Phoenix Country Club (Takachiho)

Overview: The Takachiho Course at Phoenix Country Club is a coastal routing situated in Miyazaki Prefecture on the southern island of Kyushu. Part of a 27-hole complex, the course is routed through a dense forest of Japanese black pines along the Pacific coast. The flat terrain is defended by the narrow corridors, strategic bunkering, and the constant sea breeze.

History: Opened in 1971, the course was designed by Goukichi Ohashi. The club quickly gained international prominence as the host of the Dunlop Phoenix Tournament, which has attracted top professional players from around the world for decades. The layout is noted for its high standard of conditioning and strategic pine-lined corridors.

Did You Know? The Japanese black pines that line the fairways were planted as a coastal windbreak to protect the surrounding agricultural land. Today, they form a formidable natural hazard, requiring players to keep their ball flight low to avoid the overhanging branches.