Nikko Country Club ☆ Follow

Nestled in Nikko, Tochigi Prefecture, at an elevation of 500 meters, Nikko Country Club is a 18-hole championship course designed by the renowned architect Seiichi Inoue. Opened in 1955, the layout is built upon the former riverbed of the Oya River, a flat terrain that Inoue transformed into a strategic test of golf. The course features a par 72 with a back nine rating of 74.8 and a slope rating of 129, presenting a significant challenge to golfers. The fairways are characterized by subtle, natural undulations and a unique 2% gradient that can mask the true slope of the land, requiring precise distance control and strategic shot placement. The setting is defined by the presence of mature red pine trees, which Inoue predicted would eventually become a primary hazard as they matured. The course offers views of the Nikko mountain range, utilizing the natural landscape to create a layout that blends with the environment rather than dominating it. The front nine includes a demanding par-4 sixth hole, which plays uphill and requires a careful decision to navigate around pine trees or play straight down the fairway. The back nine features the par-5 fourth hole, a 580-yard hole that doglegs slightly right and is protected by a cross bunker and pine trees, leading to a sloping green that demands a well-placed approach. Nikko Country Club has a rich history of hosting major tournaments, most notably the 2003 Japan Open Golf Championship, which was won by Keiichi Fukuhara. The venue has also hosted the 1965 Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship, the 1996 Japanese Amateur Championship, and the 2021 Japan Professional Golf Championship. The course has proven to be a rigorous test for both professionals and amateurs, with the 1996 Japanese Amateur Championship seeing Hideo Hoshino win with a score of 279. The club continues to host regional events, including the Kanto Amateur and Senior Open championships, maintaining its status as a significant venue in Japanese golf.