Chikuma Kogen Country Club

Chikuma Kogen Country Club sits in the mountainous terrain of Nagano Prefecture, designed by Kinya Fujita with contributions from Colin Campbell. The course occupies elevated ground in the Chikuma region, where the natural topography provides both challenge and variety across the routing. The design reflects the collaborative approach common in Japanese golf course development during the period when Western architectural principles merged with local construction expertise and aesthetic sensibilities. The layout works with the contours and elevation changes characteristic of highland courses in this part of central Japan. Players encounter holes that move through forested corridors and across more open terrain, with the mountain landscape providing the backdrop. The design incorporates strategic bunkering and green complexes that require careful club selection and course management, particularly given the elevation and seasonal playing conditions that can vary significantly in this climate. Chikuma Kogen serves a regional membership and visitors drawn to golf in Nagano's resort areas. The club operates within the traditions of Japanese country club culture, where attention to course conditioning and hospitality remain priorities. The course offers a mountain golf experience that differs from layouts at lower elevations, with cooler temperatures during the playing season and routing that takes advantage of the natural movement in the land.