Sasayama Golf Club

The West Course at Sasayama Golf Club occupies rolling terrain in the Tamba-Sasayama region of Hyogo Prefecture, an area known for its agricultural heritage and forested hillsides approximately an hour from both Osaka and Kobe. The course was designed by J. E. Crane with involvement from Shunsuke Kato, reflecting a period when Western design principles were being adapted to Japanese landscapes and construction methods. The routing takes advantage of natural elevation changes characteristic of the region's topography. The layout moves through a mix of wooded corridors and more open terrain, with fairways that follow the land's contours rather than imposing dramatic reshaping. Elevation shifts create variety in shot requirements and perspectives, while mature trees frame many holes and define playing corridors. The design reflects mid-century Japanese golf development, when courses balanced playability for members with strategic interest for better players. Sasayama Golf Club operates as a private members' facility serving golfers from the Kansai region. The club maintains traditional Japanese golf club customs, including attention to course conditioning and pace of play. The West Course shares the property with the club's East Course, providing members with variety in their regular play. The surrounding Sasayama area, historically a castle town, offers a quieter alternative to urban golf settings while remaining accessible to the major population centers of western Japan.