Sainomori CC: A Golf Find Near the Hikers' Stomping Grounds

No. 6 (rt.) green at Sainomori CC

Sainomori Country Club (彩の森カントリークラブ) in the mountainous Chichibu hiking area of Saitama, is an off-the-beaten-path golf find for Tokyoites. The course is well designed, fairly easy to get to,  comparatively inexpensive, and the surrounding area is beautiful. The Chichibu area is filled with lush, steep mountains and is known more as a hiking and outdoor tourist destination.  There are other golf courses in this area but most are older and have less satisfying course designs. This is my favorite value course in Tokyo.

Sainomori is another course built in the economic bubble of the late 1980s, and the Tom Watson design provides a satisfying golf experience with a smart variety of interesting holes.  The design makes quite nice use of the land and avoids any excessively steep or narrow fairways--a common problem with older mountain course designs here.  Some examples of this smart use of topography include three holes--3, 4 and 16--which force the golfer to make tee shots over deep, dramatic gorges.  

The variety includes a good mix of straight holes, left and right doglegs, a short par four (no. 14, 310 yards downhill) and a par five reachable in two (no. 6, 479 yards).  Water comes into play on the par 3 8th, the left green of the 9th, and twice on the 18th finishing hole. Perhaps the most challenging hole is the 10th which is a downhill and blind dogleg left that tries to force you to hit a long iron off the tee to avoid the out-of-bounds and fairway grass bunker area.  The signature hole is probably number 4--a 162-yard par 3 defended by a deep gorge in front, two tall trees flanking each side of the green near the gorge, and a bunker in the center of the large green. Each hole here feels different--this course is never boring.

The signature hole--the par 3 No. 4 (rt.)

There are dual greens at Sainomori, a left and a right--usually not my favorite layout--but each green is large.  This is not the "main-sub" set-up most courses have with dual greens.  Both greens are bent grass, have multiple levels, and provide a fair putting challenge.  The course play is all left greens or all right, depending on the day.  One advantage to this is a few holes are completely different in character when played from the alternate side.  The par three No. 8, for example, has separate tees, in addition to the greens, and the left green is a shorter hole with a tee shot completely over water. No 9 from the left becomes a short par four defended by water in front of the green, as opposed to the right's uphill tee shot with a blind second shot to the green. Most of the times I've played when the right green is in use. All the photos in this article show the right (rt.) green in play. 

No. 6 tee 

Not a long course at 6,190 yards for the regular tees, it is a typical course length in this country.  Most of the fairways are reasonably wide. Maybe the most pleasing aspect of the course is the steep and slightly threatening backdrop the Chichibu Mountains provide the holes.  It's quite fun just walking or being on the course.   

The right green of the short par 4, no.14 

Some of the advantages of playing on a course built during Japan's bubble era include extravagant touches trying to make a high-end course.  There's the display only island green in the pond below the clubhouse. There's also a large indoor fountain below a modern, artistic chandelier in the front area of the clubhouse.  There's modern art work on the course near the restaurant, nicer quality bathing areas with saunas, and hotel rooms for those wishing to spend the night.  Unfortunately, a nice golf practice area was not on the list of extravagances--the practice range is a large net box about 50 yards in length. There is, however, a chipping and sand practice area below the first tee box. 

Golf in Japan is usually an all day affair, so it's nice to have a convenient and enjoyable way to get to a course, and the reserved seat NRA train (￥1,412, 88-minute) is a great way to get to the club bus at Seibu-Chichibu station.  And when you return to the station after golf, it's worth spending a little extra time with the hikers and tourists here before you return.  There are several shops, restaurants and even a beer garden in the station area.  Quaffing a local brew in the presence of beautiful mountains is a great way to end the day. 

Nice views from the restaurant 

One of the weak points about this Accordia course is a few of the tee boxes have plastic matting. Another is service is minimal and the upscale club house is starting to show its age and isn't being cared for properly--its obvious the management is trying to minimize expenses for upkeep. There's also excessive display items, advertising and posters around the lobby/front area which give it a tacky feel. This seems to be the trade off one has to pay to play here at reasonable prices. Still, it's well worth it. Expect to pay ￥6,000-9,000 on a weekday and ￥10,000-16,000 on weekends, depending on season.  

So why let the hikers have this beautiful area all to themselves? Sainomori is a great overall golf experience and good value to boot. Check it out!

No. 3 tee

No. 3 green (rt.)

    

No. 14 tee

No. 9 tee

No. 7 tee