Nanzan Country Club

Nanzan Country Club, located in Nanjo city in southern Okinawa, is a nice short course with carts, ocean views and a relatively flat topography that makes it quite hard to lose your ball. Which, if you’re like me, is a good thing.

Though Nanzan lacks the yardage of your typical championship courses, it is an 18 hole course, with a separate front and back nine, rather than playing the same nine holes twice as many short courses do. Most of the holes are par three – the shortest being just 75 yards! – but on the 250 yard+ par fours you do get to whip out the driver.

What I like about this course is that the club does allow you to only pay and play nine holes, which is often hard to find in Okinawa as many courses require you to pay for 18. With green fees and the cart included, ¥2,500 is a pretty decent price for nine holes. If you are military, you may find the fees too expensive if you are used to playing on base. But for those civilians who don’t have base access, Nanzan is an affordable and enjoyable course to play.

Overall the course is well maintained and lush, and the club facilities are also good. There is a pro shop, and the clubhouse upstairs has a decent restaurant with good prices. Other than your typical bathrooms, locker rooms and showers, there are also hot tubs and saunas for your use, though I personally did not check it out since it was 31’C outside and after the game all I wanted was a cold beer and a cold shower!

Currency: Yen only