Abiko Golf Club was built with the cooperation of the club's founder and its first chairman, Mr. Ryo Kato, and the mayor of the then Abiko town, Mr. Someya, on an undulated terrain with many hills and valleys, which were formed in ancient times by a number of streams out of Tonegawa River flowing into Lake Teganuma from the Hokuso Plain.
The course was designed by Rokuro Akahoshi, who was the winner of the first Japan Open Golf Championship. While studying in the United States, Mr. Akahoshi achieved impressive results in numerous competitions held on various courses designed by the famous golf course architect Donald Ross. As a result, he was inspired by and inherited the course design philosophy of Ross.
In 2012, with an eye toward the centennial anniversary, the club underwent a major renovation, focusing on creating a one-green style course. The work was led by the course renovation specialist Brian Silva and shaper Kye Goalby, who had worked on many remodelling projects for the various courses designed by Donald Ross, which were the starting point of Akahoshi’s course design.
Today, Abiko Golf Club has been brought to a new life as a neo-classic course that is woven into a history that connects Donald Ross, Rokuro Akahoshi, Brian Silva, and Kye Goalby. The liberal and democratic spirit advocated by the founder, Ryo Kato, has been passed down through generations of members for over 90 years and is embedded in the club's current philosophy. It states that "members as a united body are committed to maintaining the liberal, equal, and democratic spirit since its foundation while striving to create a golf club that values rules and etiquette."
I sincerely hope that you will enjoy a day at Abiko Golf Club, keeping in mind the history of the course and the philosophy of the club.