Iwatani Butcher Shop Cup

Aomori Spring GC

西津軽郡, Japan

Aomori Spring Golf Club is an 18-hole championship course located at the foot of Mount Iwaki in Ajigasawa, Aomori Prefecture, Japan. Designed by Arnold Palmer, the layout is set within a resort environment that offers views of the Sea of Japan and the Tsugaru Plain. The course is characterized by its strategic design, which aims to challenge golfers of all skill levels, from tour winners to beginners. The terrain features a mix of uphill and downhill shots, with narrow, tree-lined fairways and cool mountain streams running through the property. The design incorporates numerous water hazards, including ponds and streams, as well as strategically placed bunkers. Several holes feature two-tier greens and dogleg layouts that require precise approach shots. The course includes long par-5 holes and technical par-4s, with the back tees extending up to 536 yards on the sixth hole. Key challenges on the course include the fifth hole, a par-4 that slopes from right to left and is guarded by a water hazard on the left side of the green. The ninth hole, a long par-4, requires a careful drive to avoid a central fairway bunker before a downhill second shot to a green protected by water on the right. The third and eighth holes are par-3s that demand accuracy, with the third featuring a wide two-tier green and the eighth requiring players to avoid water on the left and bunkers on the right. The clubhouse, known as The King's Inn, offers a terrace with views of the Sea of Japan and the Tsugaru Plain, providing a setting for dining after the round. The course utilizes a golf cart navigation system called "igolfshaper" to assist players with distance measurement and scorekeeping. The layout is designed to be playable for amateurs while still offering sufficient length and hazard placement to test professional golfers.