Abashiri Country Club

Abashiri Country Club offers a nine-hole parkland test on Hokkaido's remote northeastern coast, in a city best known for its drift ice and former prison museum. Built in 1977, the course plays to a par of 70 over 5,062 yards, with a course rating of 32.05 and slope of 107 from the tips, figures that reflect a compact but demanding routing rather than a pushover nine. As a semi-private, seasonal facility, it draws a mix of local members and traveling golfers who venture this far north for the scenery as much as the golf. The layout includes practice areas for pitching, chipping and putting, so visiting golfers can sharpen their short game before heading out. A restaurant on site rounds out the experience for golfers who want to relax after the round with a view of the surrounding countryside. For CoGolfers members building a Hokkaido itinerary that includes Abashiri's coastal attractions, this course offers an easy way to fit in a round without dedicating a full day to golf, and it's a good option for finding co-players among the club's regulars if you're new to the area. The course accepts major credit cards, a convenience not every rural Hokkaido club offers, and its modest length makes it approachable for golfers of varying skill levels looking to enjoy a relaxed nine holes in one of Japan's more far-flung golf destinations.