Deer Park Golf Club ☆ Follow

Deer Park Golf Club is an 18-hole, par-72 course located in Nara City, Nara Prefecture, Japan. Situated within the Yamato-Aogaki National Park, the course is surrounded by the native forests of Mount Wakakusa, Mount Kasuga, and Mount Kōen. The layout was designed by Takenuma Civil Engineering Co., Ltd., with supervision by Teruo Sugihara, and opened on September 9, 1975. The course spans 930,000 square meters and features a total length of 6,847 yards from the back tees, with a Course Rating of 73.0 and a Slope Rating of 131. The fairways are planted with Korean grass, the rough with wild grass, and the greens with bentgrass. The terrain is characterized by wide, flat fairways that offer generous driving space, though the layout is punctuated by strategic hazards. The course features approximately 70 bunkers and eight ponds of varying sizes that come into play on several holes. The front nine totals 3,481 yards from the back tees, while the back nine measures 3,366 yards. The course presents a mix of hole lengths, including a 579-yard par-5 and a 521-yard par-5 on the front nine, and a 521-yard par-5 on the back nine. The shortest holes include a 176-yard par-3 and a 187-yard par-3. The opening hole is a 403-yard par-4 that invites a bold drive with views of the distant Kongo mountain range. The front nine concludes with the 9th hole, a 374-yard par-4 that features a dogleg left and is framed by cherry trees in spring and autumn foliage. The back nine begins with a 521-yard par-5 that challenges players with a long approach to a green protected by bunkers. A notable difficulty arises on the 11th hole, a 383-yard par-4 where a pond guards the right side and out-of-bounds lines the left, requiring precise shot placement. The 17th hole, a 521-yard par-5, offers a comfortable tee shot but presents a demanding second shot to a difficult green. The finishing 18th hole is a 424-yard par-4 that requires a well-judged approach shot to a large, receptive green. The course is accessible via the Second Hanshin Expressway, located approximately one hour from Osaka and 20 minutes from central Nara. The club operates as a general incorporated association, maintaining a member-owned structure since its reorganization in 2004.