Keeping up with our 2021 goal of playing a new course every week, the lads took the 90 minute trip through the mountains to Myoko Kogen and tried out the Myoko Kogen Golf Club.

This course is located just off the expressway. In fact if you hook wildly from the 5th or 15 holes the traffic may be in danger of a ball through the wind screen.

In the last 6 weeks we’ve played 3 courses in this area, and it looks like we have another 3 – 4 courses to go. Hopefully we can knock the rest off before the snow falls.

Myoko Kogen Golf club is not the longest, or most difficult course, but it is a lot of fun.

Arrival check in was smooth, and we headed off to the driving range. The range is a bit remote, so you have to take a cart to get down there. Pick up a coin at the starters desk (30 balls are 300yen for people playing the course), and head over.

There is a chipping range next to the driving range, with a couple of bunkers.

As is our (new) tradition, we headed to the restaurant and had a highball (whiskey soda) before starting. They have breakfast available for less than 1,000yen, with Western and Japanese options. The “Curry Pan” was delicious and it came out piping hot.

Off to the course for the front nine.

As there was extensive work being done on some of the back nine greens, we played the bout course first.

After the crowds of Matsugamine last week, Myoko Kogen Golf was very quiet. Much more fun when there is no one behind you.

The out nine it to the north of the club house, while the in nine is to the south.

Fairways are wide, and the only real OB is on the perimeter of the course. If you stray off the fairways, as I often do, then it is quite easy to find your ball and hit a recovery.

There were a few areas that needed a touch up, but in general the course maintenance was good.

Many Japanese play a game on the last hole where the last person to putt (i.e. closest to the hole) has to buy the first round of drinks at lunch. I lost for the first time, and the lads enjoyed a cold one on me.

The lunch menu was quite good, and with the proximity to the Japan sea, there are a few good seafood dishes.

The back nine was also very relaxing (thanks in part to the lunch time drinks) . There are a lot more water features on the back nine, but nothing to scary.

The weather forecast was pretty sketchy the day before, with torrential rain forecast from noon, but the weather gods were on our side and it held off until we were finished.

In front of the clubhouse is a VX beetle, with the 19th hole sign on it. There is a beer tap, and drinks inside, and you are free to sit outside on the deck chairs and table and enjoy a quiet one before getting changed. Unfortunately, it was closed on this day.

After completion it was time for a quite bath, then back in the car for the trip back to Hakuba. All in all, another great day out.

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