OCC Open Competition

Okayama Country Club Momonosato Course

岡山県, Japan

Located in Kita-ku, Okayama, the Momonosato Course at Okayama Country Club is a 18-hole, par-72 layout designed by Saburo Sato and constructed by Takenaka Corporation. Opened in October 1962, the course was developed as part of a rural revitalization initiative led by then-Governor of Okayama Prefecture, Jiro Miki. The facility sits just 15 minutes from JR Okayama Station and three minutes from the Okayama Interchange, providing a convenient setting for a course that has served the region for over six decades. The course is divided into two distinct nines that offer contrasting playing experiences. The front nine is described as a relatively flat hill course, where the primary challenges come from distance and water hazards on the par-3 fifth and the par-4 seventh. The back nine presents a more dramatic topography, featuring significant elevation changes, valley crossings, and downhill shots. This strategic design requires careful club selection and shot placement, particularly on the longer holes that define the championship layout. The signature hole of the course is the 12th, a 625-yard par-5 that stands as the longest hole on the back nine. Its extreme length makes reaching the green in two shots difficult, often forcing players to navigate complex approach shots. The course also features demanding short holes, including the 13th at 165 yards and the 17th at 155 yards, which serve as critical scoring opportunities or pitfalls depending on the player's precision. Tournament history at the club includes the annual Momonosato Ladies Cup and the Okayama Prefectural Corporate Golf Tournament. The course has hosted the Okayama Golf Federation Mid-Senior Championship and various other local competitive events. The facility continues to maintain its reputation as a strategic test of golf, balancing the flat, open nature of the front nine with the rugged, undulating terrain of the back nine.