Akita Country Club ☆ Follow

Akita Country Club is a 27-hole facility located in Akita City, Akita Prefecture, Japan. The course is divided into three distinct nine-hole layouts: the Mount Taihei Course, the Sea of Japan Course, and the Mount Chokai Course. Each nine-hole loop plays to a par of 36, resulting in a total course par of 108. The layout is characterized by a mix of long par-5s and demanding par-4s, with yardages varying significantly by tee. The Mount Taihei Course offers a total yardage of 7,762 yards from the back tees, the Sea of Japan Course measures 7,793 yards, and the Mount Chokai Course provides 7,316 yards from the longest markers. The terrain and setting vary across the three loops. The Mount Taihei Course features holes separated by pine forests, requiring players to manage varied shot shapes off the tee. The first hole offers expansive views toward the Sea of Japan and the Oga Peninsula, while the ninth hole presents a three-tiered green that complicates approach play. The Sea of Japan Course is noted for being particularly susceptible to wind effects, with significant fairway slopes and mounds that challenge every shot. The Mount Chokai Course is largely enclosed by pine trees, making wind reading difficult, and features water hazards on several holes, including the first and fifth. Difficulty on the course is driven by precision requirements rather than sheer length on the Mount Chokai loop, where hazards are strategically placed to penalize inaccuracy. The Sea of Japan Course demands versatile shot-making due to its slopes and wind exposure, while the Mount Taihei Course requires careful club selection on its short holes, particularly the eighth, where wind often makes the 117-yard distance deceptive. Out of bounds is a significant factor on multiple holes across all three courses, with white stakes marking the boundaries. The Mount Taihei Course’s first hole is a 499-yard par-5 that plays downhill toward the sea, offering a bold opening shot with no out of bounds. The Sea of Japan Course’s first hole is a 485-yard par-5 that uses a chimney as a visual landmark, while its ninth hole is a 475-yard par-5 that plays uphill with a fast green, often turning the third shot into a critical scoring opportunity. The Mount Chokai Course’s seventh hole is a 481-yard par-5 that plays over water on the right side of the fairway, adding pressure to the drive. Local rules specify that out of bounds is marked by white stakes, and repair grounds are marked by blue stakes with white lines. Drainage ditches are treated as immovable obstructions, and concrete tracks for electromagnetic induction carts are considered part of the cart path. Players are prohibited from using putters for practice strokes on the putting green or testing the surface. The course also enforces a rule against using any club other than a putter on the green.