富山県, Japan
Kureha Country Club is a 36-hole facility located in the Kureha Hills of Toyama City, Toyama Prefecture, Japan. Opened in October 1960, the course was designed by architect Saji Tategaki, with the second nine added in 1972 under the direction of Hideo Takemura. The property spans 1.28 million square meters and features two distinct 18-hole layouts: the Nihonkai Course and the Tateyama Course. The club is situated on the Japan Sea side, offering views of the Tateyama mountain range and the Sea of Japan. The Nihonkai Course plays to a par 72 and measures 7,013 yards from the back tees. It is characterized by gentle undulations typical of hilly terrain, featuring doglegs, carry-over-valley shots, and carry-over-water hazards. The layout includes a demanding 542-yard par-5 fifth hole and a 566-yard par-5 fifteenth. The course underwent a "one-green" renovation completed in 2009, which increased its strategic complexity. It serves as the primary tournament venue for the facility, hosting the Hokuriku Open Golf Tournament and the 2000 National Sports Festival. The Tateyama Course offers a par 71 layout measuring 6,640 yards from the back tees. Designed to provide views of the Tateyama range from every hole, this layout is flatter than its counterpart but incorporates strategic water hazards and bunkers. Key holes include a 521-yard par-5 third and a 523-yard par-5 ninth, alongside a 533-yard par-5 eighteenth. The course has hosted significant events such as the 2015 Japan Women's Senior Golf Championship and the 2018 National Health and Welfare Festival. Kureha Country Club has a long history of hosting professional and amateur tournaments. It hosted the first Yomiuri Professional Invitational in 1964 and the first Hokuriku Classic in 1973. The facility became the home of the Toyama Prefecture Open Golf Tournament in 1978, which ran for 21 years before evolving into the Hokuriku Open in 1999. The tournament has attracted notable players including Ryo Ishikawa and Shingo Katayama, and the course setup is guided by the Japan Professional Golf Association. The club also hosted the 23rd Japan Women's Senior Golf Championship in 2015.
