Naruo GC ☆ Follow

Naruo Golf Club is an 18-hole course located in Takarazuka, Hyogo Prefecture, Japan. The layout is widely recognized as a "mountain links" course, a design that emerged from the collaboration of the Crane brothers and the renowned architect Charles H. Allison. The Crane brothers, who were members of the club, initially sought out the terrain for its suitability for golf, envisioning an inland course reminiscent of British links. Their vision was realized in 1931 when Allison refined the routing, creating a unique layout that utilizes the natural topography of the hills and valleys. The course is characterized by its dramatic elevation changes, requiring players to descend valleys and climb hills throughout the round. A defining feature of the Naruo layout is its bunkering. Allison’s design places deep bunkers that act as walls around the greens, which often appear as small islands due to the surrounding hazards. The bunkers are designed with significant depth and steep edges, often incorporating undulations that flow directly from the green, demanding precise shot-making and strategic decision-making from tee to green. Naruo has a rich history of hosting major official tournaments. The club hosted the first Japan Open Golf Championship in 1936, which was won by Rikizo Miyamoto. It has also been the venue for the Japan Amateur Golf Championship, the Japan Senior Open, and the Japan Mid-Amateur Championship. The course has consistently hosted the Kansai Open and the Kansai Amateur Championship since the 1920s, establishing itself as a premier destination for competitive golf in the Kansai region. The course is maintained with a specific focus on its native grass surfaces. The greens were originally planted with Korean bentgrass and were later converted to a new variety known as "Naruo Turf" in 2022. This transition was part of a long-term effort to improve putting quality while maintaining the classic character of the course. The fairways and roughs are managed to preserve the natural feel of the landscape, with native grasses allowed to grow in areas that do not impede play, contributing to the course's distinct "classic and original" identity.