Haruna no Mori Country Club ☆ Follow

Haruna no Mori Country Club is an 18-hole, par-72 golf course located in Takasaki, Gunma Prefecture, Japan, situated at the foot of Mount Haruna. Designed by Jack Nicklaus, the course spans approximately 1.21 million square meters and opened in June 1996, originally under the name Hibiki no Mori Country Club before being renamed. The layout measures 7,054 yards from the back tees, offering a total of four tee sets per hole, including a "Jack's Tee" for the longest distance, a back tee, a regular tee, and a ladies' tee. The course is characterized by its integration with the natural landscape, featuring mature trees such as keyaki, yamazakura, and maple, which were carefully transplanted and reintegrated during construction to preserve the existing environment. The terrain is defined by its forested setting and undulating natural features, with fairways planted in a mix of Kentucky bluegrass varieties including Midnight, Challenger, and Snow KB, seeded with perennial ryegrass for early growth. The greens are USGA-specification sand greens, utilizing sand sourced from Chojō, Niigata Prefecture, and are sown with Dominant bentgrass to ensure smooth ball roll. The design emphasizes a connection between the player and nature, with the course winding through a forested area that provides a backdrop of seasonal scenery. The routing allows for cart access, with cart paths determined during the initial design phase to ensure they do not interfere with the play. Strategic difficulty is a hallmark of the Nicklaus design, with the course described as challenging yet playable. The front nine totals 3,576 yards from the back tees, while the back nine measures 3,478 yards. Notable long holes include the par-5 3rd and 12th, which stretch to 555 and 530 yards respectively from the back tees, while the par-3s, such as the 8th and 17th, offer shorter but precise scoring opportunities. The handicap distribution places the most difficult holes at the 1st and 15th, reflecting the course's demand for accuracy and distance management. The course closed on February 23, 2023, after nearly three decades of operation.