Three nines in the Saitama hills, an hour from Tokyo

Olympic National Golf Club WEST, formerly Tsurugashima Golf Club, opened in July 1980 in the wooded hills of Moroyama, Saitama. Its 27 holes are split into three par-36 nines with flower names. Azalea was reworked under the supervision of American architect Jim Fazio in 2017 into a more modern, strategic test; Camellia is flat but guarded by ponds and large bunkers that demand careful planning; and Shibazakura opens with a sweeping downhill hole and rewards thoughtful play into its raised greens.

Three distinct nines, one modernised by Jim Fazio, all within easy reach of the capital.

A 21-bay range and practice green make it easy to warm up, and the clubhouse restaurant is a pleasant spot for the traditional Japanese lunch break. The club is about 60 minutes from central Tokyo by car via the Kan-etsu Expressway, and rail travellers can use the club shuttle from Higashi-Moro Station on the Tobu Ogose Line or Hanno Station on the Seibu Ikebukuro Line. Hanno and the surrounding Okumusashi countryside offer riverside walks and the Moomin-themed Metsä park, while historic Kawagoe, with its old merchant streets, is an easy add-on for an overnight stay.