Tenri Open

Tenri GC

奈良県, Japan

Tenri Golf Club is a 18-hole, par-72 course located in Tenri City, Nara Prefecture, situated on the Yamato Plateau. Designed by Keiji Matsuyama and opened in 1968, the layout is classified as a hillside course that utilizes the natural topography of the region. The property is positioned near the Fukuzumi Interchange of the Meihan Expressway, offering views of the Yamato mountain range. The course features Korai grass greens and is designed as a complete separate layout, allowing for distinct routing across the undulating terrain. The front nine totals 3,503 yards from the back tees, while the back nine measures 3,295 yards, bringing the total yardage to 6,798 yards. The design incorporates moderate slopes that facilitate playability while maintaining strategic complexity. The layout includes a mix of dogleg holes, downhill and uphill shots, and hazards such as ponds, valleys, and bunkers. The handicap index is distributed to balance the difficulty, with the 1st hole (par 5) and 18th hole (par 5) serving as the longest holes on the course at 585 and 530 yards respectively from the back tees. The first hole presents a left dogleg par 5 where the drive must navigate toward a fairway that slopes right, with out of bounds guarding the right side of the approach. The fifth hole is a straight par 4 that plays downhill from the tee and uphill to the green, featuring a bunker on the left side that encourages players to attack from the right. The ninth hole is a slightly downhill par 5 where avoiding cross bunkers on both the drive and approach is critical for scoring. The closing eighteenth hole is a long par 5 that plays downhill from the tee and uphill to the green, featuring a slight left dogleg and a bunker on the left side of the fairway. The course hosts the Tenri Open, a regular tournament event held twice a year, typically in May and October. The tournament utilizes a double pairings format with a triple par cut, and handicap limits are set at 18 for men and 20 for women. The club accommodates both caddie and self-play formats, with riding carts being the standard mode of transport. The facility allows for soft spikes, metal spikes, and spikeless shoes, catering to a wide range of player preferences.