Sunlake Country Club

Sunlake Country Club's Center course sits in Imaichi, in Tochigi Prefecture north of Tokyo, where the terrain transitions from the Kanto Plain toward the mountains of Nikko National Park. The course represents a collaboration between American major champion Lee Trevino and Japanese architect Hideyo Sugimoto, combining international design perspective with local knowledge of the landscape and playing conditions. This partnership reflects a pattern common in Japanese golf development during the 1980s and 1990s, when courses often paired foreign designers with domestic architects to handle routing, construction oversight, and adaptation to regional preferences. The routing takes advantage of the natural topography characteristic of this region, where rolling land and mature vegetation provide definition and variety across the eighteen holes. Japanese courses in this area typically incorporate elevation changes and strategic bunkering that reward precise shot placement, with green complexes that demand careful approach work. The design balances challenge for skilled players with playability for members across different abilities. Sunlake Country Club operates within Japan's private club tradition, where membership involves significant commitment and courses serve as venues for both recreation and business relationships. The club offers multiple courses on the property, with the Center course representing one layout within a larger facility designed to accommodate member play throughout the year in Tochigi's four-season climate.