Ichikawa Golf ☆ Follow

Ichikawa Golf is a 9-hole short course located in Ichikawa-cho, Kanzaki District, Hyogo Prefecture, Japan. Situated on the flat riverbank of the Bishu region, the course is surrounded by approximately 4,000 pine trees that define its silhouette and provide a natural setting for play. The layout is designed to offer a refreshing experience for golfers, with each hole presenting a distinct character and varying difficulty levels suitable for both beginners and advanced players. The course features a total of 18 tees and greens, effectively creating a 9-hole loop that can be played as a full round or split into halves. The par for the course is 54, with a total yardage of 2,561 yards from the regular tees and 2,272 yards from the ladies' tees. The front nine measures 1,269 yards with a par of 27, while the back nine covers 1,292 yards, also at par 27. Handicap indices are assigned to each hole, ranging from 1 to 18, to facilitate competitive play. Key challenges on the course include water hazards and bunkers that test accuracy and strategy. The fifth and fourteenth holes are noted as signature difficulties, featuring a pine tree on the left of the green and a continuous water hazard along the right side, where a slice can prove dangerous. Other notable holes include the third and twelfth, which are downhill shots over water, and the sixth and fifteenth, which require crossing a creek. The second and eleventh holes present flat but long approaches to tiered greens, while the ninth and eighteenth serve as finishing holes that require avoiding bunkers and navigating specific landing zones. Local rules specify that out-of-bounds is marked by white stakes, and penalty areas by blue stakes or white lines. A specific rule applies to the first shot on holes other than the ninth and eighteenth; if the ball goes out of bounds, play must continue from a designated forward tee with a four-stroke penalty. For the third, sixth, twelfth, and fifteenth holes, a drop zone is provided for water hazards, with a one-stroke penalty for drops. The course is accessible via the Fukuzaki North Interchange of the Chugoku Expressway, approximately five minutes away, and offers night play facilities with lighting until 10:00 PM.