Mie Prefecture, Japan
A feature from the IAGTO Directory
2018
Mie Prefecture, Japan
Mie Prefecture, Japan Welcoming golf in the lush heart of Japan’s main island Blessed with a mild climate and a spectacular setting between the mountains and the sea, Mie Prefecture features 69 beautiful courses right in the heart of Japan’s main island of Honshu. The area has a rich history of welcoming travellers that dates back thousands of years, so visiting golfers are sure to be welcomed and receive the hospitality for which Mie is famous. As a main corridor between eastern and western Japan, access is easy from Kyoto, Osaka and Nagoya with Kansai International Airport serving as the nearest hub. This prime location has led to Mie being selected to host the first-ever IAGTO Japan Golf Tourism Convention, in October 2018. Located in the eastern part of the Kii Peninsula (Kii-hanto) this region of Japan has lush plains and the majority of its border comprises more than 1,000km of sparkling coastline. Ocean views are spectacular from its coastal and mountain courses.
Ago Bay, Shima City
Mie enjoys not only mild weather and four seasons, but also has an abundance of natural hot springs, many located right in the golf clubhouses themselves. A visit to the hot springs or Japanese bath is a traditional post-round activity enjoyed in Japan and makes for the perfect way to relax your muscles.
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Mie Prefecture, Japan
Enjoy access to an abundance of area activities, both physical and spiritual, available for everyone. They include: hiking on the area’s many mountain ranges; amusement parks; the famous Mikimoto pearl divers’ shows and museum; water sports such as sailing and diving; the Suzuka Circuit, famous for F1 Grand Prix races; sake tastings and much more. Known as the spiritual home of Shintoism, the Ise Grand Shrine is a must-see with a traditional village near the entrance to this cultural treasure that dates back over 2,000 years. It is often visited by the royal families and is considered the heart of Japanese spiritualism.
Mikimoto pearl divers
Mie Prefecture has a full selection of accommodations ready to welcome visiting golfers, including everything from world-class, five-star resorts to traditional Japanese inns offering a more intimate and authentic experience. Many of the resorts also offer golf-course-view properties along with hot spring and spa options. It is these features that helped Mie attract the recent G7 summit that it hosted in 2016. A visit also lets you enjoy the many Mie gourmet delicacies like famous Ise Ebi (lobster) and the local Matsusaka beef that are prepared with care in traditional styles you can only find in this region, by chefs with legacies spanning some three to five generations. In short, Mie is the perfect destination for private, group or corporate golf getaways and vacations with world-class courses, hospitality and warm smiles waiting to greet visitors.
Tsu Country Club 33
Mie Prefecture, Japan
Select course signature hole playing guide Ise Country Club Enjoy an oriental red bridge as you cruise over to the tee ground on this iconic overthe-water par 3. Although you see a lot of water, it’s not that hard to carry it over to the green side of this man-made lake.
Data Designer Founded Signature hole
18 holes, par 72, 7,007 yards Seiichi Inoue 1965 9th – par 3, 205 yards The green slopes back to front, so your tee shot should stop. If it doesn’t, you might find the hidden bunker off the back on the right.
Ise Country Club, hole 9
How to play: Go for the pin, baby! But if you must play safe, left of centre and a little long is best. This par 3 will leave you with quite an impression, but don’t worry; just focus on making good impact and you’ll get there. Enjoy the views and fresh air here on this memorable, traditional course with over 50 years of history.
Fuji OGM Excellent Club Ise Ohtori Course This hugely-attractive finishing hole features water all down the left side and amazing views into the green and clubhouse beyond it. From the tee you are challenged by an over-the-water tee shot with a “Plan B” fairway route option to the right. How to play: If you have Data 18 holes, par 72, 7,033 confidence in your driver, aim Designer Mitsuaki Kobayashi right of the small tree just Founded 1998 beyond the lake between you Signature hole 18th – par 4, 417 yards, stroke index 12 and the centre of the fairway. This is the shortest route to the green but you’ll need a solid 215-yard carry to get you there. If you pull it off, you will be rewarded with an easy 100-yard approach into the large green. Plan B will have you aiming quite a bit to the right towards the bunkers, leaving a long iron or fairway wood to get you there for your second shot. This route essentially makes the hole a dogleg left with water waiting on the left side all the way to the green. Enjoy!
18th hole, Fuji OGM Excellent Club Ise Ohtori Course 34
Mie Prefecture, Japan
Cocopa Hakusan Village (Queen Course), hole 18
Cocopa Resort Club, Hakusan Village Golf Course (Queen Course) This well-maintained resort course is Data 18 holes, par 72, 7,018 yards always a pleasure to play and the 18th Designer Masakazu Suzuki hole is unforgettable, with multiple palm Founded 1990 trees on both sides and one of three resort Signature hole 18th – par 5, 476 yards hotels visible on the right with the course wrapping around it. Not hugely long, it can play longer due to being slight uphill all the way to the green. Take care to avoid the pond on the left 180 yards from the green. This course hosted the Japan Senior Open in 2015 and is set to welcome the Japan Ladies Open in 2019. How to play: If you’re going for it, aim just left of the hotel’s restaurant over the palm trees. You will need to carry it a full 220 yards from the regular men’s tees to make it to the turn. There is out of bounds on the right, just in front of the hotel and tennis courts. The left side is safe from the tee, but you’ll need to avoid a pond with your second shot. The green is well protected by guard bunkers on all sides except the back, so keep your approach shot long because of that and for the slight uphill slope. The green is big and receiving once you get there, so go right for the flag! Tsu Country Club From the moment you Data 18 holes, par 72, 7,023 yards enter the clubhouse Designer Kentaro Sato with co-design by Jumbo Ozaki you know you’re in Founded 1990 for a special treat. Signature hole 9th – par 4, 409 yards, stroke index 7 This course was codesigned by Japanese golf legend Jumbo Ozaki, whose designs are renowned for their challenge and extensive bunkering. The 9th hole encompasses all aspects of the natural beauty of the location with a valley down the right side and relative safety on the left, although both sides are out of bounds. The elevated green is well protected by towering guard bunkers that can defeat you just with their impressive scale. Ask for the special Teppan-yaki lunch when making your reservation if you really want to impress your friends or colleagues. Tsu Country Club is both a world-class golf and culinary experience! How to play: Take a deep breath and chose your target point wisely. The abyss on the right awaits any errant pushed, sliced or greedy shots. Keeping your tee shot left and, using the natural slope of the course, bring it back to the middle if you want to set yourself up in best position for the approach. The second shot into this green is a beast, with huge, impressive guard bunkers rejecting anything short of a perfect, high trajectory shot. The far-right corner might be your best bet to sneak on, with a small Tsu Country Club, hole 9 opening for the wise. 35
Mie Prefecture, Japan
Mie Country Club This challenging par 5 is Data 18 holes, par 72, 6,585 yards bordered on both sides by Designer Yoten Yasuda mature dense forests that are Founded 1960 hard to navigate should you find Driving range Covered 27-bay range, 220 yards long yourself in them. Its 30-metre Signature hole 12th – par 5, 475 yards, stroke index 4 elevated, two-tiered main green gives you a memorable third approach shot into this seemingly-impenetrable raised fortress. The right side is out of bounds from the tee to the green while the left is safe, but heavily wooded. Enjoy the seasonal views of the mountain range that surrounds this traditional course and the many fresh water streams that run through it.
Mie Country Club, hole 12
Mie Country Club
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How to play: The view from the tee is limited as the hole turns slightly to the right with the trees on the right jutting out, just 50 yards out, adding pressure especially if you draw your tee shot. If you can fade your tee shot, great. If not, go to a driving iron or a hybrid to get you out to about 200 yards and hopefully short of the forest on the left. For your second you are then free to grip it and rip it, with a 3 wood to hopefully leave 100 yards or less into this raised green. Give yourself an extra two clubs on your approach to get it up there and note, there is a false front provided by the B green (shorter green) so it’s best to feel like you are almost going too long.
Mie Prefecture, Japan
Mie and sake – Japan’s famous, traditional rice wine Due to its location at the most-travelled mountain pass in Japan, Mie served as an ancient gateway between eastern and western Japan and is one of the oldest sake-producing regions in Japan. Sake has been historically produced here for some 2,000 years. Travellers in ancient times would enjoy sake before heading east towards Kyoto up the mountain pass, as they couldn’t carry very much of it with them. Likewise, those coming down from the mountain pass from Kyoto heading towards Edo (Tokyo) would be thirsty and eager to enjoy the fine sakes as well as stock up for the rest of their trip. Mie’s abundant natural resources also help make it a gourmet food lovers’ delight. Famous for its seafood highlighted by oysters, abalone and succulent Ise spiny lobster, the area’s chefs create a full selection of traditional culinary specialties that can be matched perfectly with its local sakes. The region’s tall mountain ranges capture rainwater, creating streams and fresh-water springs that flow onto lush fields and plains, perfect for growing the fresh rice needed to produce quality sakes. The landscape is also perfect for breeding Iga and Matsuzaka cattle, whose marbled wagyu beef is an internationally sought-after delicacy – not to be missed and best enjoyed with sake! Perhaps the most famous sake brewer in Mie is located near Suzuka. Shimizu Seizaburo Shoten, founded in 1869, created the Zaku brand of sake that was enjoyed by dignitaries during their meal at the recent meeting of G7 nations hosted in the Ise-Shima region. This is just one of the many famous brands that are produced here in Mie, so visitors can order local sake at any of the local golf course restaurants. Mie prefecture serves up enjoy a golf vacation that golfing visitors will never forget, while creating memories of a lifetime. For more information, visit miegolftourism.jp
All golf photos by Ken. Tenzing
Copy supplied by Mie Prefecture
Mie
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Cover Photo: Resor t at Pelican Hill • www.pelicanhill.com
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