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The course is a seaside forest course facing the Pacific Ocean.
It is characterized by long fairways lined by age-old tall pine
trees, some very difficult dog-leg holes and undulating big greens.
Relentless wind from the ocean influences the game. All holes except
the 16th par 3 are set parallel to the seashore. Years of sea winds
blowing through each hole created artistic designs on pine branches.
As a result, the big pines hang over fairways severely on many holes
and act as “ hazards in the air”, limiting the fairways.
Consequently, you are forced under considerable visual pressure. Fairway
bunkers are very few in spite of the Seiichi Inoue design. This is
due to the fact that pines seemingly form more severe hazards than
fairway bunkers. Also he did not have to make them because in fact
the course was developed on the seashore and sea sands were chopped
out everywhere through the greens. You need to not only hit very accurate
tee shots to either half of the narrow fairways but also have full
command of low balls, fades and draws in order to make a good score. |
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A relatively long, straight par 4. The original narrow fairway looks narrower
closer to the green because of big pines hanging over the fairway on both
sides. |
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A beautiful par 3 with the well bunkered green. |
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| A long, par 4 that doglegs slightly to the right.
You will be very happy with a par on this hole. Big pines hang over the
right side of the fairway. If you slice your tee shot, even a little, you
will find the ball in the trees and end up losing a stroke. Unless you drive
to the left side of the fairway, you can’t aim the green on the second shot.
Though you hit the green on regulation, when the ball is far away from the
pin position, there is a risk of a 3 putt because of the strong slope from
back to the front green. |
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A short par 4. If your tee shot is over 240 yards, the second is a demanding
downhill lie which you must carry over a deep bunker guarding the front
of the green. If the drive is less than 225 yards, you need to hit the second
shot from the uphill lie, which calls for a difficult distance judgment.
If fact, even lie of the landing area is only 15 yards and, even if you
land there, you must hit exactly 100 yards for birdie on the next shot especially
when the pin is on the front and close to the bunker. When you are short
ever a little, it will be difficult to save par. Positioning is very important
on this hole. |
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| A slight “S” shaped, long par 5. You need to hit
a long drive off the tee aiming the left side of the fairway. That’s the
only spot you can have a clear view of the green as pines from both sides
obstruct your approach onto the green. A long hitter hit over the right
pines on the second shot which requires height as well as distance. |
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| This dogleg to the righ hole is difficult, too.
There are some pines 80 yards in front of the green hanging over the fairway
from the left, so the best landing area of the tee shot is the right side
of the fairway. The bunker in front of the green comes into play. |
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A good, slight dogleg to the right with the elevated tee. You like to draw
the tee shot to carry it to the center of the green. |
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A relatively long par 4 with the narrow fairway. Bunkers on the front left & right sides of the green wait for your errant second shot. |
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The green looks smaller because of a deep bunker on the front right of the
green. The relatively short pines on both sides allow wind to influence
the shots. Wind definitely increases the difficulty level on this hole.
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| A straight par 5. You need to pay attention to
a pond on the right around 100 yards in front of the green when you hit
the second shot. You should avoid the big and deep bunker in front of the
green. Despite the bunker and the pine tree over it provide a great scenery.
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A long, slight dogleg to the left. The best route off the tee is to hit
next to the pines on the left but if your errant shot goes inside the left
pines, you will have a big trouble. You should drive a left to rihgt ball
or a straight ball buzzing the left pines. If you slice it too much off
the tee, the ball goes inside the right pines, which makes the second shot
very difficult. There is a hallow guarding the left side of the green, so
a left to rigt ball is ideal on the approach shot. Pay also attention to
the right pines in front of the green on the approach shot. |
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A gentle uphill, slight dogleg to the right. The trees hanged over on the
right give you pressure on the tee shot. A carry of 270 yard drive is needed
to clear the left fairway bunker, so a right to left ball is ideal off hte
tee. The Pacific Ocean seen from this hole is magnificent. |
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| It takes one hour and 30 minutes from central
Tokyo by car. Visitors need an introduction from a member to play on weekdays.
On Saturdays and Sundays you need to be accompanied by a member. The clubhouse
didn’t have air-conditioning and it seems to be cool even in summer because
of the sea winds.
Most of the distinguished golf clubs in Japan allow players to play from
the longest tees only if they are accompanied by a single-handicapped
member. Although this is the one of most difficult course in Japan, we,
were able to play from the longest tees, which we appreciated a lot.
The pine trees in the front 9 are shorter than in the back 9. Because
the front 9 are close to the ocean, the stronger see winds disturbed the
growth of the pine trees.
Seichi Inoue is the most famous Japanese golf course architect who designed
40 courses in Japan and 2 courses overseas. The Oarai GC is his best work.
Seiichi was greatly inspired by Charles Alison, a designer of the world-famous
Hirono and Kawana (Fuji Course). Seiichi stayed at Kawana Hotel in his
medical treatment at 22 years old, and Charles coincidentally just completed
the Fuji Course. They didn’t meet but the greatness of Fuji Course had
him aspire to be a course designer. While influenced by Charles Allison,
Sinichi perused his original course designs to meet the natural features
of Japan.
The greens are huge considering the course was built a long time ago.
The owner requested the designer to adopt 2-green system per hole because
of better greens maintenance but Seiichi Inoue insisted 1-green and refused
2-green firmly. Consequently, the amazing compromise plan was to make
one green very big and divided into 2 with different grasses, bent and
Kourai, and then to use half of it alternately. All greens were replaced
by bent grass 1-green in late 1980. We can enjoy the current, excellent
greens thanks to the unique history.
The course was awarded 3rd place out of 2400 courses in 2002’s Japanese
golf course rankings sponsored by Japan Golf Classic Magazine. The other
great courses in Japan designed by Siichi Inoue are Takanodai
CC, Ryugasaki CC, Outone CC, Kasumigaseki CC – West Course, Katsuragi
GC, Ibusuki GC, and Ibaragi CC - West Course, Sappro
GC - Wattsu Course, etc. He also designed TAT Filipinas GC in the
Philippines. Among top 100 Japanese golf course rankings, Seiichi Inoue
has the most with 17. Second is Robert Trent Jones Jr., (10), third is
Jack Nicklaus (7), and fourth is Osamu Ueda (6).
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1st Par 4 442 yards (2)