Orion Arashiyama Golf Club

Orion Arashiyama Golf Club is an 18-hole hillside course in Nakijin, Okinawa Prefecture, Japan, where the two nines demand very different skills from the golfer. The front nine plays over rolling terrain with narrowing fairways off the tee. Accuracy is the priority here — long irons or a fairway wood off the tee can help avoid the bunkers scattered throughout, and on holes 2 and 3 in particular, direction matters far more than distance. The back nine opens up considerably. Built around five ponds on largely flat ground, the fairways are wide and the layout invites a freer swing. Holes 12 and 15 are the standout challenges, each requiring a second shot carried over water to reach the green. Hitting the pin from there demands precise ball-striking. Bunkers are positioned throughout both nines, keeping every round honest.