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.

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.

In 2003 `Lost In Translation’ was released and was a movie that I believe spurned a generation, including me, to travel to Japan. There was an added element of intrigue for me as there is a scene in the movie where the lead actor, Bill Murray, plays golf on the most stunning looking course I had ever seen.