Hilltop golf in a little corner of Sweden

Sweden Hills Golf Club sits on a rise above Tobetsu, just north of Sapporo, inside the Swedish-themed residential village from which it takes its name. Opened in July 1975, it spreads 27 holes – the West, Central and East nines – across some 1.55 million square metres of rolling Hokkaido countryside. Fairways are generously wide, but the ground rarely sits still, and trees, bunkers and ponds come into play often enough to reward a thoughtful strategy. Players consistently praise the condition of the course, and GPS riding carts make the undulating terrain easy going.

Wide Hokkaido fairways on a hilltop, with sunsets over Ishikari Bay.

The setting is the real draw: from the higher holes the Teine mountains unfold in a broad panorama, and on summer evenings the sun drops over Ishikari Bay. Stay the night in the Villa Leksand cottages and you can wander the village's red-and-white Swedish houses between rounds. Sapporo is close enough for dinner – think miso ramen, Genghis Khan lamb barbecue and fresh Hokkaido seafood – making this an easy day trip or a relaxed base. The club lies about 20 km from the Sapporo-Otaru Expressway; by rail, take the JR Gakuen-toshi Line to Futomi Station and a short taxi ride. Visitors can book online, even as a pair. The club is closed on Mondays.