Matsunaga Country Club ☆ Follow

Located in Fukuyama, Hiroshima Prefecture, Matsunaga Country Club is a 72-par, 18-hole course designed by Giichi Sato. Sato, a native of the region, was a celebrated amateur golfer who won the Japanese Amateur Championship four times before turning to course design. He designed Matsunaga Country Club as his hometown course, opening the front nine in 1961 and the back nine in 1962. The layout is characterized by natural terrain with gentle slopes and undulations, surrounded by trees that frame each hole. The course is situated around the 2-kilometer Ooya Pond, which reflects the clubhouse and serves as the backdrop for the front nine. The setting offers views of the Seto Inland Sea and the mountains of Shikoku in the distance. A notable feature of the club is the water practice area adjacent to the pond, which is recognized as one of the oldest water practice facilities in Japan. The course rating is 72.9 and 67.2 for men from the back and front tees, respectively, with a slope rating of 130 and 124. The front nine plays to a par of 36, with the 8th hole serving as the only par 3 on the front nine, measuring 377 yards from the back tees. The back nine also plays to a par of 36, featuring two par 5s: the 15th at 507 yards and the 17th at 495 yards. The 15th hole is the longest on the course, while the 18th is a 197-yard par 3. The course includes a mix of doglegs and straight holes, with the 10th hole measuring 345 yards from the back tees and the 13th hole at 398 yards. Matsunaga Country Club has hosted several significant tournaments, including the 9th Chugoku-Shikoku Golf Championship in 1966, the Chugoku Open in 1974, and the Hiroshima Women's Open in 1975. The club also hosts the Midsummer Open, which has been held annually since 1985. The course has seen several course records, including a 59 by Takeshi Miba in 2009 during the 25th Midsummer Open. The club continues to be a prominent venue in the Chugoku region, maintaining its reputation for challenging play and scenic beauty.