Philippines Travel - Golf courses

LANANG COUNTRY CLUB

Lanang is the notable product of tourism-golf efforts of the government in the late 70’s. At 5,777 meters playing to a par 72, it is short but formidable course when the tees are set back. The course is always lush as water is not a problem. Dog-legs abound the interesting layout planted to coconut to hardwood trees. Lanang has been the site of the Philippine Golf Circuit and Philippine Airlines inter-club tournaments.

• Km. 6, Lanang, Davao City Davao

• Telefax: (082) 234-1764

• FACILITIES: A fine spacious clubhouse, restaurant, bar and tee houses on the course.

• AVAILABILITY: Proprietary club but open to the public.

• LOCATION: 6 kilometers from Davao City along the national highway, between Davao City and Bangoy Airport.

Hotels in Davao

BAGUIO COUNTRY CLUB (Baguio City)

• Phone: (074) 442-5060 to 68
• Fax: (074) 442-6651, 442-6501, 442-7674

Most people come up to Baguio for the cool weather but because of the Baguio Country Club, some do come up for the golf. It’s all in the ambiance and nostalgic golf among the pine trees could never have been better.

The Baguio Country Club has been around since W. Cameron Forbes established it in 1905. The club is a complete mountain resort which offers first-class lodging, fine dining restaurants and recreational facilities for bowling, tennis and, of course golf. If you have plans to spending some time here, make sure that a member has introduced you since the BCC is an exclusive club.

Hang around the clubhouse and savor the nippy weather that has to be manufactured indoors when you’re in the lowlands. You’ll have a good view of the First and the Tenth holes, which share a huge green. Be sure that you know which flag you’re aiming for, otherwise you’re bound to hear some snickers from the audience on the verandah. The opening tee shots of BCC have to be some of the toughest for beginners and duffers who are not too sure whether their balls are going to hop, skip or jump to the green.

The golf course will give real meaning to what they call an “up” and “down” round. It may be a short course but there’s going to be a lot of climbing and huffing and puffing before you’re done. Ever since neighboring John Hay lost it’s Cardiac Hill, BCC ‘s hole Five now remains the only one left that can come close to deserving the moniker. You’ll have to hit your tee shot up a steep hill. Hope it stays up and doesn’t roll back down, then play a dainty wedge to a two-tiered green that won’t forgive you if you hit your ball over it.

There will be a lot of room for imaginative shots when you’re out on the course since you’re going to be in all sorts of lies and situations. A lofted shot will always be an option but in some cases a bump and run against the hillside could be safer strategy.

Whatever mood you’re in and whatever score you may have be racking up, don’t lose sight of the fact that you’re here to get away from it all and enjoy your adventure among the pines.

FACILITIES: Deluxe rooms and suites, cottages, restaurants, bars, function rooms, library, business center, tee houses, tennis, bowling, billiards, table tennis, darts, weight room, gift shop golf pro shop, changing rooms, sauna and massage etc.

CAMP JOHN HAY (Baguio City)

Tel. No. (074) 442-2101/2102

Smell the pines as you walk through the fairways of this par 69 all-weather course. Laid out about 5,000 ft. above the sea level, it was recently redesigned by the Nicklaus Group.

CANLUBANG GOLF AND COUNTRY CLUB (Canlubang, Laguna)

Canlubang Golf and Country Club is considered one of the largest and exclusive golf courses in the Philippines. Its golf course was professionally designed by Robert Trent Jones making it one of the most challenging golf courses in Asia. It is considered one of a true championship tournament design with its layout of 6,929 yards (6,305 meters). A game here will not only give you prime
golf experience but also first class facilities as well. This was also one of the venues of the 1999 Philip Morris Golf Classic.

CLUB INTRAMUROS (Intramuros, Manila)

• Bonifacio Drive cor. Aduana St., Port Area, Intramuros, 1002 Manila
• Phone: (02) 527-6613 / 2887 / 526-1291
• Fax: (02) 527-6614

Spanish conquistador Miguel Lopez de Legaspi did not play golf. When he started construction of the fortress surrounding his newly founded city of Manila, in 1571, it was surely of little concern to him that Mary Queen of Scots had just taken up the game. He had loftier goals in mind, like world domination or fighting off pirates and brigands bent on plundering the treasures he was amassing in vaults behind the thick walls of his fort. In order to maintain security, the drawbridges across the moats were hauled up at night, with safety being found inside the walls, hence “Intramuros.”

So Intramuros is nearly as old as the game of golf itself. Shortly after the rules of golf were published in 1754 by the St. Andrews Golfers, the British invaded Intramuros, ruling for two years before returning the fort to the Spanish, who, at the time did not play golf. By the time the Americans arrived in Manila Bay in 1898, the game of golf was well established in the West and even in Hong Kong, India and Burma. That same year Harry Vardon won the British Open and was just about to invent the Vardon Grip.

But it took 30 more years before the sound of balls ricocheting off the ancient walls would be heard at Intramuros. By the 1930s, the first of several incarnations of golf at Intramuros saw mostly foreign golfers whacking the ball around in the mid-day sun. In the 1950’s a driving range was built, and by the 1960s a re-routing expanded the course to 18 holes with a rustic clubhouse. Intramuros was then commonly known as Muni Golf, and was one of the first public golfing facilities in Asia. It catered finally to Filipinos.

The course was inhabited by a loyal band of hackers and was tended in haphazard fashion with rock hard fairways during the summer and ankle deep muck during the rainy season. The caddies were surely directly descended from the pirates who once held the walls to siege.

For years the club’s future was in limbo. As one administration gave way to another, occasional outcries for it to be turned into a “People’s Park” or a pineapple plantation were countered by golfing senators from across the road and the occasional golfing Chief Executive from Malacañang Palace. Intramuros remained an uninspiring track but was a fun venue for a few hours away from the office. Of course it required skill to master and its greens were the providing ground for more than a few golfers who now excel in the ranks of the senior golfers.

Then along came President Fidel V. Ramos, the Philippine’s most famous golfer, and the fate of Intramuros, at least for the foreseeable future. Has been given a bit of insurance. Under the aegis of the Philippine Tourism Authority, a major renovation was undertaken and golf course architect Andy Dye was entrusted with the redesign.

Dye transformed what was once a flat, shapeless course into a challenging layout, often drawing inspiration from the classic courses in Scotland and the United States. The Second green is a variation of the Second at Carnoustie in Scotland, the Tenth, a copy of the infamous island Seventeenth Hole at TCP Sawgrass in Florida. He employs bunkers that create illusions of difficulty but which do not actually affect the shot in any more than a psychological manner, albeit a heavy burden for most. A liberal use of mounds and rolls creates the impression of greater or lesser distances, making club selection more complicated. Add to that the ancient walls, the ever-present water and swirling winds and you have a real gem of a course, one that demands of the golfer both precision of shot and clarity of mind if a good score is to be had. Played from the back tees, the new Dye layout measures 4,089 yards and has been designated a par 66 layout.

Intramuros is always a pleasure to play, presenting challenges for golfers of all levels. The layout requires thoughtful placement of both tee shot and approach. Dye has designed the pin positions on the roller coaster greens to be accessible from specific points on the fairway. Having found the right position from which to attack the pin, success may further require a shaped shot to get closer. More often than not, a thoughtful, conservative game will yield good results, with placement off the tee more reliable for pars and birdie chances than brute force. With water in play on 13 holes and out of bounds on every hole, the premium is on accuracy. Walking the course, surrounded by history enshrined in the ancient walls, the golfers is certainly distracted from his day-to-day cares.

Distractions require concentration if one is to play well, and on this front, Intramuros will test you to the limit. At any given time, you can be confronted by blaring horns and back-free from jeepneys passing by on Roxas Boulevard, choral groups practicing harmonies on the balustrades, and urchins touting used balls in the middles of your back-swing. Somehow, most golfers are able to transcend the distractions, which is a good thing.

Intramuros is the flagship of public golf in the Philippines, catering to a wide cross-section of golfing society, from taxi drivers who have been bitten by the golf bug to politicians and top businessmen. You can occasionally see former President Ramos enjoying a leisurely round on the golf course, chomping on a big stogie (he only chews them these days), surrounded by his golfing pals.

Because Intramuros is open to all, it attracts a large contingent of neophytes and play can, at times, be infuriatingly slow, especially since at many points on the course you can see their snail-like antics on several holes at a time. This is especially true of night golf, with hackers suffering the indignity of trying to find their balls in the shadows. But we must encourage everyone who wishes to play our game, so go gently into the night and do not rage too loudly.

The course is open from 6 A.M. until the last tee off at 8 P.M. with nearly half of the 65,000 rounds per year played under lights in the cool of the night. Call ahead to see if there is a tournament scheduled, as the back-ups on the first tee can be discouraging. The course is closed for grounds work from noon on Sunday until noon on Monday.

Some feel that the perfect round begins around 4 P.M. when there is a lull in tee times and finishes at 7 P.M. with the last few holes illuminated. Capped off with a nice cold beer while sitting on the terrace and watching the next flights struggle with the tough finishing hole, there can hardly be a more fulfilling way to end the day or to begin the evening.

EASTRIDGE GOLF COURSE (Binangonan, Rizal)

Tel. No. (02) 651-2240/2298

Two man-made lagoons, one in the front nine spanning 1.3 hectares and the other at the back nine at 2.3 hectares, are the most distinct features of this 80-hectare 18-hole par 72 course.

FOREST HILLS GOLF AND COUNTRY CLUB (Cogeo, Antipolo City)

Tel. No. (02) 651-2240/2298

With a 74.7 course rating, this course characterized by rolling terrain at the front nine and a moderately hilly back nine, poses many possible difficulties for the average golfer.

LUISITA GOLF AND COUNTRY CLUB (Hacienda Luisita, Tarlac)

Tel. No. (02) 817-9309

This is one of the finest 18-hole par 72 championship courses in the country. Its most interesting feature is water. Eleven of its 18 holes have well-placed water hazards, the most awesome of which is at hole 17.

MIMOSA GOLF AND COUNTRY CLUB (Clark Airbase, Angeles City)

Tel. No. (045) 599-2461/3333 loc. 2024/2025

Tiger Woods played in this 86-hectare rolling terrain set against the backdrop of mountain ranges. It is a championship course composed of three distinctive nines: Acacia, Lakeview, and Mountainview.

PUERTO AZUL (Ternate, Cavite)

Tel. No. (02) 525-9248 loc.7643

Puerto Azul is a par 72 course that is one of the most scenic in the country, proud of its very famous combination of mountain and sea. Its signature hole is number 17, a par 3 hole delineated by one of the deepest water hazards in the Philippine Golf – the China Sea.

SHERWOOD HILLS (Trece Martirez City, Cavite)

Tel. No. (046) 4192841/2855/2843

Sherwood Hills is another Jack Nicklaus signature course. It is an inland-links-type course with wide fairways and a good size of greens suitable for very relaxed and leisurely rounds of the game.

STA. ELENA GOLF CLUB (Sta. Rosa, Laguna)

Tel. No. (049) 549-1277/1278

Another Robert Trent Jones, Jr. creation is this 27-hole all-weather championship course. The 120 hectares of gently rolling terrain gave the designer the opportunity to create a number of memorable holes that wind their way through the natural movement of the property.

TAGAYTAY HIGHLANDS (Tagaytay City, Cavite)

Tel. No. (046) 413-0888

The Tagaytay Highlands is a par 71 championship course that will surely put a golfer's power and accuracy to the test. The difference in elevation between the last and first holes of each nine is so dramatic that a cable car system is in place to ferry golfers from the 9th and 18th holes to the 1st and 10th tees.

Hotels in Tagaytay

THE EVERCREST (Nasugbu, Batangas)

Tel. No. (02) 712-9293

The Evercrest is an Arnold Palmer designed course which has tight fairways blanketed with Tifton grass and guarded by steep hills and deep ravines to give golfers the thrill of playing a par 72 championships course.

THE MANILA SOUTHWOODS (Carmona, Cavite)

Tel. No. (046) 430-0262

Venue of the World Amateur Golf Championship 1996, this course is composed of two 18-hole Jack Nicklaus signature courses: the "Masters" course punctuated by traps and water hazards, and the "Legends" course accentuated by high mounds.

Orchard Golf and Country Club 

Venue of the 1995 Johnnie walker classic, The Orchard Golf and Country Club opened for play in January 1995 with two Championship layouts designed by golfing legends Arnold Palmer and Gary Player. Both courses are situated in what was formerly a Mango orchard planted some sixty five years ago by Dean Conrado Benitez Sr. Self designated as a bird and wildlife sanctuary, the courses abound with indigenous flora and fauna.

• Km. 27 Aguinaldo Highway
• Dasmarinas Cavite 4114
• Tel. No. (63) (2) 843-8344
• Fax. (63) (2) 843-8355

THE RIVIERA (Silang, Cavite)

• Phone: (046) 414-2836 / 2868 / 2839
• Manila Phone: (02) 807-7061 / 7076
• Fax: (046) 414-2837

Take two great golfers, a huge tract of land with deep ravines and great views, toss them all together and you have The Riviera Golf & Country Club. A few kilometers from Taal volcano on the Aguinaldo Highway, Riviera is one of the fine courses within short distance of Manila.

Masters champion Bernhard Langer and Freddie Couples have laid out 36 holes of great golf along the ridges 48 kilometers from Manila. Though only a few years old, Riviera is already attacting praise for its achievements. The club hosted the 81st Philippine Open, won by the Philippines own Frankie Miñoza and hosted the 84th in 2000 and the recently DHL sponsored 88th Philippine Open (where Filipino Top-Ranked Amateur Juvic Pagunsan finished 2nd to American Pro Edward Michaels) last February 2004 as well.

The two courses offer distinctly different golfing experiences. The Couples Course will remind you of a resort course in Hawaii with its tall palm trees and large, undulating greens while the Langer Course presents an entirely different picture.

The Langer is seemingly a much more open course, the landing areas are narrow while the emphasis is on the length off the tee. The best approach angles are are usually very well protected and a couple of fairways, notably the Sixth, are quite narrow.

The Riviera, set as it is in wide-open spaces, is often beset by strong prevailing winds. The breezes keep things cooler than the lowland courses, but can play havoc with club selection and off-key shots will find trouble all along the fairways. There is a good mix of direction, however, and rarely will you be confronted by back-to-back holes playing into the wind.

The 2 all-weather courses are covered with nicely manicured and well-maintained Bermuda 419 fairways with Tif-dwarf greens. The driving range, at the tournament clubhouse, has a number of strategically placed green targets and both courses have their own putting greens next to the first tees. The large main clubhouse has good golfing fare in its restaurants and the usual shower, sauna and massage facilities are available. The added nine-hole par-3 executive course should serve to encourage juniors and family outings and could be a boon to the short game.

The Riviera seems to have become the tournament venue of the Philippines, so it is wise to call ahead for a reading on how busy the courses will be.

Commodore Danilo E. Pizarro, NGAP’s Vice-President is incidentally the President of the Riviera Golf & Country Club as well.

VALLEY GOLF AND COUNTRY CLUB (Antipolo City)

• Don Celso Tuason Ave., Antipolo City
• Phone: (02) 660-5962 / 658-4901 to 03
• Fax: (02) 658-4918 to 19

A teed-up ball is what any golfer will see 18 times during a round of golf, but for the Valley Golf & Country Club, it is what dominates the skyline and the facilities. The club’s water tank beside the Tenth tee is shaped like a ball on a tee. Only a few will notice though, that the old clubhouse was designed in the same shape.

Nestled at the foothills of Antipolo, Valley was the first golf course built east of Manila. Don Celso Tuason and some of his associates at the Wack Wack Golf & Country Club started developing the area in the late 1950s and by 1961, the Club was open for play. Another nine holes were constructed on the north side of the property. The third nine was later redesigned to become a full 18 holes that is now the Executive Course.

The old mango tree behind the First hole is a witness to the changing times and the maturing of the course. It was there before the course was built, clearly visible in an old photograph of Don Celso hitting the first ball to open the course for play. Valley was built on strong rolling terrain that does have substantial elevation changes. The first three holes bring you to the highest point on the property where you have to play to a downhill par-3 that can be deceiving when played for the first time.

The trees on the course have aged well and on some holes, like the First, they have squeezed the fairways and added a premium to hitting an accurate ball off the tee. If you end up among the trees in Valley, it might be best to just take your medicine and play out of the fairway. There’s not much sense of trying to pull off a heroic shot from within the dense foliage.

The back nine has its share of challenging and interesting holes. The Thirteenth is a par-4 that doglegs to the left – you should try co cut off as much of it as you can but be careful about going Out of Bounds. Your second shot on this hole is to an elevated green, so try to get as close to it as possible. The next two holes go down, then up the hill where you will get the feeling you have hit your ball down a chute. Just remember to keep your ball in play and out of the trees.

The finishing holes of Valley are some of the toughest in the country. The Sixteenth is a par-4 that you play from an elevated tee. You have to play short of the water and from there you will probably still need to hit a long or middle iron to a small green that some of the more intriguing contours on the course. Par on this hole is an achievement in itself. The Seventeenth is a legitimate chance to make a birdie if you play your tee shot right. This par-5 doglegs to the right and has a lake that comes into play when you hit your second shot. If you can get your tee shot close enough, hitting the green in two is a distinct possibility.

A birdie on the Seventeenth could prepare you any miscues that might befall you on the Eighteenth. This finishing hole is a par-3 that plays uphill and is long at 217 yards. Superbly placed bunkers rule out a line drive off the tee so you would better think of carrying the green if you want to get on. Once you are there, try to get a good read on this green since it has the slickest putting surface around.

The Executive Course is an addition and now has its own clubhouse. The short par-70 course provides a decent alternative to the championship course and is sometime open to the public. The greens on this course are planted with Zoysia and will putt differently from the championship course, which still have their original Tifton grass on them. Both courses though, have carabao grass on their fairways.

Vally can get really hot during the dry season but the shade from the trees still makes golfing here a pleasant experience. Nothing much has changed in its environs in spite of the fact that the roads leading to the course have become increasingly urbanized and chances are you will have to wade through some traffic to get there. Valley has maintained the ambiance of a country club, even half a century after it was built.

WACK WACK GOLF AND COUNTRY CLUB (Mandaluyong City)

Tel. No. (02) 723-066

Wack Wack has two fine 18-hole courses: the internationally known East Course, where some of the biggest tournaments have been held; and the shorter, less troublesome West Course, which usually draws the more senior and female golfers of the club.

ROYAL NORTHWOODS GOLF CLUB (San Rafael, Bulacan)

Tel. No. (632) 4431656, (6344) 7660278

The Royal Northwoods Golf Club, named as a "Jewel of the North" is a Graham Marsh, first class 18-hole championship masterpiece, showcasing innovation, distinct form and personality. Challenging but fair, the Royal Northwoods' architecture entails a balance of aesthetics and function.