Otaru Country Club
Founded in 1928, Otaru is the oldest golf club in Hokkaido and one of the most storied in the north. Its championship New Course is a giant, a par 72 stretching to about 7,467 yards through cool, rolling country, long enough to have tested the professionals and a memorable round on Japan's golfing frontier.
Photo: Otaru Country Club via Google.
The verdict
Otaru Country Club holds a special place in Japanese golf as the oldest club in Hokkaido, founded in 1928 when the game was barely established on the northern island. Set in the cool, rolling country near the port city of Otaru, not far from Sapporo, it pairs a long history with a thoroughly modern championship test.
The club's New Course is the headline. Opened in 1974 and refined over the years, it plays to par 72 and stretches to about 7,467 yards from the back tees, a genuinely long layout that has hosted professional golf, including the Sun Chlorella Classic. The cooler Hokkaido climate keeps the turf firm and fast through the summer months when the rest of Japan swelters, and the scale of the course, with broad fairways giving way to well defended greens, makes it a satisfying test for the better player while remaining manageable from the forward tees. For a golfer building a Hokkaido trip, Otaru offers both heritage and a big, modern round, the ideal anchor for the north.
Otaru Country Club at a glance
- Founded
- 1928
- New Course
- Opened 1974
- Type
- Championship parkland
- Par
- 72 (New)
- Yardage
- 7,467 yds (New)
- Green fee
- Indicative
Founding year, opening year, par and yardage verified June 2026 from leading course databases and tournament records. Otaru Country Club was founded in 1928 and is Hokkaido's oldest club; the championship New Course opened in 1974, has since been refined, and plays to par 72 over about 7,467 yards from the back tees. Green fees vary by day and season and the course closes in winter; published rates change by season and year, so always confirm current rates directly before booking.
The holes worth the trip
The New Course is built on a grand scale. At about 7,467 yards it is one of the longest courses in Japan, and the back tees ask for real length off the tee, while the generous landing areas reward the player willing to take on the carry and leave a shorter approach.
The greens are the defense. Large and well bunkered, kept firm in the cool northern air, they put a premium on distance control and on choosing the right portion of the surface, and in tournament trim they run quick enough to expose any loose iron play. The cooler climate is part of the appeal: when summer rounds elsewhere in Japan are a test of endurance, Otaru stays comfortable, and the turf plays firm and true.
What lingers is the sense of place. This is golf on Japan's frontier, with the space and the scenery that Hokkaido is loved for, on ground that has been played since the 1920s. For a visiting group it is both a history lesson and a stout modern examination, the kind of round that defines a trip to the north.
How to get on
| What to know | Detail |
|---|---|
| Access | Visitor tee times can generally be arranged, often through a Japan golf specialist or a Hokkaido package |
| Green fee | Varies by weekday or weekend and by season, with a short northern season (indicative, 2026) |
| Booking | Book ahead for the summer peak, when Hokkaido golf is in highest demand |
| On the day | Long championship New Course; traditional Japanese club service and a mid round lunch break |
| Getting there | Otaru, Hokkaido, near the port city and within reach of Sapporo and New Chitose Airport by road |
| Best months | Late spring to autumn; July and August are cool and prized, and the course closes in winter |
Access arrangements verified June 2026; policies, rates and the seasonal calendar change, so always confirm directly before booking through the club or your trip planner.
Where to stay nearby
Most visiting golfers base themselves in Sapporo, Hokkaido's vibrant capital, or in the historic port of Otaru itself, both within easy reach of the club and both offering excellent lodging, seafood and the famous local cuisine. New Chitose Airport connects the island to the rest of Japan and beyond, making a Hokkaido golf trip simple to build.
Otaru pairs naturally with the wider golf of Hokkaido, where the cool summers and big, scenic courses make the north one of the most rewarding regions in the country for a warm weather escape on the calendar.
Looking for a base? See our recommended hotels and resorts near Otaru Country Club.
Build a Hokkaido golf trip
We arrange tee times at Hokkaido's great courses, pair them with Sapporo and the island's food and scenery, 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.
Otaru Country Club questions
When was Otaru Country Club founded?
Otaru Country Club was founded in 1928 and is the oldest golf club in Hokkaido. Its championship New Course opened in 1974.
What is the par and length of Otaru Country Club?
The championship New Course plays to par 72 and stretches to about 7,467 yards from the back tees, a genuinely long test by any standard.
Has Otaru Country Club hosted professional tournaments?
Yes. Otaru has staged professional golf, including the Sun Chlorella Classic, drawing on its length and championship conditioning.
When is the best time to play Otaru Country Club?
Hokkaido golf is a summer pursuit. The season runs roughly from late spring to autumn, with cool, comfortable conditions in July and August, and the course closes in the snowbound winter.
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Researched and written by the GolfForKings editorial desk. Founding year, opening year, par and yardage verified June 2026; indicative green fees verified June 2026. Last reviewed June 2026.