Philippines Golfing - The Top Ten Courses by Will Irwin

Traveling to the Philippines, or planning to live or retire in the Philippines, and wondering what golfing is like in the Philippines? Do you tend to think that great golf courses would be the last thing you would find in the Philippines? Well, think again, because there are incredible golf courses in the Philippines. Some of the best courses in Asia are found in the Philippines. Below I have listed by geographic location what I consider to be the top ten courses in the Philippines.

Manila

1. Wack Wack Golf & Country Club

This course is world famous. Located on Shaw Boulevard in Mandaluyong City ,it has two 18 - hole championship courses. Until the early 1990's, this club was the official home of the Philippines Open. Green fees are $100 weekdays and $140 weekends. This is a private club, so guests have to be accompanied by a member in order to play.

2. Canlubang Golf & Country Club

This is the largest club in the Philippines - a whopping 36 holes of golf! The fairways are wide, undulating and full of coconut trees. This gives it a very Asian and tropical feel. Additionally, it is full of all the features of a great course, like man-made lakes, ravines, and huge sandtraps. It is located 1 hour south of Manila in Canlubang, Laguna area. Though a private course, tourists can play on weekdays.

3. Club Intramuros

Located on Bonifacio Drive at the corner of Aduana Street in Intramuros, Manila, this is a unique course in that it is short (par 66, with a length of just over 4,000 yards), but loaded with plenty of hazards and challenges - water hazards, close out of bounds, and lots of sand. This is where you can really improve your short game. A round can be completed in a little over two hours. This course is open to the public, but reservations need to be made at least two days in advance. Green fees are $29 weekdays or weekends.

4. Villamor Golf Club

This course is located at the Villamor Golf Course in Pasay City in manila. It is very flat, but nevertheless very challenging due to trees and numerous water hazards. All the fairways are lined with beautiful mature trees. It has hosted the Philippine Masters tournament a number of times. Green fees are $25 weekdays and $39 weekends. It is a public course.

Cebu City

5. Alta Vista Golf & Country Club

Alta Vista is a short, but challenging mountainous course, with plenty of rolling terrain and narrow fairways. It follows the natural terrain and beauty of a breathtaking hilltop location. As you play, you enjoy panoramic views of Mactan Island, Bohol and the Cebu Straits. It has become a hot location for golf course residential property, and many Expats have purchased homes along the fairways. It is open to tourists.

6. Cebu Country Club

This is an old and traditional course, with the first facilities built in 1948 on a rural farm, near what was then a quiet country town (Cebu City). Members here are proud of their course, as it has been continuously improved since it was created, and has a reputation as a world-class course. It has all you seek in a great course - winding fairways, trees everywhere, and plenty of white sand traps furnished with coral rock. Green fees are $42 weekdays and $73 weekends. I used to be a member of this club and I found its facilities to superior and complete. It is a private club, but it is open to guest and tourists.

Davao City

7. Apo Golf & Country Club

This course is famous for accommodating players of all skill levels, as most of the greens are huge and flat. The grounds are kept in meticulous condition, and with its vast coconut plantation, abundant hardwoods and tropical landscape it is an awesome experience even for non-golfers to see. This course also is open to tourists, but reservations are required.

8. Rancho Palos Verdes Golf and Country Club

I am currently a member of this club. This course has virtually everything, and players come fly in from all over the Philippines to have a go at this course. It has redefined the face of golf in Asia through its environmentally sensitive design and management. Designed by Andy Dye, it offers one of the most stunning golf course sites in the world.
It is a private club, but tourists are welcome to play provided reservations are made well in advance.

Baguio

9. Camp John Hay Golf Club

This course is situated at 5,000 ft elevation in the former US Air Force base. It has beautifully manicured fairways and large, lush, lightning fast greens. There are numerous pine trees and hilly terrain.. It was designed by Jack Nicklaus and is arguably one of the best in the Philippines. It is no longer a public course, but resorts in the area usually know of a member you can tag along with for a round. Green fees are around $50.

Boracay

10. Fairways and Bluewater Golf & Country Club

People usually go to Boracay for its world famous white sand beaches. However, the Bluewater golf course is one of the best kept secrets of Boracay. It was designed by Graham Marsh, and offers a challenging and different experience with every hold. Whereas the front nine is relatively flat with lots of hazards, the back nine is hilly with less hazards. Perhaps not as famous or up to the standards of the above 9 courses, it rates in the top ten due to its location on the beautiful resort island of Boracay, where one can play golf in the day and party on the beach at night. It is open to the public.

Do you want more in depth information about golf and other sports activities available to Expats living in the Philippines? I have just completed my new book on "Retirement Living in the Philippines", which provides a comprehensive study of opportunities for fun, adventure, love and great friendships living in the Philippines.

Download it at http://www.retirementlivinginthephilippines.com

Will Irwin is a powerful entrepreneur and business and life coach. He has started many online and offline businesses both in the USA and in the Philippines, residing in both Hawaii and the Philippines

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