Course Report – Manna Country Club – Gary Player Course

I had the chance to play Manna Country Club’s Gary Player Course back in May but never got around to doing a write up on it. As you probably guessed, its a course designed by Gary Player. Manna Country Club features 45 holes in the beautiful rolling west hills of Mobara, about 15 minutes from my house here in Kiminomori.  It’s one of about 20 courses all within 30-45 minutes of here in golf rich Chiba.  Manna has two courses, the 27 hole Manna course and the GP course which features 18 holes and the Gary Player Golf Academy.  Manna is known for some entertaining golf as well as a pretty highly rated restaurant.  It’s prices are very reasonable for Japan and we were able to get a weekday round in at just under 100.00 including power cart, full lunch and of course lockers and Japanese bath (usually the case in here Japan).

Golf is all year round here in Chiba so the course was just getting into shape from the winter season.  Greens were a touch on the slow side and sand was harder than usual, fairways still had bare patches. The GP course does not play super long (it features 5 different tees, great for a large variety of golfers) and the regular tee which we played from features 6558 yards.  What makes Manna interesting is the rolling undulations, occasionally tight fairways and abundance of bunkers (some very deep) guarding pretty much every hole.

There is water, lots of forest and out of bound areas as well as several cool high elevation par 3’s some with distances ranging from 180 to over 200 yards which always make for a great challenge for the average golfer.  The pace is usually pretty good, and really has been at most courses especially right after the disaster up north in Japan. Many people just didn’t feel like going golfing as Japan reeled from the terrible earthquake and tsunami, so many courses were deserted for quite some time after.

As I mentioned before. Food is a great part of Manna’s golf experience and lunch certainly was no disappointment. However I warn those who play in Japan for the first time to take it easy when it comes to lunch and NOT over eat! I was so used to rounds back in Canada where we would play through 18 holes and eat on the run, sandwiches or whatever snacks we had. So when I first moved to Japan and played golf, I was not accustomed to stopping for an hour after 9 holes and eating a big lunch then immediately teeing off. I cannot remember how many times I over ate only to struggle in the second half! I have found that noodles are usually the way to go as meat and rice simply are too heavy!

Of course I never listen to my own advice and even eating soba for lunch I was very full (why did they include tempura!) and ruined a nice 42 in the morning with a terrible afternoon half which I OB’ed twice, was in the lake once and landed in far too many bunkers on route to a 52. Simply terrible! Though I certainly ruined my score, the course was a lot of fun and I’ll definitely go out again. I love a course with variety and GP certainly has it.  Next up back to Hirakawa!

I was in the bunker above…  was lucky to get out and climb the stairs to the green. More pics below!

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