Nagatake Country Club

Nagatake Country Club sits in the Tsukui district of Kanagawa Prefecture, a mountainous region northwest of Tokyo near Lake Sagami. Designed by Akira Sato, the course occupies terrain characteristic of Japan's inland golf developments, where designers work with pronounced elevation changes, forested hillsides, and limited flat ground. The routing moves through valleys and ridges, requiring players to navigate slopes and uneven lies throughout the round. Sato's design reflects the practical approach common to Japanese courses built during the country's golf expansion, balancing playability with the constraints of the topography. Holes often feature elevated tees with views across the surrounding mountains, and greens are typically positioned on terraced sites carved from the hillside. The layout demands accurate club selection and course management, as misjudged approach shots on sloped terrain leave difficult recovery positions. The club serves primarily regional membership from Kanagawa and neighboring Tokyo, offering a retreat from urban density into the forested landscape of the Kanto interior. Like many Japanese country clubs, Nagatake emphasizes traditional hospitality and maintains clubhouse facilities that support the social aspects of membership. The course provides a representative example of mountain golf in the region, where the natural setting shapes both the challenge and the experience.