Phoenix Seagaia, Tom Watson Course
Tom Watson lent his name and his eye to just one resort course in the world, and it sits in a coastal pine forest at Phoenix Seagaia in Miyazaki. Opened in 1993, a par 72 of about 7,012 yards, it runs narrow fairways between black pines along the Kyushu shore, equal parts holiday golf and a real test of the long iron.
Photo: Tom Watson Golf Course via Google.
The verdict
Tom Watson has put his name to only one resort course anywhere in the world, and this is it, opened in 1993 inside the sprawling Phoenix Seagaia Resort on the Miyazaki coast of Kyushu. A par 72 of about 7,012 yards, it threads narrow fairways through a dense coastal forest of black pine, the sort of tree lined parkland that rewards the straight hitter and quietly punishes the wild one.
It is a course that flatters a relaxing resort week yet still asks real questions. The fairways are tight, the bunkering is subtle and well placed, and the greens demand an accurate iron rather than brute length. Paired with the neighbouring Phoenix Country Club, the host of the Dunlop Phoenix Tournament, and the resort hot springs and beach, it makes Miyazaki one of the most complete and underrated golf escapes in Japan.
Phoenix Seagaia at a glance
- Opened
- 1993
- Designer
- Tom Watson
- Type
- Coastal pine parkland
- Par
- 72
- Yardage
- About 7,012 yds
- Green fee
- From 12,500 yen
Designer, opening year, par and yardage verified June 2026 from the Phoenix Seagaia Resort and leading course databases. The Tom Watson Golf Course opened in 1993, a par 72 of about 7,012 yards designed by Tom Watson. Indicative 2026 green fees start around 12,500 yen on weekdays and about 15,700 yen at weekends and holidays. Rates vary by season and package, so always confirm directly before booking.
The holes worth the trip
The Tom Watson course is defined by its corridors of black pine. The fairways are generous enough off the tee but framed tightly by the forest, so the premium is on finding the short grass and the right angle into greens that sit among the trees. At about 7,012 yards from the back it is no pushover, and the long iron and fairway wood game is tested all day.
Watson built variety into the par 3s and a string of strong two shotters that ask for a controlled approach rather than a heroic one. The sea breeze off the Pacific shore can stiffen the back nine, and the pines do the rest, gathering anything pulled or pushed. It is a thinking golfer's resort course, more strategic than its holiday setting suggests.
The closing holes turn back through the forest toward the clubhouse, the fairways narrowing and the greens demanding precise pace. Under the floodlights in season the course takes on a different feel again. For all the resort comforts around it, the Tom Watson course gives back honest, well designed golf that lingers in the memory.
How to get on
| What to know | Detail |
|---|---|
| Access | Resort course open to visitors on weekdays and weekends with advance booking; resort guests arrange tee times easily |
| Green fee | From about 12,500 yen on weekdays and about 15,700 yen at weekends and holidays (indicative, 2026). Always confirm directly before booking |
| Booking | Reserve in advance online or by phone; bookings within three days of play are best made by telephone |
| On the day | Carts available; narrow pine framed fairways reward accurate iron play; night golf runs in season under floodlights |
| Getting there | Phoenix Seagaia Resort, Miyazaki, about 25 minutes from Miyazaki Airport on the southeast coast of Kyushu |
| Best months | March to June and September to November for the mild Miyazaki golf seasons |
Access and indicative green fees verified June 2026; rates and tee time policy change by season, so always confirm current pricing and availability directly before booking, ideally through the resort.
Where to stay nearby
The obvious base is the Phoenix Seagaia Resort itself, a self contained world of hotels, hot springs, beach and two championship courses, with the Tom Watson layout and the Dunlop Phoenix host Phoenix Country Club side by side. Staying on site makes tee times and transfers effortless.
Miyazaki city, a short drive south, adds more hotels and the warm, laid back feel of southern Kyushu. It is an ideal region to build a multi course trip around, pairing the two Phoenix courses with the wider golf and onsen culture of the island.
Looking for a base? See our recommended hotels and resorts near Phoenix Seagaia.
Build a Miyazaki golf trip
We arrange the Tom Watson course alongside the Dunlop Phoenix host next door, fold in the resort hot springs and book the stay around your golf. Tell us roughly when and who is travelling and one concierge costs it to the head, with no obligation.
Phoenix Seagaia questions
Who designed the Tom Watson Golf Course at Phoenix Seagaia?
The course was designed by Tom Watson, the eight time major champion, and opened in 1993 within the Phoenix Seagaia Resort in Miyazaki. It is the only resort course in the world to carry his name.
What is the par and length of Phoenix Seagaia?
The Tom Watson Golf Course is a par 72 of about 7,012 yards from the back tees, a tree lined parkland routed through coastal black pine forest on the Miyazaki shore.
How much does it cost to play Phoenix Seagaia?
Indicative 2026 green fees start around 12,500 yen on weekdays and about 15,700 yen at weekends and holidays. Rates vary by season and package, so always confirm directly before booking.
Can visitors play the Tom Watson Golf Course?
Yes. Visitors are welcome on weekdays and weekends with an advance booking. The course sits within the Phoenix Seagaia Resort, so a resort stay makes a round simple to arrange.
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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.