A riverside nine on the banks of the Chikugo

Mamezu Golf Course sits on the floodplain of the Chikugo River in Miyaki, Saga Prefecture, right by the border with Kurume in Fukuoka. Opened on New Year's Day 1969 to a design by Masao Sakata, it is a relaxed nine-hole layout played twice for a par-70 round of about 5,200 yards, with each hole offering two greens: Korai on the way out and Tifton on the way home. Everyone plays as a self-play group on foot, and the elevated greens reward a thoughtful approach rather than raw power. The signature moments are the 97-yard par 3s at the 7th and 16th, where you hit across water with a real shot at a hole-in-one.

An easygoing walk along the river, where every round comes with an ace chance.

This is golf the way locals enjoy it: affordable, unpretentious and open to all ages and abilities, which makes it ideal for beginners, families or a quick warm-up round on a Kyushu trip. Bookings are taken by phone and single players are welcome to join a foursome. Afterwards, Kurume is just across the river, famous for its rich tonkotsu ramen and the azaleas and gardens of the Chikugo plain, while Fukuoka city and its airport are within easy driving distance for the rest of your journey.