Fukuoka Century Golf Club (福岡センチュリーゴルフ倶楽部 / Fukuoka Senchurī Gorufu Kurabu) opened in 1990 and is one of Kyushu's foremost prestigious and demanding courses. With Japan's first-ever 20-hole layout, waterfalls cascading down the mountainside, and scenery where water, flowers, and trees come together — this chapter lays out what kind of place Century is, plus the basics to know before you arrive.
What kind of place is Century?
A little over an hour by car from central Fukuoka, set on the mountainside of Asakura, Century is a course designed by cutting into the mountain around a motif of "flowers, trees, and water." A waterfall flows within the course, and ponds and creeks divide the fairways. Since opening in 1990, it has established itself as one of Kyushu's leading prestigious courses, and with a course rating of about 74.7, it earns its reputation as the toughest in Kyushu — demanding both distance and strategy.
Its greatest distinction is being Japan's first 20-hole style. The Chikushino Course on the northern mountainside and the Asakura Course stretching to the south each have one extra practice hole, so there are 20 holes in all. The club removes one hole from each of the OUT and IN to suit the day's conditions, composing a standard 18-hole par 72 — so you always play only the holes in the best condition.
The Chikushino Course (par 35) and the Asakura Course (par 36) each have one extra practice hole, so physically there are 20 holes in all. To suit the day's conditions, the club runs a standard 18-hole round by excluding one hole from each course, or moving a tee to turn a hole into a short hole. This makes turf maintenance flexible, and you encounter a subtly different course on each visit.
Location, contact, and basic information
| Course name | Fukuoka Century Golf Club 福岡センチュリーゴルフ倶楽部 / Fukuoka Century Golf Club |
|---|---|
| Address | 〒838-0027 1-1 Itaya, Asakura City, Fukuoka Prefecture 福岡県朝倉市大字板屋1-1 |
| Booking / inquiry phone | 0946-24-1110 (caddie-accompanied bookings by phone only) |
| Official website | fcgc.biz |
| Course rating | About 74.7 · rated the toughest course in Kyushu |
| Opened | 1990 |
| Getting there | About 13 minutes by car from Amagi IC (甘木IC) on the Oita Expressway |
Dress code
As befits a prestigious Japanese course, the dress code is clearly defined. The attire for entering the clubhouse differs slightly from your round attire, so prepare in advance.
Entering / leaving the clubhouse
Except in summer, a jacket (blazer) is recommended in principle. Dress neatly both when you arrive and when you leave.
Round attire
You must wear a collared top (collared shirt). T-shirts, jeans, and sandals are prohibited. Soft spikes are recommended for shoes.
Sleeveless shirts, collarless T-shirts, jeans, short shorts, and sandals or sneakers may get you turned away from your round. Even on a hot day, you're safe sticking to a collared shirt + golf slacks (or shorts of the specified length).
The clubhouse and practice facilities
The clubhouse, where you spend time before and after your round, has a front desk (reception), locker room, bath (ofuro), and restaurant. There are also practice facilities to warm up before your start, so we recommend arriving with time to spare before your tee time to warm up.
Front desk · locker room
After arriving, check in at the front desk and you'll be assigned a locker. How to use the Japanese-style locker room and bath is covered in detail in the later "How to use the locker" chapter.
Practice facilities
There's a driving-range facility for a light warm-up before your start, plus putting and approach practice greens. It's good to gauge the green speed before the first hole.
Restaurant · bath
There's a restaurant for lunch at the turn and a meal after your round, plus a bath (ofuro) to ease fatigue afterward. Each is covered in its respective later chapter.
Booking and round etiquette
The club accepts visitor (non-member) bookings. You can book via Japanese booking sites such as Rakuten GORA or Jalan Golf, or by phone, and caddie-accompanied bookings are taken by phone only (0946-24-1110).
- On the teeing ground, first check the day's pin position and the cart navigation distances.
- On holes where water (waterfall, ponds, creeks) is visible, aim for the center of the green rather than forcing an attack at the pin.
- The greens tend to be fast with live undulation — gauge the speed with your putting on the first hole.
- With a caddie, make active use of the lie, wind, and line information to save a stroke or two.
- Keep pace with the group ahead, and "play fast" if you fall behind — Japanese courses are sensitive to pace of play.
In the following two chapters — 09 Chikushino Course · 10 Asakura Course — you'll see all the holes alongside the official hole maps. Follow them one by one, with each hole's par and distances (back / regular / ladies) and attack points, to prepare for your round.
The course layout, fees, dress code, and booking policy may change with the season and club circumstances. Before your round, we recommend confirming the latest information once more on the official website (fcgc.biz) or the site where you booked.