Best golf courses: Japan - South

Japan - South: the table below provides brief details about the top golf courses in this country or region. Each golf club has been visited and/or researched by Where2Golf. Click on the course name below to discover more. The course ratings below range from 5 highest, to 2 lowest. They attempt to provide an indication of the golfing experience you might expect at the course (based on its design, condition and surroundings). Hover your cursor above the Rating Key for the rating definitions.
3-PLUS: Good course - several memorable features; worthy of 3½ stars.
Visitors welcome
Okinawa
Unknown

Visitors?

Visitors welcome

Nearest city

Okinawa

Designer

Unknown

4-star: Above average course - well worth a visit.
Visitors welcome
Kyoto-Osaka-Kobe
Jones II, Robert Trent

Visitors?

Visitors welcome

Nearest city

Kyoto-Osaka-Kobe

Designer

Robert Trent Jones Jr.

Private: A course for members and their invited guests only.
Private club
Kyoto-Osaka-Kobe
Alison, Charles H.

Visitors?

Private club

Nearest city

Kyoto-Osaka-Kobe

Designer

Original design and later modifications by Charles Hugh Alison (1931, 1948). Renovated by Martin Ebert (2018).

Private: A course for members and their invited guests only.
Private club
Kyoto-Osaka-Kobe
Inoue, Alison & Jones

Visitors?

Private club

Nearest city

Kyoto-Osaka-Kobe

Designer

East course designed by David Hood of Scotland (1923); renovated by Charles H. Alison (1930).
West course designed by Seiichi Inoue (1960); completely redesigned by Rees Jones and Bryce Swanson (2011).

Private: A course for members and their invited guests only.
Private club
Fukuoka
Akaboshi, Shiro

Visitors?

Private club

Nearest city

Fukuoka

Designer

Shiro Akaboshi

Private: A course for members and their invited guests only.
Private club
Fukuoka
Ueda, Osamu

Visitors?

Private club

Nearest city

Fukuoka

Designer

Osamu Ueda

Private: A course for members and their invited guests only.
Private club
Kyoto-Osaka-Kobe
Crane & Alison

Visitors?

Private club

Nearest city

Kyoto-Osaka-Kobe

Designer

Current course designed in 1927 by club members - the Crane brothers (Joe E., Harry C. and Bertie E. Crane). Later modifications drawn up by Charles Hugh Alison (1930).

Private: A course for members and their invited guests only.
Private club
Kyoto-Osaka-Kobe
Ueda, Osamu

Visitors?

Private club

Nearest city

Kyoto-Osaka-Kobe

Designer

Osamu Ueda

Private: A course for members and their invited guests only.
Private club
Kyoto-Osaka-Kobe
Ueda, Osamu

Visitors?

Private club

Nearest city

Kyoto-Osaka-Kobe

Designer

Osamu Ueda

Private: A course for members and their invited guests only.
Private club
Miyazaki
Ohashi, Kokichi

Visitors?

Private club

Nearest city

Miyazaki

Designer

Kokichi Ohashi

4-star: Above average course - well worth a visit.
Visitors welcome
Kyoto-Osaka-Kobe
Jones II, Robert Trent

Visitors?

Visitors welcome

Nearest city

Kyoto-Osaka-Kobe

Designer

Robert Trent Jones Jr.

Private: A course for members and their invited guests only.
Private club
Kitakyushu
Ueda, Osamu

Visitors?

Private club

Nearest city

Kitakyushu

Designer

Osamu Ueda

3-PLUS: Good course - several memorable features; worthy of 3½ stars.
Visitors welcome
Miyazaki
Watson, Tom

Visitors?

Visitors welcome

Nearest city

Miyazaki

Designer

Tom Watson

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Tournaments

Women’s (British) Open: the last women’s major championship of the season is hosted by Royal Porthcawl GC. It’s the first time this fabulous seaside links course has hosted the event (July 31-Aug 3).

Walker Cup: the 50th playing of this prestigious men’s amateur event sees the GB&I go head-to-head against the defending USA team at Cypress Point Club, California (Sept 6-7). After that, all eyes turn to Bethpage State Park on Long Island, NY, where the American and defending European professional teams engage in the 45th Ryder Cup (Sept 27-29).

Who's Who

Lottie Woad: 21-year-old Woad burst onto the professional scene in July, with wins in the Women’s Irish Open (as an amateur) and three weeks later in the Women’s Scottish Open (as a professional). She nearly picked-up a major championship, placing third in The Evian in the same month.

Pádraig Harrington: the ever-likeable Irishman added the (British) Senior Open Championship title to his stellar array of tournament successes. His win came on Sunningdale’s spectacular Old Course. Harrington had already bagged the U.S. Senior Open title in June this year.

The Dutch GC, The Netherlands

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.

Prince's Golf Club, Kent (UK)

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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Bethpage State Park (New York) host of the Ryder Cup 2025

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