Highland golf above Osumi Lake and Shibushi Bay

Kagoshima Kanoya Country Club, formerly known as Jay's Kanoya, opened in March 1977 on a high plateau in the Takakuma district of Kanoya on the Osumi Peninsula. Laid out by Kokudo, the company behind the Prince hotels, the 18-hole hilly course is known as a strategic test: the outward nine has broad fairways with plenty of undulation, while the inward nine asks for precise tee shots into tight landing areas, with bunkers guarding the greens. Regulars say it stays challenging no matter how many times you play it.

A scenic plateau course with lake and sea below, and a reputation for keeping golfers honest.

The setting is the reward: the course looks out over Osumi Lake, Shibushi Bay and the Takakuma mountain range. It is a public course played self-style with riding carts, and there is a bath with sauna for afterwards. The Osumi Peninsula is a quieter corner of Kagoshima, with Kanoya's rose garden and the peninsula's rugged southern coast to explore, and Sakurajima only a ferry ride away. Plan on driving: there is no club bus, and the course is a long drive from Kagoshima Airport.