Hokkaido Classic
A Jack Nicklaus Signature design that opened in 1991, Hokkaido Classic plays to a par 72 of about 7,059 yards across the rolling woodland of southern Hokkaido, a course Nicklaus shaped in the spirit of his beloved Muirfield Village and now rated among Japan's very best.
Photo: Hokkaido Classic Golf Club via Google.
The verdict
Hokkaido Classic is one of the purest Jack Nicklaus Signature designs in Asia, opened in 1991 on a broad canvas of birch and rolling meadow near Hayakita in southern Hokkaido. Nicklaus drew on the lessons of his own Muirfield Village in Ohio, and the family resemblance is clear in the framed tee shots, the generous fairways and the demanding, well defended greens.
It stretches to about 7,059 yards at a par 72, the cool northern climate keeping the bentgrass fast and true through a season that runs from late spring into autumn. Regularly ranked inside Japan's top ten, it is a championship test set against the volcanoes and forests of the north, and an essential round on any Hokkaido golf tour.
Hokkaido Classic Golf Club at a glance
- Opened
- 1991
- Designer
- Jack Nicklaus (Signature)
- Type
- Woodland parkland
- Par
- 72
- Yardage
- About 7,059 yds
- Green fee
- Members and guests
Designer, opening year, par and yardage verified June 2026 from Hokkaido Classic and leading course databases. The Jack Nicklaus Signature course opened in 1991 and plays to a par 72 of about 7,059 yards. It is a private members club; visiting golfers are generally accommodated through Japanese golf tour operators rather than walk up play, and any visitor rate moves with the season, so always confirm access directly before booking.
The holes worth the trip
The Nicklaus hand is everywhere. Tee shots are framed by mounding and birch so the eye is drawn to the correct line, and the fairways are wide enough to tempt before the trouble gathers near the greens.
It is around the putting surfaces that Hokkaido Classic asks its hardest questions, with bold contour and deep bunkering that reward a confident, well struck approach. The set of par 3s is varied and strong, and the par 5s give the brave a chance only when the wind allows.
Cool Hokkaido summers keep the turf running firm and fast, and the backdrop of forest and distant volcano is among the most beautiful in Japanese golf. It is a true championship Nicklaus, well worth the trip north.
How to get on
| What to know | Detail |
|---|---|
| Access | Private members club; visiting golfers are generally booked through Japanese golf tour operators with advance arrangement |
| Green fee | Visitor rates vary by season and by weekday or weekend; arranged through your agent (indicative, 2026) |
| Booking | Reserve well ahead through a Japan golf specialist; a member introduction smooths access |
| On the day | Carts with the local fleet system are usual; lunch between nines is a Japanese tradition; smart dress expected |
| Getting there | About fifty minutes from New Chitose Airport and an hour from central Sapporo |
| Best months | Late May to October, the cool Hokkaido golfing season |
Access arrangements verified June 2026; policies and pricing change, so always confirm directly before planning a visit.
Where to stay nearby
Most golfers base themselves in or around Sapporo or near New Chitose Airport, both an easy drive from Hayakita and well stocked with hotels, hot spring inns and Hokkaido's famous food scene. It makes for a comfortable hub between rounds.
Hokkaido suits a touring trip, pairing Hokkaido Classic with the island's other mountain and seaside courses and a day or two in the national parks. The northern summer, cool and green, is a welcome contrast to golf farther south in Japan.
Looking for a base? See our recommended hotels and ryokan near Hokkaido Classic Golf Club.
Build a Japan golf trip
We arrange access to Hokkaido Classic through our partners, pair it with the best of the island's courses and book the lodging around them. Tell us roughly when and who is travelling and one concierge costs it to the head, with no obligation.
Hokkaido Classic Golf Club questions
Who designed Hokkaido Classic and when did it open?
Hokkaido Classic is a Jack Nicklaus Signature design that opened in 1991, shaped in the spirit of his own Muirfield Village in Ohio.
What is the par and length of Hokkaido Classic?
It is a par 72 of about 7,059 yards, kept fast and true by the cool northern climate of southern Hokkaido.
Can visitors play Hokkaido Classic?
It is a private members club. Visiting golfers are generally accommodated through Japanese golf tour operators with advance arrangement rather than walk up play.
How do I get to Hokkaido Classic?
The course is near Hayakita in southern Hokkaido, about fifty minutes from New Chitose Airport and roughly an hour from central Sapporo.
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Researched and written by the GolfForKings editorial desk. Designer, opening year, par and yardage verified June 2026; indicative green fees verified June 2026. Last reviewed June 2026.