This week, the Taiheiyo Club Gotemba, located in the foothills of Mount Fuji, will be the venue for the 15th Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship (AAC). Representing the UAE in this prestigious event are 17-year-olds Rayan Ahmed and Abdulla Kalbat, both keen to leave their mark. The tournament, scheduled from October 3rd to 6th, offers the winner a spot in the 2025 Masters and the 153rd Open at Royal Portrush. Alongside the UAE, other Middle Eastern nations participating include Bahrain, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Oman, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia.
This year's championship marks its return to Japan after a decade, with Hideki Matsuyama's victory at Kasumigaseki Golf Club near Tokyo in 2010 being the last time it was held in the country. Gotemba, situated 100 kilometers southwest of Tokyo, has a history of hosting significant events, most notably the 2001 World Cup of Golf, won by South African golfers Ernie Els and Retief Goosen. The course underwent renovations in 2018 under architect Rees Jones, with Matsuyama consulting on the project, his first in course design after winning the Masters in 2021 and the AAC twice.
Originally designed in 1977, Gotemba's renovations aimed to enhance its difficulty. The course saw winning scores of 41 under par in the Taiheiyo Masters of 2016 and 2017, including Matsuyama's impressive 23 during his second victory eight years ago. While the course length remained largely unchanged, modifications included reshaping existing bunkers, adding new ones, reconfiguring greenside ponds, and removing certain trees. These changes not only unveiled breathtaking views of Mount Fuji, particularly from the fifth fairway, but also improved sunlight exposure on the greens.
Recent Taiheiyo Masters winning scores have dropped, and members are relishing the new challenges. The course layout promises dramatic finishes, with a par-three 17th hole followed by a par-five 18th, contributing to an overall par of 72. The 17th, measuring 228 yards from the championship tees, stands out with its signature pond and strategically placed bunkers, often affected by wind from Mount Fuji. The 18th hole offers thrilling eagle chances; in the 2020 Taiheiyo Masters, Jinichiro Kozuma's 230-yard approach nearly found the cup, setting up an easy putt for eagle that secured his victory by one stroke.
