Rolling Fairways Beneath the Zao Mountains

Miyagi Zao Country Club spreads across some 149 hectares of gently rolling hills in Zao-machi, in the south of Miyagi Prefecture. Opened on 14 July 1988 and developed by Daiwa House Industry, the 18-hole, par-72 course plays up to 6,794 yards from the full-back tees over bentgrass greens. The club describes its layout as a generous links-style design built around the natural forest, with lush fairways and open views of the Zao range across almost every hole.

Big skies and long views of Zao, with a strong set of par 5s to test your driving.

The 549-yard 4th is the longest and toughest hole on the card, while the green at the 16th, played toward Mt. Aoso, rewards a careful read. A 300-yard, 16-bay driving range lets you warm up properly, and a bath awaits after the round. The course is about an hour by car from Sendai Station; by train, take the Tohoku Shinkansen to Shiroishi-Zao Station (about 15 minutes from Sendai) and then a taxi of around 30 minutes. It is also reachable from Yamagata via Miyagi-Kawasaki IC. The Zao area is famous for its hot-spring towns, the crater lake Okama and, in winter, its snow monsters, so the course pairs naturally with an onsen stay in Zao or Togatta.