Sea of Japan views and Graham Marsh's first design in Japan

Golf Park Sakata lies in Kitazawa on the outskirts of Sakata, the old port city of Yamagata's Shonai plain. Opened in September 1976, it is the first course in Japan designed by Australian champion Graham Marsh, an 18-hole, par-72 layout of about 6,570 yards on gently hilly ground. The front nine, the Gassan course, is long and dotted with ponds that demand accurate second shots, while the back nine, the Chokai course, is more strategic and opens up panoramic views of Mt. Chokai and the Sea of Japan.

A relaxed, open course with mountain and sea views, and a welcome for every kind of golfer.

The atmosphere is easygoing: casual dress, solo players and same-day bookings welcome, riding carts, optional caddies and even 9-hole rounds for those short on time, which makes it a fine choice for families and newer golfers. Sakata itself rewards a stay, with the Sankyo rice warehouses, the Homma family's merchant heritage and superb seafood from the Sea of Japan, while the Yunohama and Atsumi onsen resorts sit along the coast nearby and the sacred peaks of Dewa Sanzan rise inland. The course is open from late March to November, closing for the snowy winter, and is about 20 minutes by taxi from JR Sakata Station or around 20 km from the Sakata interchange.