Construction Underway on Mikami Course Renovation at Biwako Country Club in Japan
Construction is officially underway on the Mikami Course at Biwako Country Club, marking the start of Phase II of the club’s comprehensive 18-hole master plan renovation for YANMAR Corporation. Members of the Greg Norman Golf Course Design (GNGCD) team were on site December 10–11 in Ritto, Shiga Prefecture, Japan for the project’s construction kickoff.
The renovation follows the successful completion of the Biwako Course renovation in 2024. Biwako Country Club aims to enhance the golfing experience in harmony with nature, enriching the club life for all members and ensuring sustainability for future generations. Led by GNGCD Senior Designer Eric Pfeifer, the visit focused on reviewing staking and layout across all nine holes of the Mikami Course as work begins on new tees, bunkers, and green complexes.
The Mikami Course renovation is designed to enhance strategy, playability, and long-term sustainability while honoring the course’s original routing and minimizing disturbance to the surrounding natural landscape. The design incorporates elements inspired by satoyama, a traditional Japanese rural landscape concept, focusing on harmony with nature while ensuring minimal impact on the surrounding environment. This approach is expressed through dramatic elevation changes, expansive sightlines, and seasonal color variation.
One early highlight of the project is the reimagining of Mikami Course Hole 9, which will ultimately serve as the finishing hole of the full 18-hole layout. The hole will feature an expansive three-tiered green set alongside an existing pond, creating a bold and memorable conclusion to the round.
Construction on the Mikami Course will continue through 2026 with a targeted opening in October or later, completing Biwako Country Club’s transformation.
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