PAR 4 | 443 YARDS
PAR 3 | 232 YARDS
PAR 4 | 410 YARDS
PAR 3 | 209 YARDS
PAR 3 | 188 YARDS
PAR 4 | 446 YARDS
PAR 5 | 578 YARDS
About 700 years ago, golf was born in the United Kingdom, and a er moving to the United States it finally arrived in Kobe, Japan about 100 years ago. In postwar Japan, golf became a popular means of entertaining for business purposes, and Japan’s unique membership system developed strongly, particularly through the bubble economy. At that time, there was a rush on golf course construction, not so much for true golf course development, but for speculative purposes based on Japan’s own“deposit system”. number of courses eventually exceeded 2,400, the third most in the world behind the United States and the UK.
However, the so-called prestigious golf courses had been strictly developed and operated exclusively as places for networking for the business community. On the other hand, as the bubble economy collapsed most golf courses fell into financial di culty and were merged into big groups, becoming semi-public and open to everyone. us, the current Japan golf course market is bipolar, with either old fashioned exclusivity or open to everyone.
The true country club is a member’s club and facilities built in the suburbs, where members can enjoy sports. Memberships are based on family units, forming a society within the club, which is also used for various events such as weddings.
There are many golf courses in Japan which call themselves country clubs. However, in most cases these are simply golf courses that don’t have the vast lands necessary for such facilities as horseback riding, and while they may hold monthly tournaments for networking they are basically only about golf membership. us, no one even tried to develop the kind of country club lifestyle where members can gather with their families.
The “Tokyo Classic Club” was born with the aim of providing a true country club for people who live in the central Tokyo area who are deserving of such a club.
Designed from the beginning to be a 7,220 yard IP280 yard course, unlike anything else in Japan, this is a course which allows advanced players to play on a championship course where they can get deeply involved in strategy, while also providing a thrilling and challenging course that can be enjoyed by a wide range of golfers, from professional to amateur. In addition, the environmentally conscious design provides a truly ideal atmosphere for golfers.
Jack Nicklaus
In 2014, Jack was awarded“Architect of the Year”by US Golf Magazine. It was this Jack Nicklaus, the leader in golf course design around the world, who chose to culminate his great career of designing golf courses with the Tokyo Classic Golf Course here in Japan.One of the design philosophies of Nicklaus is to leave nature untouched as much as possible. In order to achieve this, the perfect land conditions had to be found. He has said that“I believe strongly that people are only able to give their best when they are truly enjoying themselves with all their heart. It is extremely di cult to exert your highest ability if it is even a little not fun.” e Tokyo Classic Golf Course is truly a place where he could give his best and really enjoy himself.
With a number of representative works in Japan, beginning with the Hokkaido Classic Golf Club, it was here that Jack Nicklaus has chosen to take the helm on what could be his last course design in Japan, with his right-hand of many years of golf course designs and renovations, Martin C. Cochrank (Senior Deign Associate) appointed to oversee the site. He had a major role in the design and renovation of the Valhalla and Muirfield Village G.C., and was also responsible over the design of the Hokkaido Classic Golf Club. In addition, the Jack Nicklaus course construction (shaping) sta includes Joseph Michael Miller, who has experience that includes the renovation of the greens at the world famous Augusta National.
Designed from the beginning to be a 7,220 yard IP280 yard course, unlike anything else in Japan, this is a course which allows advanced players to play on a championship course where they can get deeply involved in strategy, while also providing a thrilling and challenging course that can be enjoyed by a wide range of golfers, from professional to amateur. In addition, the environmentally conscious design provides a truly ideal atmosphere for golfers.
