Binitin

It's one of those old courses with huge Eucalyptus and Mahogany trees all lined up beckoning you to play her.  You immediately get the feeling that this is one gorgeous golf course you will enjoy. From Metro Bacolod you drive out some 30 minutes past fields and fields of sugarcane plantation until you come to this charming course.

It's a long course.  However while walking the entire18 holes you get the feeling that it's really not that long.  Perhaps because it is picturesque.  Or maybe because every hole is different.

Late in the afternoon when most of the players have gone home, you might find some of the young local kids playing a few holes.

I stopped to watch them hit their balls and was astounded at how good they were. They had the proper swing and form.  Perhaps children of the caddies.  They had only one club each  and some were even barefoot but they were naturals. Then again it's not surprising when you have the fairway as your playground.

Our very own Philippine professional golfer Juvic Pagunsan, who was an Asian Tour Order of Merit, is a product of Binitin. While he may not have started as young as these kids, (he told me once he started learning only at the age of 15) Juvic did have Binitin as his play area.  In fact his old house still stands not too far away from the entrance of the course.

Juvic Pagunsan

This year Binitin or Bacolod Golf & Country Club will be host to the 2013 Luzvimin Infinity Championship of the Women's Golf Association of the Philippines. This will be the largest gathering of women golfers comprising of 25 teams from Luzon Visayas and Mindanao. We are hopeful for another memorable tournament as we return to Bacolod where in 2011 the Luzvimin championship was held at Marapara. We also await our sisters from the other golf clubs in Manila who have been stranded because of the non stop rains in Manila.  We pray for the safety of teams Manila Southwoods, Sta. Elena, Riviera, Aguinaldo, Villamor  and hope they arrive in Bacolod soon.

Fore!