Ishioka Golf Club

About the club

Jack Nicklaus designed the course at the Ishioka Golf Club, located an hour and a half from downtown Tokyo on a tract of pleasant parkland at the edge of the Kogama Forest. As only he can, Nicklaus turned what was a fairly level and nondescript setting into a great place for golf, and he placed his unique stamp on it. Thus every hole is tree-lined; the lines of sight from tee to green are not obscured; and thick rough is there to separate out players who excel at the long game. Greens are generous and make for fairly level putting apart from some gentle terracing. Somewhat uncommon among Nicklaus' designs is the tightness of the fairways, where bunkers, rather than being random sand patches, stand ready to punish the errant drive. Ishioka's reputation was such that the club was selected to host the ACPM International Championship every year from 1999 through 2004.