Taiheiyo Club - Mashiko PGA Course
You know those very quiet courses you play where you can hear the ball fizz through the air from a well-struck shot? Well Taiheiyo Clubs Mashiko PGA course is one of those. The combination of the still air amongst the dense canopy of trees and the lack of traffic noise provides an atmosphere of isolation which is something that I relish.
A 50-minute shinkansen ride from Tokyo station on the Tohoku line will have you arriving at Utsunomiya station. Utsunomiya is the largest city in the Tochigi prefecture and the 200 strong gyoza restaurants in the city are heaven for those who love those tasty little pan-fried dumplings.
The Taiheiyo Club bus leaves the east exit of Utsunomiya JR station at 8:40 am each morning. I would strongly suggest booking the bus through me rather than trying to find a taxi as it can be a difficult proposition. The 30-minute journey to the course is terribly unspectacular but worth every second for what awaits you.
The prolific Shunsuke Kato designed and opened the Mashiko PGA course in 1976. Some 44 years later the course has developed into a stunning setting with towering trees that provide a sense of the club being much older than it actually is. The only giveaway of clubs age is the 1970’s style clubhouse which has a minimalistic aesthetic, a nice change compared to the monolithic clubhouses often built throughout this era.
The course is a Par 71 and just a touch over 7,000 yards from the men’s and 5,300 yards from the ladies’ tees. The typical Kato design DNA continues at Taiheiyo Mashiko with sloping putting greens and tee shots that are beautifully framed by the surrounding trees. The course requires players to be able to move the ball both ways off the tee and seven ponds scattered around the property force players to think carefully about their tee shots.
Thread the needle. A draw is needed off the tee on the 368-yard par 4 17th.
All of Kato’s courses are pleasant places to walk as the abundant trees throw a nice amount of shade on the course. He was more than a course designer but I suggest an artist at heart. His preference for the Japanese garden aesthetic can be seen in design elements dotted around the course. Lone trees positioned in the center of fairways, mounding to hide green surfaces, and the use of rocks to pay homage to Mt Fuji are a few examples of his artistry. Some would say these elements are not fitting on a golf course but I think they are both interesting and quirky which adds another facet to his already stunning course.
The 2nd at Mashiko. A bunkerless Par 4 with a sloping green amongst the beautiful shady trees.
As with all the Taiheiyo courses, the condition is world-class and `lush` being the best way to describe the playing surfaces. The greens run nicely at about 9 to 10 on the stimp which is a nice pace considering the slope on the greens. The bunkering around the greens reminds me of Taiheiyo Gotemba before the renovation and like the Taiheiyo Konan and Gotemba West course, there are a handful of greens without bunkers.
The 13th green at Mashiko. Plenty of slopes that will only accept a well-struck shot.
The strength of Mashiko is that it has no weak holes. The most iconic holes are interestingly back to back with 13 and 14 being visually pleasing and memorable for different reasons. The 13th is a risk/ reward dogleg left par 4 of 405 yards. If you are brave enough to carry the water a 250-yard drive will leave a short pitch to this tricky green. The percentage play is to drive down the fairway which leaves a relatively long uphill second shot. The two trees in the fairway add an additional element of intrigue and possible frustration for those who end up behind them.
Mashiko 13th. Without the trees in the fairway, it becomes just another hole.
The 14th is definitely the most photographed hole at Mashiko and rightly so. A beautiful par 3 of 163 yards from the blue tees sees a right to a left sloping green perched above a guarding pond. At first glance, the right side of the green looks to be under construction but the rocks are a monument to Mt Fuji.
Mashiko Par 3 14th. The rocks on the right are a tribute to Mt.Fuji.
The 18th hole is a tough finish to a very pretty golf course and as the photo shows it is a course that is very easy on the eye. As with all the courses under the Taiheiyo banner, the food at the clubhouse is scrumptious and after a quick soak in the shower, the club bus will deliever you back to Utsunomiya station upon request. Maybe before jumping on the bullet train back to Tokyo, consider trying one of those dumpling shops near the station. It’s absolutely worthwhile.
Mashiko 18th. Demanding finishing hole to an excellent golf course.