It was with great trepidation that I revisited Charles Alison's Hirono this past spring. I had previously played it 4 years ago in late winter/early spring when the conifers had yet to bloom and the course felt more spacious. Furthermore, during that visit the turf was very brown and the bunkering actually blended nicely into the landscape. In the last few years I have heavily studied Japanese budo (martial arts), even more so than golf. When fighting an opponent, the Japanese often say Ichigo Ichie (one chance in life or one time, one meeting). Each encounter is its own. So I decided to return this year. Furthermore in budo there is another proverb, No aru take wa, tsume o kakasu or "a hawk hides its talons". I interpret this to say often a single visit is not enough to see the merits or detriments of a course, it may be hidden in plain sight.
I will make bold not to write a lot here, I contributed the essay on Hirono to the World Atlas of Golf, so I recommend that. Let me say this, visiting during the summer revealed a few things. Massive tree clearing is needed. While the course is not claustrophobic, it is in need of width and a rebunkering scheme. The current bunkering or "Alisons" are still attractive but compared with pictures of the 1930s, so much as been lost. The course felt very much like Pine Valley is today (again an Alison connection)--with the tree incursions and not enough sandy waste.
But the strategies are still there.. I marveled over the angles Alison put into his strategies, the routing which would be at home on the Surrey heath, how it utilizes the property. His green locations on small plateaus which often repel run-ups are a marvel. Although the greens are wholly unoriginal (redone post WW II) they are still better than the other big courses I've seen in Japan (Kawana,Tokyo,Kasumigaseki).
What Hirono needs is to come under the aegis of a master renovator. Truly it could be among the world's best. Golf has it as Top 100 which it is surely deserving, but it should be much better, the bones of a great course are there, they just need hireki (revealing!)..
Hirono Clubhouse
The rather prosaic opener (502 par 5), free to hit any shot you would like.. A gentle opener.
The 3rd (461y par 4)-- hit a nice draw but be careful with the pond pinching in on the right upon approach
The 5th-- 152y "Fiord", a wee high dropper 8 iron with a hint of fade...
The 6th--425y "Alps'.. Hit a fade over the mogul...
The 8th-353y-- the approach-- this hole has too many trees... Very delicate pitch.
At the turn---
The heavily bunkered inside the dogleg 10th--"Mekko" 351y
Approach to the long par 4 11th--Akashi Shore..
The tee shot on the long 596y par 5 "Pine Beach"-- This hole bends around the lake but needs tree clearing desperately on that side.. The strategy would be similar in ethos (not totally) to 18 at Pebble.
The 13th 167y "Loch Lomond"-- This hole has had the tee shot changed since Alison due to the previous hole being lengthened... It looks much more fearsome as the tee was perpendicular to the current one.. Curiously there was a bunker in the green at one time put in (and thankfully removed) by various greens committees.
The tee shot on the all world (at least for fairway slope) on the aptly named 388y Quo Vadis..
And the fairway slope-- Alison had once protected the right side to make an exacting tee shot with sand but that is gone.
Finally, the approach
Tee shot on the 568y 15th--"Ichino Tani".. Best hole on the course.. Note the Japanese black pine standing sole sentinel 330y away on the left..
Namba-san, former Georgia Tech player, my friend and Duval Devout Fan by a gully bisecting fairway which has bunkers cut into it and note the Pine protecting left side of fairway, most drives thus fall to the outside of the dogleg, lengthening the hole.. I note Nicklaus reached this in 2 with persimmons in the 60s.
Another view of this awesome fairway-
A look back at 15 from the green
#17--231y-- "Lakeside" A fine 5 wood.. Note the fairway before the green.. Accepts a running draw or a high fade.
#18 home hole green
