Hachimantai Country Club

Hachimantai Country Club is an 18-hole hillside course in Shizukuishi, Iwate Prefecture, Japan, set among the mountains yet laid out over relatively gentle terrain with generously wide fairways. Subtle undulations throughout mean fairway shots demand variety and attention, but the greens are flat and large, making approaches more forgiving than the terrain might suggest. On the front nine, distances are shorter, so accuracy off the tee matters more than power. The back nine starts out manageable, but from the 14th hole onward the layout turns noticeably tougher, with a run of demanding holes to close out the round. Building a score early on the back is the smart play.