Akechi Golf Club - Akechi Course

The Akechi Golf Club's East Course sits in Ena, a city in southeastern Gifu Prefecture known for its mountainous terrain and proximity to the Kiso River valley. The course represents a collaboration between J. E. Crane, an architect active in Japan during the mid-20th century, and Kato Yoshiaki, a Japanese designer who worked on numerous courses during the country's golf development boom. This pairing of Western and Japanese design perspectives was common during the era when golf was expanding rapidly across Japan's varied topography. The routing takes advantage of the region's natural elevation changes and forested landscape, characteristic of courses built in Gifu's interior mountains. The terrain provides opportunities for strategic shot-making across holes that move through valleys and along ridgelines. The design reflects the period's approach to working with existing landforms rather than extensive earthmoving, allowing the natural contours to define playing corridors and green sites. Ena's location in the Tono region places the course within a broader golf corridor that developed as the sport grew in central Japan. The area's climate brings distinct seasonal variation, with conditions ranging from humid summers to cooler autumn play when the surrounding deciduous forests change color. The course serves both local members and visitors exploring golf options in Gifu Prefecture, an area less internationally recognized than resort destinations but home to numerous layouts shaped by Japan's distinctive topography and design traditions.