TO K Y O


69


FROM OPPOSITE PAGE: Kasumigaseki Country Club seen from the air; and from the green; Kawana Hotel


KASUMIGASEKI COUNTRY CLUB (KCC) WHERE 40km north of Tokyo (35 minutes from Kan-Etsu/Ken-O expressway). WHY Te most likely way to get into this private club, the 2020 Olympic course, is through an invitation from a member. To stage the event, the club was pressured into opening to women members in March 2017. The KCC was established in 1929 with


the East Course and redesigned in 1930 by CH Allison. His secret design weapon was a cavernous bunker, represented at the par 3 10th on Kasumigaseki East. He also provided input for the West Course. In that era, courses routinely had twin


greens, with different grass for winter and summer – a feature considered outdated now that bent grass can cope with climatic vagaries. Part of the brief for Tom Fazio and son Logan, the US team refashioning the East for the Olympics, is to eliminate the twin-green system. In other respects, they


bus ine s s tr a v el ler .c om


remain true to tradition, lengthening and opening up the fairways and enhancing the bunkers – without adding gimmicky water features to existing lakes and streams. PRICE Weekdays ¥27,000 (US$254), weekends/holidays ¥31,000 (US$292). HOURS 7.30am to sunset. Closed Monday. FACILITIES East Course (2020 Summer Olympics) 18 holes, 7,466 yards par 71; West Course 18 holes, 7,117 yards par 73. 250 yard range, five short-game practice greens and putting greens. Five pros offering tuition. Club hire not available. MAX HANDICAP 20 (certificate not requested, but best to take a copy). FOOD AND LEISURE Understated luxury marks a low-rise clubhouse in a circle of pines, which serves quality Japanese food and has a bar/terrace where businesspeople can be seen making deals after their rounds. CONTACT 3398, Kasahata, Kawagoe-shi, Saitama 350-1175; +81 492 31 2181; kasumigasekicc.or.jp


AP RIL 2 0 18


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56  |  Page 57  |  Page 58  |  Page 59  |  Page 60  |  Page 61  |  Page 62  |  Page 63  |  Page 64  |  Page 65  |  Page 66  |  Page 67  |  Page 68  |  Page 69  |  Page 70  |  Page 71  |  Page 72  |  Page 73  |  Page 74  |  Page 75  |  Page 76  |  Page 77  |  Page 78  |  Page 79  |  Page 80  |  Page 81  |  Page 82  |  Page 83  |  Page 84