Wide fairways and big Hokkaido skies

Shin-Sapporodai Golf Club lies in the Kurisawa district of Iwamizawa, in the farming heartland of Hokkaido's Sorachi region. Opened in 1974 and laid out by Izumi, the 18-hole, par-72 course measures 6,316 yards across gently rolling hills. Its broad, softly sloping fairways make it a favourite with beginners and casual golfers, yet the inward nine adds bite with two par 4s and 5s stretching beyond 400 yards. Bent greens, riding carts and a relaxed, self-service style keep the day simple and unhurried.

An easygoing summer round in the countryside, less than an hour from Sapporo.

The course is about 15 minutes from the Iwamizawa interchange on the Do-O Expressway, roughly 50 minutes by car from central Sapporo, so a round fits comfortably into a city stay. Like most Hokkaido courses it plays only in the warmer months, closing from mid-November to mid-April, when the cool, dry summers make for ideal golf weather. Afterwards, head back to Sapporo for a bowl of miso ramen and Genghis Khan grilled lamb, or continue to the hot springs of Jozankei to soak away the day.