Kasugai Country Club in Japan will reopen its East course in October following a renovation by Golfplan.

“This was originally a single-green course that reverted to a two-green system due to management concerns,” said Kevin Ramsey of Golfplan. “While the routing was relatively solid, strategy and options were minimal. Also, shaping and bunker character were nondescript, leading to a course with a lot of missed potential.”

Golfplan began renovating the course in December 2023, with addressing greens a priority. “Kasugai had roundish greens with tilts back to front and rounded edges with putting surface areas not exceeding 300 square metres,” said David Dale of Golfplan. “The surrounds were gently concaved or slightly elevated. There was little challenge and made for a pedestrian and mindless playing experience.

“We decided to transform them to have a more classic, Golden Age character with some plateau greens and collection area surrounds to create a variety of short-game recovery options. The surfaces are now capable of hosting national championships.”

The putting surfaces now have multiple pinnable locations to allow for the preferred angle of attack to be changed from day to day. “Our design strategy is more about providing variety, interest and options for a better playing experience,” said Ramsey.

Golfplan has overseen the removal of more than 1,000 trees. Many were pines and Japanese cedars that were blocking air flow, sunlight and views. “Holes were completely encapsulated by a wall of trees,” said Dale. “Now, we have opened up the course to have distant mountain views, vistas of the city of Nagoya as well as views of adjacent holes, lakes and valleys. The atmosphere of the layout has been completely transformed.”

The renovation has also included new irrigation, drainage upgrades, Better Billy Bunker liner, new grass varieties and new cart paths to collect storm water.

Once the East reopens, Golfplan will turn their attention to the West.

“The West has more width than the East with both sited on beautiful rolling land with holes routed on ridgelines and valley floors,” said Dale. “The West will be equally dynamic in architectural approach but with green sites that gather and funnel the ball to the various hole locations with bolder undulation within the green surfaces. The bunkering will have its own contrasting character to the East and an emphasis on ball position as a priority from the tee.”

This article first appeared in the July 2024 issue of Golf Course Architecture. For a printed subscription or free digital edition, please visit our subscriptions page.