Jogasaki (National Treasure - C.H. Alison)
May 18, 2024 4:43:37 GMT -5
blueblood1995, greenlightning, and 14 more like this
Post by strangi17 on May 18, 2024 4:43:37 GMT -5
Welcome to Jogasaki, my entry to the National Treasure design competition, representing the design work of C.H. Alison.
In December, 1930, Charles Hugh Alison arrived in Japan, and was first tasked with working on the Tokyo Golf Club. During his six month stay, Alison would work on several courses, and set the path for course design in the country.
His two most famous works were Hirono, and Kawana. I've taken influences from both courses in creating Jogasaki, a rugged stretch of land just south of his course at Kawana.
One of Alison's trademarks, replicated by other designers across Japan, were his brutal, deep bunkers which were appropriately called Alisons. Jogasaki has a great many of these traps, some 5 or 6 metres deep.
For his time, Alison created long courses with green sites that were manufactured, and raised up. Greens often only sloped in one direction, with few internal contours. He believed in using short grass where possible, but with barely a flat lie to be found.
By and large I've taken the same approach, although with a bit more interest in places on the greens.
The course measures in at almost 7600 yards from the blue tees, and should test every club in the bag.
Alison also disliked the use of water or out of bounds as a hazard, but he did use it from time to time. While this is a sea-side property, realistically only one hole brings water truly into play.
Get amongst it.
Hole 1, par 5, 567 yards
A fairly gently, if long, opening hole. Water may be imposing but it takes a terrible drive to threaten the Pacific Ocean. A drive down the left opens up the green contours best.
Hole 2, par 4, 424 yards
The first of many drives over ravines and barrancas. The more you chew off, the better and angle for your second.
Hole 3, par 3, 184 yards
A downhill par three into the barranca, a bunker short is mainly a visual factor/
Hole 4, par 4, 510 yards
Playing along the other side of the barranca, a drive hugging the barranca will give the best angle to the green, albeit with a long iron.
Hole 5, par 4, 460 yards
An accurate, aggressive drive between the fairway bunkers is needed to give the best angle to an undulating green.
Hole 6, par 3, 235 yards
A long downhill par 3 that requires good judgement of how far the ball will run.
Hole 7, par 4, 385 yards
A dogleg right with plenty of space left. Hug the tree line to open up the green, which falls away front and back.
Hole 8, par 5, 553 yards
A barranca awaits the longest of drives, so restraint is needed. The closer you get, the better your chance at reaching in two, but playing it as a three-shotter should give an easy birdie chance.
Hole 9, par 4, 513 yards
A long, downhill closing hole for the opening nine. Fly the central hazard and your ball will kick 50 or more yards down towards the green.
Hole 10, par 4, 486 yards
A diagonal barranca, running left to right, gives the golfer options. The more you take, the shorter your approach on the second to a tightly guarded green.
Hole 11, par 3, 192 yards
Uphill to a volcano green complex, one of Alison's favourites. Brutally difficult, asking for a perfect shot.
Hole 12, par 4, 385 yards
Driveable in the right conditions with modern technology. Hit the upper tier of fairway and face an easy second, but miss, and a diabolical second awaits.
Hole 13, par 4, 401 yards
Back to back short 4s. Blasting driver isn't recommended, as your second will likely be blocked by trees. An accurate, aggressive 3-wood gives best views of a small green.
Hole 14, par 4, 513 yards
The fairway angles towards two bunkers left, which need to be attacked to give the best angle to the green. Long, and troublesome if your driver is found wanting.
Hole 15, par 4, 463 yards
An accurate drive to the left half of the fairway gives the best angle to the green. Drives to the right will leave a blind second, over to treacherous greenside bunkers.
Hole 16, par 5, 622 yards
The longest hole on the course. Hugging the barranca gives a chance to reach in two, but beware a well bunkered green which runs away from the golfer.
Hole 17, par 3, 153 yards
Playing to an island green, but with water not really in play. An accurate wedge or 9 iron is needed to a heavily sloping, back to front green.
Hole 18, par 5, 536 yards
The closing hole is the only hole with water really in play. Plays as something of a cape hole. If you dare, play at the bunkers and leave yourself a friendlier second, with as little as an 8 iron. It's hard to hold a second anywhere near the flag.
