Sanko Golf Club Tanigumi Course

Sanko Golf Club Tanigumi Course, located in Ibigawa Town, Gifu Prefecture, is a prestigious course designed by Dai Nippon Civil Engineering and opened in 1991. It hosted the 74th Japan PGA Championship in 2006 and will once again serve as the stage for the 92nd edition in 2025. Nestled in the mountains, the 18-hole layout blends strategic complexity with natural beauty. With fast, challenging greens and a scenic backdrop of rivers, temples, and mountains—including the Ibi River, Mt. Tanigumi, and the historic Kegonji Temple—the course is both a competitive arena and a poetic fusion of nature and culture.

Amid the mountains and valleys of Gifu, the Tanigumi Course unfolds like a long poem composed by nature and history. Born in 1991 (Heisei 3), it was meticulously crafted by Dai Nippon Civil Engineering. The 18 holes are carved into the hillsides, surrounded by streams and forests, making every swing feel like a dialogue with the natural world. In 2006, the course hosted the 74th Japan PGA Championship, where Tomohiro Kondo triumphed in a dramatic duel with Katsuyoshi Tomori—an unforgettable chapter in the club’s legacy. In 2025, it will once again welcome Japan’s top professionals as they compete for glory.

The course is defined by its mountainous terrain and strategic design: greens run up to 12 feet in speed and maintain a firmness around 25, making every putt a whisper between wind and grass. The fairways are wide yet deceptive, with mounds and trees strategically placed to challenge every shot. It’s a course that welcomes beginners with its beauty while pushing elite players to their limits.

Beyond the fairways, the surrounding landscape is equally enchanting. The murmuring Ibi River and the rustling valley winds compose a natural symphony. Mt. Tanigumi offers seasonal beauty—from fresh spring greens to fiery autumn foliage—like a living painting. And the nearby Kegonji Temple, the final stop of the Saigoku 33 Kannon Pilgrimage, adds a layer of spiritual and cultural depth with its thousand-year history. Here, the echoes of the past and the poetry of nature intertwine, reminding us that golf is not just a sport—it is a heartfelt covenant between people and the land, between humanity and heritage.

Access from Nagoya:

• The course is approximately 75 kilometers from central Nagoya, with a drive time of around 1 hour and 30 minutes.

By Train:

• From Tanigumiguchi Station, it's about 3 kilometers to the course, roughly 10 minutes by taxi.

• From Gifu Station, the train ride takes approximately 50 minutes.

• From Ōgaki Station or Hozumi Station, the journey is about 40 minutes.