Golf in the Philippines

Playing golf in the Philippines is an opportunity not to be missed. Not only is the climate perfect for golf and the tropical surroundings beautiful, but the game is so popular in the Philippines, you'll have a wide variety of courses to choose from. Whether you prefer public golf courses with their affordable green fees (many public courses offer discounted rates for tourists), or championship courses designed by Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus or Greg Norman, the Philippines is your dream destination.

Golfing is not the most popular sport in the Philippines. In fact, it can hardly hold a candle to the extreme recognition that other sports such as badminton, boxing and soccer enjoy. In reality, the first game of golf on Philippines soil was played over a century ago when the British were settled here. The first golf course in the Philippines was said to be a 3-hole course laid down by British workers in the Manila Railway Company, who used paddy fields for their golfing. Their hobby and interest grew and by the turn of the 20th century, there was a 9-hole golf course in Manila, which is still in existence, known as the Manila Golf Club.

The lack of recognition for golfing is due to the dearth of world-class golfers that have come from the Philippines. Given the state-of-the-art facilities and world-renowned golf courses, this is a huge letdown coming from a nation where golf has been a part of its sporting culture for almost a century. The Philippines has produced sports stars in other sports such as boxing and badminton. The most well-known Filipino sports star is Manny Pacquaio, the world-record holder boxer and politician.

The Philippine Open golfing tournament is one of the oldest in the world, the first one being held almost a century ago in 1913. For the golf lovers in the country, the Philippine Open is an opportunity to cherish the sport that they adore so much. Each year, many golfing stars and big name players descend upon Manila to take part in the Philippine Open. Usually, the Philippine Open is held at the Manila Golf Course, the oldest golf course in the country. Initially, the native people of the Philippines were prohibited from taking part in the tournament, but as time went by, that prohibition was lifted and the Filipino golfers were allowed to take part. This trend reached its peak in 1956 when three Filipino golfers dominated the event, which was won by Celestino Tugot.

The Philippine Open diminished in popularity and stature at the end of the 20th century, but is still going strong, as a firm semblance of the Philippines' great golfing culture. The Philippine Open is the only representative of a sport struggling to make its mark among the young people of the Philippines. As long as it keeps going on, golf will never be removed from the Philippines sporting culture and has a bright future in the days to come.