woodland and demands everything from accuracy and length from the tee to a deft touch on and around the greens.

One of the most established golf courses in the Inabe district of Mie Prefecture in Japan is Three Lakes Country Club. This golf course was designed by Peter Thomson and opened for play in 1977. Thomson was a fantastic golfer, winning the Open Championship 5 times and produced some of the best golf courses currently on the planet, including Three Lakes Country Club in Japan.

Three Lakes Country Club is an 18 hole, par-72 golf course which plays to 6,945 yards from the back tees. However, Thomson clearly wanted the golf course to appeal to players of all abilities and there is a choice of 5 tee positions on every hole. Therefore, it is possible to play the golf course to anything between 6,945 yards and 5,530 yards.

Tsu Country Club is stunning course that will test both your mental and physical game.

Measuring 7023-yards from the championship tees, the par 72 course has a stadium feel to it much like the famous US Open courses.  

Tsu Country Club has some very interesting design features which include the incredible brick-faced water hazards that create a wonderful visual impact, drawing the golfers eye to the water hazard.

Large and decorative the white sand bunkers break the vast amounts of green in the background and add another dimension to the superb design that is not only challenging, but aesthetically pleasing.