Kasumigaseki Country Club (1942)

Source：Geographical Survey Institute（photo by Japanese Army）

This is the photo showing the Old West Course.

Saiboku currently occupies the location of holes No. 6 and No. 12 of the Old West Course.
Because holes No. 9 and No. 10 of the Old West Course were far from the clubhouse, an annex was built next to the No. 10 tee so that golfers could rest after nine holes of play.

The annex building remained after Kasumigaseki sold its site. But because its wear and tear were beyond restoration, it was torn down with the consent of Kasumigaseki. The beautiful pond in front of the No. 10 tee remains on the grounds of Saiboku.

On today’s West Course, players turn right after finishing No. 5, and play the par 5 No.6 located at No. 13 and No. 14 of the Old Course. From No.7 players enter the New West Course built in 1954. Layout of the East Course, in large part, remains similar to today’s course except for No. 8 and No. 9, holes that were redesigned in 2016.

Kasumigaseki Country Club (1948)

Source：Geographical Survey Institute（photo by US Air Force）

This photo was taken during a difficult time for Kasumigaseki following World War II.

After the war, the golf course was reopened with the following 18 holes.
East: No.1 – No.2 – No.3 – No.9 – No.10 – No.11 – No.16 – No.17 – No.18
West: No.1 – No.2 – No.3 – No.4 – No.5 – No.14 – No.15 – No.17 – No.18

The East Course’s No. 14 and No. 15 were converted to farmland. No. 4 to No. 8 and No. 12 to No. 15 were sold to NKK Farm in 1944 to raise funds necessary to run the Club during the war.

The West Course was partially requisitioned by the military during the war, and converted to farmland after the war.

No. 8 to No. 11 were changed to farmland and houses were built (they look similar to farming facilities) on No. 7. This part of the course could not be recovered due to new laws that applied to farmland. As such, Kasumigaseki was later forced to sell this site. After this photo was taken, Kasumigaseki could buy back the East Course from NKK Farm and all 18 hoes were reopened in 1952.

In 1954 new land for the West Course was acquired at the northwest section of the Old West Course, and the New West Course was completed in 1954.

After ten years of tribulation, Kasumigaseki once again became a 36-hole golf club.

Kasumigaseki Country Club (1956)

Source：Geographical Survey Institute（photo by US Air Force）

This photo was taken two years after completion of the New West Course.

Layout of No.9 an No. 10 is different from today. After holing out No.8, players moved to the No. 9 tee located behind the No. 8 green, and played the relatively short par 4 No.9. The No. 9 green was located where the No. 10 fairway is currently located. Because the No. 9 green and No. 10 tee were far from the clubhouse, a small annex was built for players to take a light meal. In the year that this photo was taken, Japan Open Championship was held for the first time at The West Course, and The Canada Cup was held at the East Course in the following year. Kasumigaseki, with its 36 holes, had returned to center stage of Japanese golf.

Kasumigaseki Country Club (Latest)

Source：Kasumigaseki

Kasumigaseki after the redesign of the East Course

Compared to the 1956 photo, layouts of West No. 9 & No.10 and East No.8 & No. 9 have been changed and all holes for both courses have just a single green.
Urbanization of the surrounding area is also apparent.