I lost my golfing virginity in Japan last week and what a place to lose it! Kawana really is a great course - a memorable piece of land and the memorable imprint of Hugh/Charles? Alison on it. No wonder it belongs in Mr Doak's "Gourmet Guide". As Tom points out you can see why it is likened to Pebble Beach - personally I thought it a more memorable course (just to keep you guys on the West coast interested...) though it was not scenically at its best on account of the weather/season.
The most striking feature of the course is the dramatic change in elevation - 48 yards tee to green on the first hole, 39 yards on the third, 40 yards on the fourth, 23 yards on the sixth, 26 yards on the eleventh, 33 yards on the 15th and 28 yards on the 17th.
The next most striking feature are the famous "Alison bunkers". Many of the greens are built-up with very deep bunkers in the side. If you miss the greens, whether in or out of the bunkers, you are in a LOT of trouble. The difficulty of the course definitely lies at the green end of the hole - off the tee it is actually quite forgiving - my wife and I did not lose a ball in two rounds each. This last feature adds a lot to the pleasure of the course.
Obviously I was playing the course in winter and you can see this in the colouring. All the publicity pictures show a deep green course during the summer months. I actually found this colour scheme - green fairways and yellow rough quite appealing.
Two things appear different from when Tom Doak reviewed the course. First - second greens are NOT a feature of the course (only now on four holes, none were in play, and really did not feature at all). Second, the greens were VERY quick. Although they lack internal contour, most greens have quite marked front to back, or side, slope and the combination of this, plus speed, plus grain made them a real handful.
It would also be remiss not to comment on the fantastic Japanese habit of the big clubhouse bath after the round. What a way to finish off, especially if you have been wet! Also the caddies - all women, who push these specially designed motorised trollies that carry two (or more) bags.
I am posting the first nine first, then the second nine (roughly 20 pics in each). I took 100 plus in total so if anybody is gagging for more let me know and i will see what I can do.
I played the course off the back markers - 6691 yards.
The dramatic opening hole...
Looking back up from the green (you can see second green on the right)
The drive on the 2nd - over the first of the deep fairway bunkers you get to.
Looking back up the 2nd from behind the green. A long drive leaves you a short iron in.
The par 5th third, dramatically uphill. 450 yards off the back, but you have to hit a mighty second to get up. Fabulous bunkering on the inside of the dogleg which you must drive over, to a fiercely cambered fairway.
The drive on the 4th, a downhill par 5...
The approach to the fourth - quite a short shot if you have hit a good drive...
Looking back up the fourth from behind the green...
The fourth green from short and left....
Tee shot on the first short hole - 185 yards off the back, played 5 iron or 4 iron into the breeze..
The 5th green
The 5th green from the right, with the uphill 6th hole behind...
View of the 6th green- one of the best and most difficult holes on the course, but not so easily photographed. A good drive and 3 iron to get up here...
Tee shot on the short par four 7th (slightly foreshortened)- one of the most amazing looking holes (really the green complex) that I have ever seen. The line is over the middle of the front two bunkers, to a flat lie on the left of the fairway.
More of the 7th...
A view from the side of the short 8th - the green beautifully nestled into a natural setting.
The 9th fairway snakes its way up between mounds on either side...