Asahi Kokusai Himeji Golf Club ☆ Follow

Asahi Kokusai Himeji Golf Club is an 18-hole, par-72 course located in Himeji, Hyogo Prefecture, designed to offer a contrast between the exhilaration of a plateau course and the calmness of a forest setting. The layout strategically utilizes the natural terrain, featuring valleys and ponds that demand strategic play across the 18 holes. The course is divided into an outward nine with a yardage of 3,105 yards from the back tees and an inward nine of 3,065 yards, totaling 6,170 yards from the longest markers. The front nine begins with a demanding par-5 first hole, followed by a par-4 second hole that presents a second-shot challenge over a pond. The third hole is a par-3 requiring a precise distance control shot over water, while the fourth hole is a sharp right dogleg par-4 that tests long hitters. The closing holes of the front nine include a flat par-4 sixth, a right doglegging par-4 seventh with a two-tiered green, and a par-5 eighth that requires both a downhill drive and an uphill approach. The ninth hole is a left dogleg par-4 where the fairway narrows on the left side. The back nine opens with a par-5 tenth hole that encourages players to aim left to avoid out-of-bounds, followed by a straightforward par-4 eleventh. The twelfth hole is a mid-length par-4 with undulating fairways that require careful second shots. A significant challenge arises at the thirteenth hole, a par-3 downhill shot over water, where distance judgment is critical. The fourteenth hole is a long par-5 requiring an uphill approach over a pond, while the fifteenth hole is noted as the highest point on the course, exposing players to wind and requiring careful navigation of surrounding hazards. The final stretch includes a flat par-4 seventeenth, a left doglegging par-4 eighteenth where players are advised to use the right slope to widen the fairway, and concludes with a par-4 eighteenth hole that features a green protected by a pond on the right. The course design emphasizes the use of natural contours, with many holes featuring doglegs, elevation changes, and water hazards that dictate shot selection and club choice throughout the round.