Tomono-kai (Friends' Meeting)

Gatsby Golf Club

駿東郡, Japan

Gatsby Golf Club is a 18-hole course situated at an elevation of 400 meters on a hilly terrain in Oyama, Ashikita District, Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan. The layout is designed to offer views of Mount Fuji from every hole, set against a backdrop of rolling hills. The course features two sets of tees for each hole, allowing for varying yardages and difficulty levels, with par 54 for the front nine and par 54 for the back nine, totaling a par of 108. The front nine presents a mix of long par fives and technical par fours. The 1st hole, a par 5, requires careful navigation around a shallow penalty area on the left and heavy rough on the right, with a central tree posing a risk to the second shot. The 5th hole is a par 4 that demands a precise tee shot over a valley, with numerous greenside bunkers protecting the putting surface. The 7th hole is a downhill par 5 featuring a two-tiered green and shallow out-of-bounds lines near the front of the green. The back nine introduces more strategic challenges, highlighted by the 13th hole, a par 5 with out-of-bounds on both sides of the fairway, forcing players to rely on their driver. This hole also features a two-tiered green on the left side. The 18th hole serves as a dramatic finish, a par 5 that slopes downward toward a water hazard in front of the green, requiring players to carefully judge their distance and club selection. The course includes specific penalty areas, such as a forward tee for out-of-bounds shots on several holes, and utilizes two different greens (A and B) depending on the day to manage course conditions.