27th Anniversary Opening Cup

Thomson Country Club

栃木県, Japan

Thomson Country Club is a 72-par, 18-hole golf course located in Tochigi City, Tochigi Prefecture, Japan. Designed by Peter Thomson, the five-time Open Championship winner, the course opened on March 21, 2000. It is situated on a hilly terrain covering approximately 1.38 million square meters, offering a strategic layout that challenges players with its undulating landscape. The total yardage from the back tees is 6,818 yards, with the front nine measuring 3,472 yards and the back nine 3,346 yards. The course is characterized by its hilly nature, which provides a variety of elevation changes and views reflecting the four seasons of Japan. Thomson’s design incorporates natural features such as ponds and creeks that reflect the surrounding foliage, alongside strategically placed deep bunkers intended to test the skills of golfers. The layout encourages a challenging spirit, with each hole offering distinct difficulties and strategic options depending on the tee box selected. Key characteristics include a mix of par 3, 4, and 5 holes that require precise shot-making. The front nine features a demanding par-5 first hole at 404 yards from the white tees and a long 554-yard ninth hole. The back nine includes a short but tricky par-3 twelfth hole at just 163 yards from the blue tees, followed by a long 514-yard thirteenth hole. The course also features a 515-yard seventeenth hole, providing significant length for players. Located near the Tocha Nishi Smart Interchange on the Tohoku Expressway, the club is approximately one hour from central Tokyo. The facility caters to various skill levels with multiple tee sets, including blue, white, gold, and red tees, allowing for yardages ranging from 2,412 to 3,472 yards for the front nine and 2,605 to 3,346 yards for the back nine. The design emphasizes strategy over pure power, with handicap indices distributed to balance the difficulty across the 18 holes.