Tokyo Golf Club

About the club

From its beginnings in 1913 with a mere six holes, the Tokyo Golf Club has become the most high profile club anywhere in the area. The original site was large enough for this first course to be expanded to nine holes, but a new site, in Sayama City, was needed to accommodate the full eighteen that were laid out in 1955. This course shows the influence of Charles Alison, in particular the deep bunkers that Alison popularized with his Hirono layout. The Tokyo course is kept from growing beyond its 6400-meter length by the surrounding development, but it nevertheless attracts some top tournaments, in part because of its proximity to the capital. The Japan Open has been played here a number of times, most recently in 2001. The terrain is essentially parkland, with evergreen and chestnut trees fringing many of the holes. The challenge increases progressively, so the 16h and 18th are particularly difficult.