Bears Paw Japan Country Club ☆ Follow

Bears Paw Japan Country Club is an 18-hole, par-72 golf course located in Mizukuchi, Koka City, Shiga Prefecture, Japan. The course spans a total area of 1,273,300 square meters and features a maximum elevation change of 15 meters. The layout was designed and supervised by Jack Nicklaus of Golden Bear International Inc., with the clubhouse designed by renowned architect Kengo Kuma. The course offers five sets of tees, with yardages ranging from 5,494 yards on the red tees to 7,006 yards on the black tees. The terrain is characterized by wide fairways averaging 50 yards in width and a relatively flat landscape, which contrasts with the strategic placement of hazards. The course is set within a forest environment, requiring a blend of power and precision from its players. Water hazards and bunkers are integrated into the design to challenge golfers across all skill levels. Recent updates to the course layout have adjusted penalty areas on the 7th and 12th holes from red stakes to out-of-bounds markers, increasing the strategic risk on those holes. The course hosts a variety of amateur tournaments and competitions throughout the year, including the PGS Mid-Amateur Golfers Championship qualifiers, the Bridgestone Cup, and the Bears Cup. It also serves as a venue for the Shiga Circuit qualifiers and the Shiga Prefectural Golf Association events. The club is operated by Kasugai Golf Co., Ltd., and maintains a rigorous reservation system for both members and visitors.