Yes, Virginia! There are still honest golfers around playing the game we love to hate. Golf has been the flavor of the month for the past weeks in national consciousness. It attracted attention not because of the beauty of the game but sadly about the ineptitude of our golf officials. The Paris Olympic golf uniform debacle that was. So much for that brouhaha, I still feel the bad taste it left in the mouth.
The recent drama however that happened in the final day of Davao’s Recovery 5:30 golf tournament restored back the luster of the game after that golf brouhaha. Honesty, honor and the integrity of the game took center stage once again.
The intensity of competition among teams in the Davao tournament was fierce and was decided only after the last putt that culminated in a tele novella like ending. What looks like an overwhelming win instead turned into a painful loss due to rules infraction. Call it careless in the part of the golfer but in the end his honesty conquers all and created an impact that reverberated among the participants. Honesty and honorable golfers still exist.
Two things to learn from Atty Marco Mendoza’s experience. No matter how tired or excited we are after a game, the most critical part is always the gap between putting out and the submission of scorecards. That’s where our duty and responsibility as a golfer starts. The checking and signing that seals the deal.
Atty Mendoza learned only of the error committed after viewing the online results and he was quick enough to realize the inaccuracy on the screen. His reporting back to the Rules Committee to report the error is commendable though it jeopardized his team’s standings. In the end, honesty, honor and the integrity of the game remained intact and preserved.
Kudos to Atty Marco Mendoza, may your tribe increase.
Eaglemaster Golf
Davao City will serve once again as the center of battle for one of the country’s biggest team golf spectacle in September. In celebration of its 15th edition, the Eaglemasters have prepared mouthwatering prizes to attract par busters from as far as USA, Australia, Baguio City from the North, the strong teams from Manila, Cebu and Visayas aside from the usual teams from neighboring cities in Mindanao and the local Davao City teams. Organizers expect to surpass last year’s record of 700 golfers from 130 teams to vie for top honors in this Four-day tourney.
With over 10 million worth of Hole in One and raffle prizes at stake, the four-day tournament will be co-hosted by Davao City’s three golf courses on September 16 to 22,2024. Skills, stamina and patience will be tested on the undulating and hilly Rancho Palos Verdes Golf, the relatively flat but risky South Pacific Golf and at the Apo Golf and Country club known for its tight fairways lined with decades old Narra trees and slick greens.
