Date: April 20th, 2012
Course: Toya Lake Hills - Shinzan Course only open (played twice)
Weather: Overcast to start and changed to sunny but cool.
Players: Brian Findlay, Chris Holmes, Ian MacKenzie and Ben Harding
Started a little cold on the opening day of Toya Hills, located about 15minutes from the lake. Local journalist took some snapshots of us teeing off.
Only saw two other groups and had the place to ourselves. Still lots of snow in the bunkers but we managed to stay out of them most of the time.
Lake Toya Hills has four 9 hole courses, all of which have superb layouts. The first requires a wood of the tee or if you can thread a driver through the 30 yard gap past the OB on the left and the drop down on the right, go for it. I used a 5 wood and laid up before the snow filled bunkers on the left.
Great course and no one around. Only 5400 yen for 18 holes, friendly staff, fairways in reasonably good condition for this time of year.
They don't use ash on this course to melt the snow so no nasty debris to contend with. Courses closer to Niseko are having to use the 'yusetsuzai' to get the courses open on time.
Two groups booked already for next Wednesday.
Scores
Ian - Gross 80 Net 73
Brian - Gross 96 Net 82
Ben H - Gross 95 Net 78
Chris Holmes - Gross 127 Net 89
The Course Report