Gotemba Golf Club ☆ Follow

Located in Gotemba, Shizuoka, on the western foothills of the Hakone range, Gotemba Golf Club is a 18-hole, par-72 course designed by the renowned architect Shiro Akaboshi. Opened on September 28, 1971, the layout spans 6,281 yards from the back tees and is characterized by significant undulation and strategic demands. Akaboshi, known for his belief that "undulation is the life of golf," designed the course to test a player's judgment and accuracy rather than relying on artificial penalties. The terrain offers panoramic views of Mount Fuji and, in the distance, the Suruga Bay, providing a distinctive setting for a course that prioritizes natural topography over flat, manicured fairways. The course presents a rigorous test with a course rating of 70.5 from the back tees and a slope rating of 127. The front nine features a demanding par-5 first hole at 540 yards, followed by a short par-3 third that requires precise placement to avoid a penalty area on the left. The difficulty ramps up on the back nine, where the 11th hole, a 596-yard par-5, is cited as a major scoring challenge. This hole features a narrow fairway flanked by penalty areas and a two-tiered green that punishes inaccurate approaches. The 15th, a 485-yard par-5, is marked as the easiest hole on the course (HDCP 2), offering a reprieve with its relatively straightforward dogleg layout. Signature holes include the 8th, a 140-yard par-3 that plays uphill and is noted for its extreme difficulty and narrow green, and the 12th, a 155-yard par-3 where wind and elevation changes significantly impact shot selection. The 18th hole serves as a stern conclusion, a 385-yard par-4 that plays uphill into a penalty area on the left, requiring disciplined club selection to avoid a triple bogey. The course layout includes multiple two-tiered and three-tiered greens, such as those on the 5th, 7th, and 16th holes, which demand careful distance control. Local rules specify that out-of-bounds is marked by white stakes, while penalty areas are marked by red stakes or yellow lines, with specific drop zones provided for certain holes.