1-4 Kanagaya, Nishi,
Kawanishi, Hyogo 666-0155
The Course:
18 holes. Tree-lined parkland. Undulating terrain - several slopes to climb.
Surroundings:
Woodland.
Designer:
Current course designed in 1927 by Naruo GC members the Crane brothers (Joe E., Harry C. and Bertie E.). Later extensive modifications by Charles Hugh Alison (1930).
34.891589
135.396625
2 km W of Kawanishi / 30 km N of Osaka.
Naruo GC
Naruo Golf Club: like some others amongst Japan's elite (notably Hirono and Kawana), the current layout here at Naruo owes much to revered golf course architect Charles Hugh Alison. Always maintained in top-quality condition, the course, its bunkering and its greens are widely recognised as being among the best in Japan.
Laid out in two nine-hole loops, and mapped onto the area's naturally rolling terrain, the course offers many reminders of a classic English Surrey-Berkshire heathland course. Notable among its defences is the superb Alison-bunkering, which threateningly lies in wait around many greens. Not overly wide fairways, plenty of elevation change and fast immaculate putting surfaces will all test you game on this excellently presented course.
Pick of the holes: Naruo's excellent collection of four par-3s offers plenty of variety and intrigue. The par-4 10th arguably steals the show amongst the longer holes, with its enforced carry over a deep gulley as you approach the green.
Limited access: this private course is generally playable only by members and their invited guests.
Private club - very restricted opportunities for outside visitor play. International visitors should contact club to establish playing possibility and associated rates.
Must contact in advance.
Good
Naruo Golf Club has its antecedents in a rather modest course started by Arthur Groom, the founder of Japan's oldest golf club (Kobe GC). In 1904, Groom and a friend William John Robinson, launched the Yokoya Golf Association with a six-hole course that could be played during the months when Kobe GC was snowed over. They moved the YGA course to Naruo in 1914, expanded it to nine holes, and adopted the name Naruo Golf Association.
In 1920, Robinson took over the project, and the NGA became Naruo Golf Club. The course was expanded to 18 holes in 1924, but retreated to a nine-hole layout soon after. In the late-1920s, and not content with just nine holes, three Naruo members (the Crane brothers ... Joe E., Harry C. and Bertie E.) set out to find and build a new 18-hole championship course. This they did, and the club moved to its present location near the town of Inagawa. Charles Hugh Alison was invited to make modifications to the course in 1931.
Lying immediately to the west of Naruo GC are the publicly accessible courses of Yamanohara Golf Club. Yamanohara's 36-holes were designed by Yoshio Machida, opened in 1965, and are split between the higher-rated and longer Yamanohara course, and the shorter Kosaito course. They are part of the Accordia Golf group, which has a large number of public-access courses spread throughout Japan.
Japan's 3rd best course (Golf Digest, 2025).
World's former 99th best course (GOLF Magazine, 2009; not in subsequent editions of this ranking).
Sony Open in Hawaii: played at Waialae Country Club near Honolulu, the Sony Open takes over the spotlight from The Sentry as the PGA Tour’s calendar-year opening event (Jan 15-18). The Sentry (not being played in 2026) was formerly known as the Tournament of Champions, with a field typically restricted to golfers who won a PGA Tour event in the previous calendar year.
Dubai Desert Classic: the DP World Tour’s first Rolex Series event of 2026, is contested for the 37th time (Jan 22-25). First won by Englishman Mark James in 1989, it now boasts a four-time winner, Rory McIlroy. Played on the Emirates Golf Club’s Majlis course, this once desert-surrounded course is the long-time flagship for Golf in Dubai.
Our visit last month included two rounds at Golf de Chantilly, one of France’s most prestigious clubs.
It offers two superb layouts: Le Vineuil, a five-star championship course with a rich history, and Longères, an excellent four-star course that provides a strong and enjoyable test.
The wider Paris region offers plenty more. Courses such as Fontainebleau, Golf de Saint-Germain, and several other top-rated layouts make this area one of Europe’s most rewarding golf destinations, offering a mix of woodland, heathland, and parkland designs.
The Dutch: "It's no' just a game", as they say in Scotland, and that's certainly true at The Dutch. With 5-star services throughout, a lavishly comfortable Loch Lomond-inspired clubhouse, and a superbly designed and presented golf course, one could not ask for more from this top-end private club.
Join us at The Dutch from August 21–24 for the Festival of Golf, featuring the HotelPlanner Tour. Experience four days of top-tier sport, live music, incredible food, and unexpected surprises. Explore the grounds, connect with others, embrace new challenges, and dive into an unforgettable celebration. Click here to buy tickets.
Here at Prince’s Golf Club you'll find 27 excellent holes of links golf. Just over the fence and sharing similar terrain is Royal St George’s; but Prince’s is far from overshadowed by its venerable neighbour. The three nine-hole loops at Prince's, laid out over gently undulating terrain, are sure to bring a smile of satisfaction to all lovers of links golf.
Stay&Play at Prince's: excellent onsite Lodge accommodation available
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