Kobe Golf Club
Encyclopedia
Golf course
A golf course comprises a series of holes, each consisting of a teeing ground, fairway, rough and other hazards, and a green with a flagstick and cup, all designed for the game of golf. A standard round of golf consists of playing 18 holes, thus most golf courses have this number of holes...
, built on Mount Rokko
Mount Rokko
is a name of a group of mountains in Hyōgo Prefecture, Japan. This mountain is one of Hyōgo 50 mountains, Kinki 100 mountains, and also one of the 300 famous mountains in Japan.- Outline :...
in 1903 by English expatriate
Expatriate
An expatriate is a person temporarily or permanently residing in a country and culture other than that of the person's upbringing...
Arthur Hasketh Groom
Arthur Hasketh Groom
Arthur Hesketh Groom founded the Kobe Golf Club on May 24, 1903 which was Japan's first ever golf club. Groom came to Japan in 1868 and became a long-term resident of Kobe...
. The club began as a nine-hole course on May 24, 1903, but quickly expanded to eighteen the following year. Kobe Golf Club now boasts two full eighteen-hole courses, and , both sharing names of nearby regions (Mount Maya
Mount Maya
is a high mountain in Kobe, Hyōgo Prefecture, Japan. This mountain is one of the major peaks of the Rokkō Mountains, and is the most popular peak for visitors on the West-Rokkō Mountains.- Outline :...
, in the Rokko Mountain Range
Mount Rokko
is a name of a group of mountains in Hyōgo Prefecture, Japan. This mountain is one of Hyōgo 50 mountains, Kinki 100 mountains, and also one of the 300 famous mountains in Japan.- Outline :...
, and Suma-ku
Suma-ku, Kobe
is one of 9 wards of Kobe City in Japan. It has an area of 30.0 km², and a population of 168,400 .There is a white sandy beach in this ward, which attracts tourists to the Kansai region for sun bathing and popular events during the summer season. The same beach has appeared in the classic...
in Kobe
Kobe
, pronounced , is the fifth-largest city in Japan and is the capital city of Hyōgo Prefecture on the southern side of the main island of Honshū, approximately west of Osaka...
, respectively).
Strict rules are enforced to maintain the course's pristine condition such as a prohibition of golf carts and a limit of eight clubs
Golf club (equipment)
A golf club is used to hit a golf ball in a game of golf. Each club is composed of a shaft with a grip and a clubhead. Woods are mainly used for long-distance fairway or tee shots; irons, the most versatile class, are used for a variety of shots; Hybrids that combine design elements of woods and...
per player. As the course was literally carved out of a mountain, it can be quite demanding and clubs are carried in canvas bags to reduce the strain on caddies
Caddy
In golf, a caddy is the person who carries a player's bag and clubs, and gives insightful advice and moral support. A good caddy is aware of the challenges and obstacles of the golf course being played, along with the best strategy in playing it. This includes knowing overall yardage, pin...
.