Pete Dye's lakes on the Ishikari plain

Golf5 Country Bibai Course sits on open, flat land outside Bibai in central Hokkaido, about 50 minutes by car from Sapporo. Opened in 1995 and designed by Pete Dye with his son Perry, it spreads 27 holes (par 108, 10,598 yards across three nines: East, Middle and West) around seven lakes, with brilliant white-sand bunkers and gentle undulations in a Scottish-American style. The concept is a "return to nature": the hazards are built into the landscape rather than forced onto it, and the Dye trademark of tempting carries over water is everywhere.

Seven lakes and white sand, with a cabin just off the fairway.

What sets Bibai apart for travellers is the chance to stay on the course: new Japanese-style cabins on the grounds sleep up to three, each with its own bath and Wi-Fi, so you can play 36 holes over two days without touching a car. The restaurant overlooks the course and serves Hokkaido dishes, and the pro shop sells local seafood, fruit and meat to take home. Caddies can be requested when booking. The season runs through the Hokkaido summer, when the cool, dry air makes this some of the most comfortable golf in Japan, and ends in early November, after which the grounds become a snow park. Combine it with Sapporo and Asahikawa, or arrive by JR to Bibai Station (about 1 hr 20 min from New Chitose Airport), a 12-minute drive from the club.