Drive. Eagle. Birdie and Putt in the top Philippines Golf Courses

Found on www.goodnewspilipinas.com

The Philippines is known worldwide for its historical landmarks, pristine beaches, hard working labor force and a warm hospitable people. Apart from these positive aspects, the Philippines particularly Manila is very central for a large number of excellent golf courses. There are also a substantial number of them outside of Metro Manila. These golf courses are not only known for their challenging fairways, but green fees are reasonable. The public courses in particular offer the opportunity for a good game in beautiful surroundings at a very low cost. Let us now take you through a tour of some of the most popular, world class golf courses in Manila and the surrounding areas.

In Manila

The Philippine Navy Golf Club is one of the most popular golfing venues in Metro Manila due to the accessibility of its Fort Bonifacio location, and its low green fees. The Navy Club course is however not a pushover, a par 70 layout with rolling terrain and some awkward dog-legs.

The Manila Golf and Country Club located at Forbes Park in Makati City is rated as the most exclusive golf club in the Philippines. A championship course, it is shorter than most and is a challenging venue for any kind of tournament. Noted events here have included Shell's Wonderful World of Golf and the US LPGA mixed pro-am tournament that featured the American Women's pro-circuit.

The Army Golf Club located at Fort Bonifacio in Makati City makes it very central for those with little time. The course is a short one, with tight and undulating fairways requiring a great degree of accuracy. Open to the public, and with green and caddy fees especially inexpensive, the course is a popular one among golfers.

Aguinaldo Golf Club located in the hear of Quezon City, which is about 20 minutes from Makati, it is a short, flat, tight par 71 course that requires precision gofl from tee-off to the 18th hole. Reservations need to be made about a week in advance, as the easily accessible location makes this a popular club for locals and visitors alike.

Veterans Golf Course is a popular venue in Quezon City open to the public and with low-green fees. A relatively short par 71 course, the tight fairways and accentuated dog-legs however make this far from an easy course, and the small greens mean that your shot might land where you think it may have landed, but it doesn’t always stay there. The course is part of the Veterans Memorial Medical Centre.

Villamor Golf Club in Pasay City is a public 18-hole par 72 course laid out on 60 hectares. For many years Villamor has been host to the Philippine masters. Although the land is flat, the play is challenging because of the arboreal features and water hazards. Green fees are attractively low.

Wack Wack Golf and Country Club in Mandaluyong City has two championship courses. The East course is very much on the international circuit and has hosted the Philippine Open and the 1977 World Cup. The West course is shorter and far less troublesome, but still attracts a good many sponsored tournaments.

30 minutes away from Pasig and Makati

Alabang Country Club is about 20km south of Makati on the South Superhighway. The par 72 golf course is laid out on 58 hectares of rolling terrain with five lakes and a natural creek winding its way through the course, which is shaded by mango trees. The most difficult hole is the par 4 fourth, a blind right dog-leg with three sand traps, a creek to cross, and a hazard all the way along the left side.

Capitol Hills Golf and Country Club in Quezon City is sited on rolling terrain with several of its holes perched on small hilltops. The par 72 course is a long one, challenging with its huge greens and tricky water holes. The club was recently upgraded and ahs some very attractive amenities such as a sauna and massage services, a fine restaurant, tennis courts and swimming pool.

Club Intramuros in the City of Manila is one of the oldest courses in the Philippines having been laid out in 1907. The course occupies the site of the walled city's moat and consequently runs alongside Fort Santiago and behind the Manila Hotel. A short par 66 course can be easily played in two hours, although it is deceptively tricky with its water holes and hazards. There is a clubhouse with a piano bar and function rooms.

45-90 minute journey from Pasig and Makati

Eastridge a 45 minute drive from Makati is sprawled along a strech of hillside and occupies 80 hectares of lovely rolling countryside. There are views of Laguna Lake, and the skylines of Makati and Ortigas. The clubhouse has an exceptionally pleasant cocktail lounge and there are function rooms and boardrooms for those combining business with pleasure.

The Manila Southwoods Golf and Country Club is located in Cavite, about 25 minutes south of Makati by taking the South Luzon Tollway with the club having its own marked exit. There are two 18-hole Jack Nicklaus signature courses. Traps and water hazards punctuate the Masters course, while the Legend baffles with its high mounds. Both courses have championship sized greens.

The Orchard is also located in the Cavite area with two 18 hole championship courses. Arnold Palmer designed the Legacy course while Gary Player designed the Tradition course. There is a huge clubhouse with basketball gymnasium, tennis courts, a 12 lane tenpin bowling alley, sauna, swimming pool, mini theatre, and function rooms. The club is about half an hour from the Ninoy Aquino International Airport.

Puerto Azul Golf and Country Club is about 60km outside of Manila. It is a scenic course with a dramatic combination of mountain and sea. This was one of the early championship courses built partially to stimulate golf, and big events like the Philippine Open. Hole 17 is notorious for its proximity to the China Sea, a water hazard with few parallels.

Riviera Golf Club has two 18-hole championship courses designed in association with Fred Couples and Bernhard Langer. At 1000 feet above sea level, the weather here is cool almost all year. The Mediterranean style clubhouse is superbly equipped and has excellent meeting facilities.

Sherwood Hills Golf Club is another Jack Nicklaus course, a links type layout with wide fairways and good sized greens with no blind spots. The wind factor helps to make play tricky on this otherwise relaxed course. The drive to Sherwood is about 90 minutes from Metro Manila.

The Splendido Golf Club course was designed by Aussie great Greg Norman and opened only four years ago. Hilly terrain and views of Taal Lake make this scenic course and the ravines and hillsides a challenge for players of all levels. Travel time is about 90 minutes from Manila

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