With its growing sports tourism and stunning tropical gems, the Philippines is no stranger to new explorers and golf enthusiasts looking for thrilling adventures. Top local hotspots around the archipelago abound, with a host of unique experiences in and out of the city. Golf clubs, for one, exemplify upscale amenities and fairways with access to breathtaking views, blending local culture and luxury with a solid community on the side.
In a KUBO exclusive with Business Mirror golf editor Mike Besa, who was also appointed as Dakak Golf Club’s golf director, gave us a glimpse of the sport’s generous undertakings in the country—from its unrelenting growth to occasional glitches.
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“The Philippine Open is the oldest golf tournament in Asia—first held in 1913,” opened Besa. “Golf suffered in the late 90s because of the crash of the prices of club shares and languished for almost two decades. COVID spurred the growth of golf worldwide because it was one of the few activities that one could engage in without risk of infection. In terms of growth of the game in the country, nothing has done more for golf globally than the pandemic.”
The lack or gradual loss of programs and initiatives to promote golf in the PH, however, has remained a great challenge across the country. According to Besa, attempts to give the game a decent boost that it rightly and truly deserves are the brainchild of private entities and organizations.
“I believe that virtual golf has added immensely to the sport’s popularity by providing a friendlier, more accessible entry point into the game without undue exposure to the elements. Everyone that’s been on a simulator has aspirations to try the game on-course,” Besa explained, pointing out that overall, access and availability has been a timeless barrier, too.
To attract aspiring players, Besa suggested, the provision of inclusive spaces and introductory sessions should be in the best interest of beginners as well. “Access has been the game’s greatest challenge. [There should be] more public courses, more 9-hole courses; better, more professional coaches and coaching programs.”
Equipment
To bring a wealth of insights to the table, Besa also treated us to a narrowed-down necessities checklist and clothes that an active golfer should invest in. “A fitted set of golf clubs is paramount, in my opinion. You wouldn’t take 10 steps in shoes that don’t fit,” he said.
“Why should you play this great game with clubs that aren’t optimized for you? Contrary to conventional wisdom, higher handicappers need clubs that fit more than good players do,” the golf authority told us.
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“Good players will adjust to whatever they are handed. A high handicapper is stuck. Make sure you get fresh grips for your clubs at least once a year. You’ll be surprised what an impact new grips have on your experience.”
Clubs
When asked what his favorite golf courses are, Mike Besa clued us in on the grandest amenities and fairways that he has on his radar. “Dakak Golf Club, for sure,” he walked us through his roster. “I might be biased, but this course has the best views in Philippine golf. Calatagan Golf Club has long been one of my golfing safe havens. I feel so at home there,” Besa added. “Iloilo Golf and Country Club—also known as Sta. Barbara—is very underrated. It’s the hilliest of the older Visayan courses and presents a really good challenge to the golfer. Historically, this is the oldest continuously existing golf course in the country and one of the oldest in Asia. Teeing it up there is special.”
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As for all-access clubs that cater to members and curious hobbyists alike, Besa has a handful of courses in mind: “The Mountainview Course at Mimosa is one of the top golf courses in the country. It’s currently in great condition and is well worth the green fee they’re asking for. Then you can drive North from there and be in Luisita Golf and Country Club, which is the only work of the legendary architect Robert Trent Jones, Sr. in Asia. If you have a little more time, Subic International is roughly an hour in the opposite direction. Another option is Pradera Verde in Lubao. With 36-holes on tap, a weekend around the Clark Economic Zone is the best golf destination for the golf tourist.”
Experience
As a seasoned sports journalist and lifelong athlete who played an array of sports such as basketball, soccer, baseball, squash, track and field, and tennis, Besa has journeyed long into the industry. His experience allowed him to expand his horizons, which he harnessed and imparted to the imminent generation of golfers.
“In 2006, I started an internet forum called Pinoygolfer.com and later ported it to Facebook, when FB rose to prominence. If you’re an adventurous sort and would like to make new friends while sampling some of the golf courses in the Philippines, join Pinoygolfer on Facebook. It’s the largest unaffiliated group of Filipino golfers anywhere with over 80,000 members. Engage with the membership, make friends and see who’s willing to host you at clubs around the city,” he introduced. “Right now, golf in the Philippines is doable but a bit difficult. Golf Asian is one of the golf-specific travel agencies, so they’re at the top of your list of options.”
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Lending his insight into the status and intricacies of golf in the PH, Besa gushed about how he came to admire the sport and take it seriously. “It’s endlessly complicated. It’s the one game that most closely approximates true life, and it’s the one sport that I can continue to be competitive at for the rest of my days,” he beamed with pride and belief.
