Golf and Culinary Delights - Kyushu 2023
/“It was the trip of a lifetime! The golf courses we had the opportunity to play – all magnificent. The Japanese way of golf – from caddies, lunch in the middle and the after golf onsens! Never in my dreams did I think I would be ‘onsening’ after golf!
I loved the mix of golf courses, accommodation, and food! My expectations were exceeded again, again and then again! The tour ran perfectly for me – but I know how much work went on behind the scenes. I greatly appreciate On The Tee for the work you do.
Thanks for so much fun and a very memorable trip.”
Our inaugural women's journey to Japan was expertly guided by Yoko Timbs. Instead of following the well-trodden paths of Kyoto and Tokyo, for this tour we ventured into the hidden golfing paradise of Kyushu—an island pulsating with vitality and adorned with active volcanoes. Our exploration covered a myriad of sights, from Miyazaki’s serene Shinto shrines to the enchanting gardens and castle in Kumamoto, and the mesmerizing wonders of Sakurajima and Mount Aso with its daily eruptions.
Our culinary escapades were equally delightful, featuring splendid dinners showcasing a diverse array of styles. We savoured every mouthful from a sophisticated kaiseki dinner to a replica of Hideki Matsuyama’s Champions’ Dinner, shabu-shabu, sukiyaki, and izakaya dinners. Our journey through Kyushu also included an exploration of its rich produce, from scochi to rice wine vinegars, as well as indulging in the flavours of Korobuta Pork, Miyazaki Chicken, and Miyazaki Wagyu.
We immersed ourselves in the warmth of the heated sand baths in Ibusuki, luxuriated in the comfort of hotel onsens, and onsens at golf clubs. We experienced onsens indoors, outdoors, at sunrise, at sunset, under the stars and in forests. Any excuse for an onsen! With the addition of seven exhilarating rounds of golf, this tour was undeniably a one-of-a-kind experience—a truly fantastic adventure that left us with lasting memories.
The courses played were all magnificently manicured championship courses, each had their own unique charm.
UMK Country Club
We were honoured to be the first western group to play at UMK Country Club and it was the perfect introduction to the customs and traditions around golf in Japan for the group. From the caddies to the five-person self-drive-remote controlled carts that remain on a fixed track, to lunch after nine holes and the the après-golf onsen, we loved it all.
Designed by Hisamitsu Onishi, the two nines were quite different. The outbound nine had relatively wide fairways while the inbound 9 holes required more thoughtful and accurate shot making.
Queen’s Hill Golf Club
We played at Queen’s Hill Golf Club by special invitation. The course and the club deserve all the kudos they receive! The par 72 championship course designed by Akira Hattori left an indelible mark on our golfing experience, offering a delightful blend of natural beauty and challenging play. Water hazards came in to play on a few holes, so course management was important but the fairways were wide allowing one to play freely from the tee. The greens had subtle undulations, and putting largely determined your score.
The sheer size and facilities on offer at Queens Hill Golf Club were equally impressive.
Ibusuki Golf Club
The scenic Kaimon course designed by Seiichi Inoue lies at the foot of the Satsumafuji Kaimon Mountain with views of Kagoshima Bay. The fairways were wide and long and contoured with palm trees. The terrain was varied with tricky and deep bunkers.
The mountain wind 'Kaimon Oroshi', and the sea breeze 'Umikaze', competed to create challenging but enjoyable conditions for the group.
Phoenix Country Club
Designed by Goukichi Ohashi, the course and is relatively flat with Japanese pine trees lining many of the fairways. This was also our first encounter with the solitary pines in the centre of a fairway favoured by some Japanese course designers. Lone trees are generally beautifully pruned and sculpted to look like giant bonsai. These tortured pines added a layer of complexity to course management and tested the repertoire of the golf shots in our bags. Some went over, others under and others tried to shape their shots around the tree.
We had the pleasure of playing at Phoenix Country Club in the lead up to the 50th Phoenix Dunlop Tournament. Grandstands were being built and the course was in prime condition for upcoming tournament.
The caddies had their work cut out for them, managing the group’s bags and being in the right place with the right club for each golfer on this walking only course. We played the tournament combination of the Takachiho and Sumiyoshi loops and it was probably the toughest of the 7 courses we played in Kyushu.
Kumamoto Kuko Country Club
Designed by Seizo Tomisawa, the course is located at the foot of the majestic Mount Aso, adjacent to the airport and provided the unique combination of golf and aviation spectacle. It was the perfect course for the avid plane spotters in the group as the planes seemed to just skim the treeline. It featured two uniquely Japanese design elements - lone fairway trees and two greens per hole; a bentgrass green and a zoyisa green, one used in the dry season and one used in the wet season.
Kumamoto Kuko holds a special place in the chronicles of On The Tee, marking the site of its inaugural hole-in-one on tour. Lynda Bayliss, a three-time hole-in-one achiever, etched her name into the record books with a masterful shot on the 16th hole, a 137-metre triumph to the bentgrass green.
Tom Watson Course
Some of the ladies played at the Tom Watson Course, easily accessible from our accommodation at the Sheraton Grande Ocean Resort. Carved from the native Japanese pine forest the course demanded accuracy and length from the tee and nerves of steel for the approach shots. The fairways are narrow, framed by Japanese pines with bunkers which always seemed to be in play.
Kedouin Golf Club
Our round at Kedouin Golf Club was the only one affected by rain. Some of the ladies preferred to stay in the club house after lunch, relaxing in the onsen and then enjoying a drink in the lounge overlooking the course.
Our Swinging Clubs and Culinary Delights Golf Tour culminated in a memorable celebration at the ANA Crowne Plaza in Fukuoka. The grand finale featured the rhythmic beats of Taiko drummers, award presentations, and an exquisite dinner.
Kyushu, often hailed as Japan's hidden golfing gem, is rapidly gaining recognition. The overwhelming response to our 2024 November tour, sold out over a year in advance, attests to the growing allure of this golfing haven.
