Shizuoka golf courses

Those playing golf in Japan for the first time or for returning golfers who want to play golf in an easily accessible location, Belleview Nagao Golf Club is a great choice.

If you are arriving for a Japan golf holiday from outside the country, you will find Tokyo is the easiest destination for flights.  It takes just over 90 minutes to reach Belleview Nagao Golf Club from Tokyo and it is located in Shizuoka Prefecture, which is home to the famous resort and tourist town of Hakone.

Even if you do not have your own transport, you can easily get to this region of Japan from Tokyo and enjoy a round of golf at Belleview Nagao Golf Club.

Dai-Fuji Golf Club is one of the oldest golf courses in the area, having opened in 1958 and on a good day you get fantastic views of Mount Fuji.  The course is quite short but the fairways are full of undulations so it's not easy to find a level lie.  The greens are also quite small with plenty of borrows.  It's not a course where you want to take out your driver too much and you need to carefully feel your way around the course, which has a very distinctive links feeling to parts of it.

You will have little trouble finding accommodation in this region of Japan, so you can always stay overnight following a round of golf.

Fujikogen Golf Course is a par-72, 18 hole golf course which plays to 6,394 yards from the regular tees.  This is quite short by modern golf standards and you have one other tee choice, which is ladies tees and they come in at 5,259 yards.

The golf course was designed by two-time Japan Open Golf winner, Rokuzo Asami and opened for play in 1960.  It was one of the first golf courses to open in the west of Kanagawa Prefecture and remains one of the best to this day.

The magnificent views of Mount Fuji are one of the many reasons people choose to play a round of golf at Fujikogen Golf Course.  It is a sight to behold and you will be reaching for the camera thanks to the Fuji Highlands which surround the golf course.

The course itself is flat throughout, especially on the front nine holes and is played through woodland.  There are subtle undulations on the fairways and greens but nothing that is going to cause too much trouble for most players.  While the Fujikogen Golf Course is not very long, there are many interesting aspects which add to the challenge of a round.

You will find several of the holes, especially the par-4’s have alternate greens and you will need to change your approach to the hole depending on which green is in use on that day.  You could play more than one round of golf at Fujikogen Golf Course and face a different test.

The back nine holes are shorter in length than the front nine but you will need to be accurate off the tee.  The narrow tree-lined fairways mean there is trouble on both sides and anything which is slightly off target could easily end up in trouble.

In addition to the magnificent golf course, you will find a clubhouse with locker rooms, lounge, shower room, restaurant and outdoor bath.  There is also a putting green so you can get your putting measured before commencing your round.

Fujikogen Golf Course is a great addition to any Japanese golf holiday.

Set in the foothills of the mysterious Mount Fuji, the pearl of the Taiheiyo Club is Gotemba, a true championship golf course, Gotemba measures 7246-yards from the championship tees and has a par of 72.

As one of the first courses in the region, Gotemba set the bar for courses that followed, not only in the region but Japan as a hole and continues to do so now.

The design takes advantage of the hillside location, with the inclusion of the river that crosses the course, but water is not abundant with just two further water hazards.

Bunkers are also few, with the courses defence being the many changes in elevation and the unpredictable and changing wind conditions.

The Kawana Hotel Golf Course Fuji Course, designed by C.H Alison and opened for play on 1936, has maintained its world-wide reputation as one of the finest tests of golf in Japan.

Utilizing the natural topography of the area perfectly the course oozes class.

Dense Japanese woodland, rolling clifftop holes and incredible vistas from almost every point on the course will live long in the memory of the visiting golfer.

The rolling fairways dance through the mature woodland, and teeter on the cliff tops producing some truly stunning and terrifying holes that will test the most accomplished golfer.

Maintained to the highest of standard, The Fuji course is without doubt a course that must simply be played if you are visiting Japan for a golfing break.

With the Sagami Bay glistening in the background, the Oshima Golf course at the Kuwana Hotel Golf course is a wonderful layout.

Although not as famous as its sister course the Fuji, Oshima Golf is a great option that will not leave you disappointed.

The clifftop location offers superb views of the ocean and some magnificent holes that will test the very best golfer.

Unusually the course has some holes that have double greens, creating additional hole layouts.

Water hazards are not abundant, but they are not missed with the superb layout weaving between the majestic native Japanese trees and those perched upon the clifftop.

Gently rolling fairways, large undulating greens and beautifully sculpted bunkers blend perfectly to create a fine golf course.

Nakaizu Green Club golf course is located in Izu, Japan.  This is part of the Shizuoka Prefecture in the south east of the main island, Honshu.  For those entering Japan for a golf holiday, the easiest way to reach the course is to fly to either Yokohama or Tokyo, depending on which flights are available.

If you land in Tokyo, it is under 3 hours to reach Nakaizu Green Club by car and you can stay in the Hakone region, with fantastic views of Mount Fuji.

Nakaizu Green Club was established in 1990 and has had plenty of time to mature into a top Japanese golf course.  The 18-hole, par-72 golf course was designed by Asani and is set among trees which frame many of the holes.  You can also enjoy lovely views of Mount Fuji from various locations on the course and it is difficult to resist taking photos as you play.

Nishiatami Golf Course in an 18 hole, par-71 golf course and opened for play in 1963.  It is part of the Princes Hotels group and you will find they manage many golf courses and resorts around Japan.  You can book accommodation if you wish to stay at Nishiatami Golf Course over night and there is a  good reason to do so.

Nishiatami Golf Course is very short, playing to just 5,400 yards from the back tees.  There is a choice of two tee positions on each hole, with the white tees being the longest and the red tees the shortest, at only 4,300 yards.

This is described as being a links-style golf course and as such you will not find many water hazards.  Instead, you are faced with tricky tee shots, to narrow, tree lined fairways.  However, water does come into play on the front nine holes, with the 4^th and 5^th holes requiring a shot over water to reach the green.

The 4^th hole is a short par-3 and although it is just 100 yards to the green, you have not choice but to hit the ball over water.  The par-4, 5^th hole differs in that you may need to hit the ball over water, depending on which green is in use on that day.  Now we come to the reason why you may decide to stay at Nishiatami Golf Course over night and play again the following day.

Nishiatami Golf Course has two greens on each hole and the greens used differ on a daily basis.  So, taking the 5^th hole as an example, on the first day you may have a straight shot from the fairway to the green, with only the bunkers to contend with as a hazard.  However, on the following day you may be playing towards the other green and that means a shot over water.

Every hole has two greens, which makes Nishiatami Golf Course an exciting place to play. 

In addition to the 36 green, 18 hole golf course, Nishiatami Golf Course is home to a lovely restaurant which serves as variety of fresh dishes, both Japanese and international.  If you would like to stay and play more than one round you can book a room at the hotel.  Nishiatami Golf Course is an ideal golf course for beginner golfers or those new to playing in Japan.

Susono Country Club has been the venue for a major PGA senior tour event for many years.  It is a beautiful championship golf course in immaculate condition with the added bonus of wonderful views of Mount Fuji when the weather is clear.  The greens are very fast but once you get used to them are a delight to putt on. 

Gotemba West is another superb golf course belonging to the Taiheiyo Club group.

The clubhouse is the life and soul of the golf club for the members and it is no wonder, three distinctive party rooms, casual restaurant and a large terrace from which you get a panoramic view of the golf course under the stars and a more formal dining restaurant offer all you need and expect from a clubhouse.

The course is elegant and has quickly gained a superb reputation internationally.

Set across the lower slopes of the magnificent Mount Fiji, the course does not fail to impress.

Measuring 6434-yards the par 72 course is mid-length, with the strategic nature offering the difficulty, rather than the need to hit long drives.