Once again with feelings. Golf is alive and well.
It’s been a crazy month for golf. Taking off after being hooked in the boob tube or rather LED screen for the March Madness of College basketball, we now have a smorgasbord of sort for golf. From March up to the current month of April. We’ve have witnessed how Sheffler and Korda dominated the professional scene of Men’s and Women’s golf tour respectively. Who doesn’t copy the unique footwork of Sheffler’s drive nowadays? His mind boggling ramp of golf domination is unbelievable. And now the fever has spread in the same intensity in the local scene. That is in Davao golf in particular.
Golf is back. It is alive and kicking.
Back on the olden days, Davao has the luxury of having four active golf courses namely Lanang, Matina or Davao City golf, the fabled Apo Golf and the Rancho Palos Verdes. Am still a newbie or high handicapper during those times in the late 90s and I can still remember how golf tournaments are conducted in almost twice a month interval. The prizes then were enough to make the wives grinning ear to ear and asking permission to play golf on weekends is easy as asking for a glass of water. For its not only the mouthwatering prizes that’s attractive but also the raffle prizes which are always welcome in the wives’ collection at the kitchen.
Today, Davao City’s golf courses are teeming once again with almost weekly tournaments and golfers love it. The material prizes are not that attractive in comparison but the intensity of competition and renewed camaraderie is incomparable. Scorching heat, sun- baked-hard-panned fairways? No problem. Golfers took it as an opportunity to learn new trick shots and further improve their trade in ball control.
Spreading like wildfire.
The game of golf is experiencing a renaissance. It has spread like wild fire in the region. More and more cities have improved their facilities, add driving ranges and amenities to attract golfers and their families and are now conducting tournaments.
Mati City has joined the fray of possible golf destination in the region. The refurbished 9-hole Don Paco Rocamora golf course just recently hosted a three-day tournament that was able to attract golfers from Davao City and neighboring cities that goes as far as Butuan City and Cebu. Golf is catching up in the area and attracting local tourists.
If you happen to go down south you can try the Sarangani Golf in Malandag, Malungon, Sarangani Province. The 9-hole course is laid out on rolling terrain with mango and hardwood trees and some miniature lakes with Carabao grass fairways.
At the heart of Del Monte Pineapple Plantation is the Kalsangi Golf course. Nestled at the foot of Mt Matutum in Polomolok, South Cotabato. This well-maintained golf course can be deceiving as their elevated greens and hidden sand traps will surely give you a hard time to score.
Situated in a former Pineapple plantation in Brgy Linan, Tupi, South Cotabato is the Brittannika Golf Course that will captivate golfers with its well-maintained short course, postage-stamp elevated greens and picturesque view of Mt Matutum. It is short but the greens are treacherous. The club is regularly conducting monthly tournaments attracting golfers from Davao City, and from neighboring Koronadal and Gen Santos City.
As you go further down South, a 20-minute travel from the heart of Koronadal City is Paraiso Golf Course. A 9-hole course with its up and down and winding fairways that will surely present some challenge to all skill levels of golfers. The presence of Carabaos and other domesticated animals add some ambience of country life and traversing its winding fairways promises itself a different kind of golfing experience. Just don’t mind the greens in its current condition which haven’t seen better days and badly need a facelift. But If you are looking for an early morning walk with country breeze and atmosphere, this course is for you. And if you won’t take your golf that seriously, a round would make a good walk unspoiled.
Foooooooore.
