Narusawa Golf Club

Course Data

Location	Yamanashi, Japan
Yardage	6925 yards　Par 72
Course Rating	72.4
Playing Date	2 Dec. 2003
Desingner	I. Shiota
Opened	1994
Caddy	Yes
Golf Cart	No

Rating

Overall Rating

4.70

Course Layout	5
Difficulty Level	3
Greens Conditions	5
Fairways Conditions	4
Landscaping & Views	5
Level of Satisfaction	5

18th green seen from the clubhouse

9th green seen from the clubhouse

You can play and relax as you appreciate on several occasions the view of the great Mt.Fuji. The course maximizes the terrain’s natural beauty while downplaying anything artificial. The course consists of many strategic holes and each hole is separated by red pines and white birches. The sheer altitude of 1,100 meters (3600 ft.) above the see level, makes club selection difficult as shots go much further than usual. Many holes in the front 9 have left doglegs while the back 9 have right doglegs. Considering that the challenging layout and the molding beauty of the course, and in addition, looking at the grand Mt. Fuji while playing, the course which made me appreciate thoroughly that I am a golfer.

2nd　Par 4　383 yards

2nd　Par 4　383 yards (2)

2nd　Par 4　383 yards　(1)

The green and its surrounding give you a very unique appearance. You should avoid deep bunkers on the left and in front of the green.

3rd　Par 3　208 yards

3rd　Par 3　208 yards

The red pines on this both sides of the green are beautiful, and it just looks like the hole is wrapped in the woods. A wide but shallow double-tiered green is elevated and slopes from the back to the front.

4th　Par 4　391 yards

4th　Par 4　391 yards (2)

4th　Par 4　391 yards (1)

A slight dogleg to the left. Pot bunkers are waiting on the left and in front of the elevated green.

5th　Par 5　533 yards

A long and tough par 5 as it slopes up. Beautiful red pines line both sides of this hole. Bunkers which guard the green are deep.

5th hole seen from the green

5th　Par 5　533 yards (2)

5th　Par 5　533 yards (1)

7th　Par 4　446 yards

7th　Par 4　446 yards (2)

7th　Par 4　446 yards (1)

Artificially beautiful par 4. The hole has the excellent contrast of a lake which spreads in front of the green, and the white birches surrounding it. The tee shot is a magnificent downhill towards the narrow fairway separated by trees. The second shot is over the lake. The beautiful view of Mt. Fuji is breathtaking which finally comes into view when you are putting on the green.

Mt. Fuji seen from 7th green

8th　Par 3　174 yards

8th　Par 3　174 yards

An over the lake par 3 as you hit toward the grand Mt. Fuji. Mt. Fuji is also beautifully reflected on the lake in front of the green. The green is double-tiered with left & right and fast from the back. Bunkers in front and at back of the green often come into play.

9th　Par 4　453 yards

9th　Par 4　453 yards (2)

9th　Par 4　453 yards (1)

A long par 4 with a slight dogleg to the left. The second shot is slightly downhill to hit onto a beautiful green with a blind lake on the front left of the green. Bunkers guard the green well to make your second shot require accuracy.

12th　Par 5　530 yards

12th　Par 5　530 yards (2)

12th　Par 5　530 yards (1)

A right dogleg with OB along the right side. The second shot is slight uphill.

13th　Par 4　405 yards

A flat par 4. The second shot needs to clear a lake. Green has a gentle uphill undulation.

13th hole seen from the green

13th　Par 4　405 yards (2)

13th　Par 4　405 yards (1)

16th　Par 3　204 yards

16th　Par 3　204 yards

A beautiful par 3. Though it is long and difficult. A wide and narrow green is elevated, and a bunker in the right front of the green is in play. Red pines on both sides of green edges give the peculiar sight of this hole.

17th　Par 4　398 yards

17th　Par 4　398 yards (2)

17th　Par 4　398 yards (1)

A right dogleg with a lot of fairway bunkers, and green side bunkers. A huge bunker as deep as 1.5 times of your height, located on the right hand side of the green, should be avoided. Putts are difficult because the undulating green slopes from the back to the front.

18th　Par 5　534 yards

18th　Par 5　534 yards (2)

18th　Par 5　534 yards (1)

The final hole is a very beautiful par 5. Although a long hitter can hit the green in 2 shots, The second shot is over a lake onto the green whose front edge touches the lake, So, if you are short even if slightly, your ball disappear is the water, and if you are long, it is caught by a bunker at the back of the green where having birdie is difficult. If you decided to lay up, there are different ways how to hit the second shot depending on the player’s skill. As it closer to the green, the fairway is narrower. You use a fairway wood to a narrow target or to choose a safety with a short iron. A green looks like a floating island as the water almost completely surround the green.

19th hole

It is a 2 hours drive from Tokyo. Visitors can play anytime.　

This club gave me an excellent impression because of the friendly & beautiful smiles of the staff and a wonderful female caddy who served me. I believe she was as good as a top-pro caddie.

The course was awarded 60th place out of 2400 courses in 2002’s Japanese golf course rankings sponsored by Japan Golf Classic Magazine. In my personal opinion the ranking should be higher as it was a great golf experience.