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Tokyo 2020 Golf Venue: Kasumigaseki Country Club 2016 redesign ads length and modern touches

After the Golf world sighed a collective relief that the 2020 Olympics would be going to a golfing nation, it wasnt long before the USGA, R&A, IGF and the JGA sat down with Kasumigeski CC and decided that the event would be played on the property's East course. Also at that meeting It was decided that the course would seek Tom Fazio (Augusta national's consulting architect) to oversee the East course alterations.

Originally designed by Charles Hugh Alison in 1929, Kasumigaseki CC has played host to numerous big competitions including the first World Cup of Golf in 1957 (Then the Canada Cup) as well as the Japan Open and Asian Amateur. Members of the course and the JGA were confident in Fazio as their choice for the 'Touch up'  given his work with Augusta. The changes revolve around making the course more suited to the modern professional game-- lengthening the back tees and fairway bunker placements for long hitters. Fazio also implemented a single green system as apposed to the double greens (one for winter and one for summer) popular in Japan with earlier course designs.

It will be interesting to see how the Japanese players will fair on the course come 2020, home advantage certainly made the difference here in 1957, with Japan the surprise winners of the Canada Cup. Also worthy of note is the in form Matsuyama who captured his Asian amateur here, and who has stated that adding an Olympic medal at the Tokyo games would be the highlight of his already blooming career. As good as a green jacket we wonder? おもちろん!

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