The Fuji course at Kawana is ranked number 2 in Japan. Its a public course that is considered the Pebble Beach of Japan. I travelled there recently to play and thoroughly enjoyed the experience although not everything is as its seems.

Taiheiyo Sagami is unique, quirky and fun. Close to Tokyo and only a stones throw from Mt Fuji this Shunsuke Kato design has some of the fastest greens and best views available in Japan.

Taiheiyo Ichihara is a brilliant layout with a great set of finishing holes. Easy to reach from Tokyo this tournament course has very distinct design language that makes it both memorable and a pace you will want to return to.

Taiheiyo Clubs Sano Hillcrest course is a fantastic layout and one of my favourite courses in Japan. While doing some recent research on the course I began a deep dive on the course designer, Desmond Muirhead. I must say I have become a Muirhead fan, not only because he designed some great courses but because he was apparently a bit of a hell raiser. Muirheads designs were influenced by art, literature, mother nature and especially marine life which he often integrated into his courses.

Renovated in 2019 I would best describe this hotel as a retreat, a place to rest and relax. The surrounding area is quiet and as you move around the property, Mt Fuji will continually pop into view above the Japanese cedars. The 1st tee of the Gotemba West course sits almost at your doorstep and the revered Taiheiyo Gotemba course only a couple of minutes away, making this hotel the perfect choice for golfers.

If you google the best places to stay in Tokyo you will be given a laundry list of suggestions. Ginza, Shibuya, Shinjuku, Ueno, and Roppongi will be some of the names that will pop up. They are all fabulous places but wading through all the content, trying to figure out the best option can be a difficult proposition. Therefore I have decided to make it easy.

Trees in, or close to fairways are a very popular design element in Japan. Since living in Japan I have played only a handful of courses where a tree did not influence a shot from the fairway or the tee. The Japanese designer’s predilection in using trees as a hazard is interesting, especially considering it flies in the face of what the most influential architects preferred.

What is the best mode of transport to get to golf courses in Japan? It's a question I spend a lot of time answering so I have decided to write a brief about each option. It’s an important question too because traveling is very much part of the adventure of playing in Japan.

The three pillars of the Titleist performance clothing line are mobility, comfort, and weather protection. The advertising material states the flagship shirts provide the following benefits … Light, stretchy, non-sticky, breathable, water-repelling, quick-dry, UV protection, humidity control (cooling), and of course is comfortable. From my perspective, it's the best shirt I have ever worn.

Each season in Japan, especially Tokyo, provides a unique golfing experience. Golf is played all year in Japan and in the depths of winter it is not uncommon for booking sheets to be rather busy. If your trip is specifically golf then there are months which are preferable but really whatever month you decide on will be the right choice. Well, sort of …

Golf courses and the shower rooms are places where the skin is shown, especially during the warmer months. If you do have a tattoo you very simply need to cover it up at all times while on the club’s premises.

As much as I enjoy Osaka, staying in Takarazuka is always a nice respite and makes the journey to the course the next day a little shorter. The Takarazuka course is one of three courses Taiheiyo Club owns in the Kansai region and is a layout that I really enjoy and one that I highly recommend.

The official opening of the new Yachiyo course took place on April 4th 2020 which saw a fantastic reception from both members and guests. It was such a success that members are now flocking to the Yachiyo property to play both midweek and weekends.

Sano is a city in the southwest of Tochigi Prefecture which is almost directly　north of Tokyo. Taiheiyo Clubs property sits exactly 100km from the center of Tokyo and is very easily accessible by car or helicopter. Sano city is well known for its Ramen and lesser-known as Japan’s home of cricket. It is however fast becoming known as the destination of the Taiheiyo Clubs Sano Hillcrest course.

The Rokko course is the Taiheiyo Clubs’ flagship course in the Kansai region. This course is a true championship venue that has held tournaments on both the men and women’s professional tours in Japan. It is also the current site of the Maruhan Cup, a popular event on the Japanese men’s senior tour.

If you ask those who have played golf in Japan before to describe their experience, two things will likely occur. Firstly a smile will appear. As they delve into the stories of their golfing sojourn you will get a sense of how special their experience was. Endearing and memorable are words that aptly describe what most golfers feel when they recount playing golf in Japan.

Opened in 1999 and designed by Gary Player the Taiheiyo Narita course lives up to all the hype that should accompany a course designed by a grand slam winner. Player has designed over 300 courses worldwide but interestingly was never able to gain a foothold in Japan. The Taiheiyo course is a testament to great design and Player’s mandate of building a course to test all levels was achieved.

I have been a Titleist tragic since I was a kid. I think it started as a 14-year-old when I caddied in a couple of events during the Australian tournament summer series. In one of the prequalifying events, I can distinctly remember standing on the practice putting green before teeing off, surrounded by Titleist and Ping golf bags. While the Ping bags were cool it was the black and white Titleist staff bags with the shiny blades that caught my eye.

In the last few years, I have witnessed a renaissance. The revival of an article of golf clothing may seem trivial to some but the history and its importance in the game of golf cannot be denied. The spark was created by the CEO and President of Taiheiyo Club, Mr. Shun Han, who has modernized and made cool again a revered garment from a golfers wardrobe of decades past.

Konan is a faders paradise. Seven of the eighteen-hole layout will fit the eye of the right-handed player who moves the ball left to right through the air. Only the short Par 5 15th requires a tee shot that moves a little in the opposite direction. The course is gently undulating with only one club difference at most in elevation making Konan a very comfortable walk.