Tsukuba Country Club ☆ Follow

Located in Tsukubamirai, Ibaraki, Tsukuba Country Club is an 18-hole, par-72 course designed by Masashi Sato and constructed by Sato Kogyo. The club opened in September 1959, with the opening ceremony attended by Prince Takamatsu and his wife. The layout utilizes the natural terrain of the area, creating a forest course that is generally flat with wide fairways. The design incorporates two distinct green complexes, the "Tsukuba" and "Mirai" greens, which offer different yardages and strategic options depending on the tee box selected. The course presents specific challenges for golfers, particularly regarding recovery from the rough and the surrounding pine forests. The fairways are wide, but the rough and pine trees make recovery shots difficult. Greenside bunkers are deep, and the approach shots are often played from narrow landing areas, requiring precise accuracy as running shots onto the greens are rare. The course features two par-5 holes that are particularly long, the 5th and 14th, which serve as significant scoring opportunities. The 14th hole is a 552-yard monster from the black tees, while the 5th is a 365-yard par 4 that plays as a 434-yard par 5 from the blue tees. Historical modifications have shaped the current layout. In 1961, the front and back nine were swapped, and in 1968, the 6th hole was completed with a pond over the green. A major renovation in 2006, designed by Tazô Kawada, converted the greens from Korai grass to Bentgrass, significantly altering the playing characteristics. The 9th hole was changed from a par 4 to a par 5 in 1985, and the pond in front of the 9th green was expanded in 1992. The 15th hole features a bridge known as "Shianbashi," which was completed in 1979. Tsukuba Country Club has a rich tournament history, hosting the Kanto Professional Golf Championship in 1974, which was won by Isao Aoki. The club has also hosted the Ibaraki Open Golf Championship multiple times in the 1980s and the Nichirei Ladies Cup and Nichirei International in the late 1980s and early 1990s. The course continues to host events such as the Nikkei Cup Corporate Golf Championship, which began in 2012. The club maintains a membership of over 1,500 members and operates with a focus on providing a challenging yet enjoyable experience for golfers of all skill levels.