Akizuki Country Club

Akizuki Country Club opened in 1996 in Asakura city, a more recent addition to Fukuoka's golf scene than many of the prefecture's 1960s and 1970s clubs, and plays a comparatively forgiving 5,802 yards from the regular tees with a 69.2 rating and 117 slope. Ladies' tees at 5,049 yards keep the course approachable for a wide range of playing ability, and its bent grass greens are well maintained given the club's relatively recent construction. Facilities include golf cart and club rental, a driving range, and putting green, along with a restaurant and locker rooms for members and visiting guests. Akizuki itself is a historic castle town, one of the best-preserved Edo-period townscapes in Kyushu, often nicknamed the little Kyoto of Chikugo, and golfers visiting the course can easily combine a round with a walking tour of the old town's samurai residences and cherry-blossom-lined moat. The club is open to the public year-round and accepts credit cards, with metal spikes permitted for golfers who prefer the traditional feel. Its shorter yardage compared with some of the championship-scale courses elsewhere in the prefecture makes Akizuki a relaxed, quicker round, appealing to visitors who want to leave plenty of time for sightseeing in the old town afterward. Golfers planning an Asakura-area cultural and golf trip through CoGolfers can pair Akizuki with a visit to the historic townscape, and posting the round in the app is a good way to find local company.