Situated 45-minutes outside Osaka and an hour from Kobe, the Ono Golf Club's private 18-hole course is a delightful hidden gem set within rolling hills and beside an attractive lake. Designed by local Japanese architect Osamu Ueda and built-in 1961, the par 72 layout at Ono is often referred to as the sister of the fabled Hirono golf course.

Ueda's design is clearly influenced by the philosophies of Charles H. Alison. The heavily treed site features mostly local plantings, with the front nine less undulating but still cut through some attractive woodland areas and touching the lake from holes 7 to 9. The back nine is more up and down through the hills, with some reasonably steep and challenging elevation changes.

Ono has several holes where a single Red Pine is employed within the fairway to dissect driving zones and provide options or alternate routes along with the course's 6,900-yard layout and the 4th, 7th, and 11th holes all use internal trees cleverly. Players can practice their driving and iron shots in preparation for the driving range.

The Ono Golf Club has a Pro shop to assist with equipment needs and the club has experienced caddies on hand. Following a round on this respected course members and their guests can relax and unwind in the well-appointed clubhouse which offers both bar and dining services.

Image(s) published courtesy of Top 100 Golf Courses.com, Golf Advisor.com, All Square Golf, Trip.com.