The Imperial Country Club

The Imperial Country Club is a 27-hole woodland course in Inashiki, Ibaraki Prefecture, Japan, built around a design philosophy borrowed from classic American layouts. More than 100 deep, carved bunkers — the kind that look as though the earth itself has been scooped away — guard greens and fairways throughout, keeping pressure constant from tee to hole. Fairways are generously wide, giving players room to swing freely off the tee without feeling hemmed in. Hazards including greens, bunkers, and ponds are clearly visible from each tee, making it straightforward to read the hole and plan an attack route before committing to a shot.