The Atlas
A map of every flagged course in Japan. Three Flags for The Best, Two for World Class, One for Excellent — and a routing of how to read the architecture.
Japan Edition · 2026 · Inaugural
An editorial atlas of Japan's great golf courses.
Three Flags — The Best
Two Flags — World Class
One Flag — Excellent
The Awards
Beyond the Atlas — Best New Course, Best Restoration, Architect of the Year, Hole of the Year, Best Walking Course, Best Public-Access, Best 19th Hole.
The Academy
A standing panel of architects, writers, and player-architects working out of Japan. Named, on record, accountable. Recommendations welcomed; selections curated.
Three Flags · The Best
A first look at the Japan Atlas.
Three courses we believe are the spine of the Japanese game — and why ours says so out loud.
Charles H. Alison · 1932 · Private
The reference point for golf in Asia. Alison's 1932 routing through pine and rock above Lake Sanrei is the most quietly authoritative course east of the Mediterranean.
H.C. Crane / Charles H. Alison · 1920 · Private
A century-old hill course on the inland side of the Rokko range. Crane's original routing, refined by Alison in 1931, remains a masterclass in working with severe natural terrain.
Charles H. Alison · 1936 · Resort
A cliff-top routing on the Izu Peninsula with Pacific views from nine separate holes. Alison's last great Japanese commission and the country's definitive resort experience.
The Awards
Nine ways to honour a course.
The Atlas is the main event. These nine annual awards are the supporting cast — each presented at the Inaugural Gala in Kobe.
№ 01 Best New Course Opened in the prior 24 months
№ 02 Best Restoration Recovering an architect's intent
№ 03 Architect of the Year A body of work
№ 04 Hole of the Year A single hole, in photograph and prose
№ 05 Best Walking Course No carts. No path. Just ground.
№ 06 Best Public-Access Open to anyone who tees it up
№ 07 Best 19th Hole The clubhouse, the kitchen, the bar
№ 08 Sustainability Award Water, biodiversity, native grasses
№ 09 Founders' Choice One quiet course we love
Our Mission
"We believe great courses are landscapes first, tests second. We believe a 7,200-yard list of measurements tells you nothing. We believe walking is part of the routing. We believe a course earns its flags one round at a time."
— The Founders, est. 2026