“It’s more fun in the Philippines,” reads the tagline of the Tourism Promotions Board of Philippines. And if you have been there once, you can see they walk the talk. There is much to do in the country that is spread over 7017 islands – beach bumming, diving, trekking or simply taking in the astounding scenery. And if it is the buzz you need, then immerse yourself in one of the countless live music bars in Metro Manila, if not in its notorious traffic. So, is there room for golf? – yes, is the simple yet emphatic answer. The Philippines golf scene is not to be discounted, given the plethora of signature golf course designs by legends. The landscape has allowed some dramatic layouts that quite unexpectedly differentiate the Philippines golf courses from those of other countries.
Philippines golf has a history rooted in the British Railway contractors laying out the railway in the latter half of the nineteenth century when it was under Spanish Rule. And then gradually it evolved further with American Colonization and spread across the country. For those looking at golf holidays in the Philippines though, it is best to focus attention on the main tourist destinations. Some of the best Philippines golf courses are to be found in the Manila Metro and as such this region should serve as the best destination for golf vacations in the Philippines, also because of the number of options available to play.
One of the must play courses in any golf holidays in Philippines has to be the Tagaytay Highlands Course. Situated about an hour and a half drive from Makati, the grandeur and spectacle of the layout is to be played to be believed. Imagine, that a cable ropeway transports you to the tenth tee after completing nine holes. Other layouts in the form of Jack Nicklaus, Robert Trent Jones Jr, Arnold Palmer, Gary Player designs amongst others, while not as quirky, are not short on dramatic contouring through forests and hills. These designers must have had a field day designing Philippines golf courses – in fact it is quite possible to do golf holidays in Philippines dedicated to playing only Jack Nicklaus design courses or only the Robert Trent Jones Jr courses without having to move base from Manila, just like the Nicklaus Trail or the RTJ Trail popular in America. Imagine that about Philippines Golf!
The biggest thing to factor though about Manila is the driving time to the golf courses. While the distances may not be the longest, it is the traffic that can be notoriously bad. Planning tee times smartly is crucial and will go a long way in ensuring enjoyable golf holidays in Philippines. The other thing to plan is the time of the year to go. The weather is a big part of what makes Philippines and avoiding the stormy season which runs from June to late October is a sensible idea. One last factor, of course, is the access to the golf courses. While more and more golf courses in Philippines seem to be opening their doors to non-members, especially given the thrust by the Philippines tourism board to drive more golf tours in Philippines, it is still good sense to check up with a golf course before showing up there. One other way is to take up one of the Philippines golf packages provided by golf tour operators, who can guarantee you tee times at some of the selected courses.
