South/East at Oakmont Golf Club

Oakmont Golf Club in Yamabe, Nara Prefecture, features a South/East combination among its multi-course layout designed by Jack Nicklaus. The facility sits in the mountainous terrain characteristic of the Kansai region, where Nicklaus has designed several courses that work with Japan's often dramatic topography. The routing takes advantage of elevation changes and wooded corridors typical of inland Japanese golf, with holes that move through valleys and along ridgelines. Nicklaus's work in Japan generally emphasizes strategic bunkering and green complexes that reward precision over distance, adapted to the scale and playing preferences of the Japanese market.

The South and East nines combine to create an eighteen-hole experience that reflects Nicklaus's design principles from his active period working in Asia during the 1980s and 1990s. Players encounter a mix of risk-reward opportunities and forced carries, with water features and bunkers positioned to challenge approach shots. The greens typically feature the contouring and multi-tiered surfaces common to Nicklaus designs, requiring careful club selection and course management. The setting in Nara Prefecture places the course within reach of Osaka and Kyoto, making it part of the region's substantial golf infrastructure.

Like many Japanese private clubs, Oakmont Golf Club caters to a membership-focused model with attention to service and amenities. The course conditions reflect the maintenance standards expected at higher-end facilities in Japan, where turf care and presentation are priorities.