Kanetsu Highland Golf Club

The Maple course at Kanetsu Highland Golf Club is located in Tano, a mountainous region of Gunma Prefecture in central Japan. Designed by Akira Sato, the course occupies elevated terrain characteristic of the area, where golf development expanded during Japan's economic growth period. Gunma's highland zones provide natural topography for golf courses that incorporate significant elevation changes and forested corridors, and Maple follows this regional pattern. Sato's design work in Japan typically emphasizes integration with existing landscape rather than extensive earthmoving, allowing natural contours to define playing strategy. The Maple routing likely moves through varied elevation, with holes playing uphill, downhill, and across sloping terrain. Mature trees frame fairways and create definition between holes, a common feature in Japanese mountain courses where forest management shapes the playing corridors. Green sites on such terrain often feature tiered surfaces or falloffs that reflect the underlying topography. Kanetsu Highland Golf Club operates in a region accessible from Tokyo and other population centers in the Kanto plain, serving members and visitors who travel to Gunma's resort areas. The club maintains traditional Japanese golf hospitality standards, with attention to course conditioning and clubhouse service. Seasonal variation affects play significantly at this elevation, with the course typically closing during winter months when snow covers the highlands.