Well it's about time!

Augusta National (photo by ctpost.com)

After 80 long years, Augusta National removes its discrimination against women by accepting 

two ladies into their exclusive men's club. Former U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice 

and business executive Darla Moore will soon be wearing the famous Augusta Green Jackets 

when the club opens this fall. Read the full story here.

Well, isn't it about time this happened? Or should I say, isn't this long overdue? There is the 

saying that GOLF is an acronym that means "Gentlemen Only Ladies forbidden". While this is 

not true, there have been times when it did feel like this for some women golfers.

I remember not so very long ago.... a client of mine had just relocated from Amsterdam to Manila. He invited me to play at Manila Golf on a Wednesday. It was late in the morning and we had just finished a few holes when a representative of the club came to pick me up and politely told me 

that i could no longer play and finish my round of golf. When we asked why, the club representative said that women were not allowed to play after a certain hour at Manila Golf. My client turned red and was so embarrassed while I was just speechless....The rules have changed since then but to this day I will never forget how I was whisked away, brought to the ladies locker and not able to finish my round simply because I was a woman.

For women golfers, the acceptance of both Rice and Moore at Augusta national is reason to celebrate. But at the end of the day, regardless of sex, it is the passion for the game of golf that really matters.

Golfing Monday

Forest Hills Nicklaus course hole 1

It's always a good day when you can play golf on a Monday.  Most golf courses in Manila are closed on Mondays so if you
happen to be golfing on that day chances are it's because its a public holiday. Today is one of those days.  NO WORK,
out with your golfing girlfriends on a glorious Monday morning!

We got to Forest Hills at about 6:40 a.m. and  it was a little weird that it was UNUSUALLY FOGGY.  I mean fog in Metro
Manila?????

with Marichi Ojeda & Matec Villanueva

Now that is really strange.

But it didn't last long and shortly after the sun came out.  Perfect weather, wonderful company and no work on a Monday.

Life is good.


Fore!

Disaster on Hole 14

Hole 14

Hole #14 of the Nicklaus course of Forest Hills Golf and Country Club in Antipolo was never my favorite hole.  In fact it was
the hole i hated the most.  I remember when i was just beginning to play golf 7 years ago I would have nightmares just thinking
about this hole. What would start out as a good round of golf would always disappear by the time i got to the 14th hole.  I can't
count the number of balls I have lost on this hole. For awhile I even obsessed over how the Mango tree before the green could
miraculously disappear...

But while hole 14 was not my most-liked hole, I wasn't prepared to see the misfortune that happened to the fairway of hole 14
as a result of the non stop southwest monsoon rains a couple of weeks ago.

Former Tee box

This used to be the forward tees. The retaining wall on the right side collapsed. A landslide from the neighboring village on the
right is visible.

Fairway no more

This is what happened to the fairway!

cart path

As you take the path down to the temporary tee box you will pass this...

Temporary tee box

The tee box is now located right before the ravine and hole 14 is now a par 3 with about 140 yards or so to the green.

I am certain that many other courses around Metro Manila have been damaged by the rains and playing on soggy fairways might
be the norm for the next week or so.  But at least the sun has been shining again lately and hopefully it stays that way.

I am actually missing the fairway of hole 14 and hoping that it won't take forever for it to be repaired. Meanwhile,  while i wait for
hole 14 to once again become a long par 4, I will take pleasure in finally being able to make regular pars on this hole.


Fore!

When women compete for golf....

Forest Hills Ladies Team

When women go on a golf road trip to compete anything can happen. Especially if its a week long golf tournament and its far
away from home.  In this case, it's in Cagayan de Oro and for the 20th Luzvimin (Luzon Visayas Mindanao) Championship.

Imagine over a hundred women getting together in serious competition for golf.

That can get really fierce!  But it can be loads of fun as well.

See competing is one thing.  Then there's the fellowship and camaraderie that happens after.
After all the food, drinks and raffle prizes theres another competition that happens.....

There's the team group dance presentations....

How one can even have the energy to practice for these dance presentations after all the preparations for playing
exceptional golf is beyond me!  But i kid you not, these ladies take this production number seriously.

But of course the highlight of the week long LUZVIMIN Championship is the team competition awards.

It's the icing on the cake!

Forest Hills Ladies - Champion Ruby Division

And it's doubly sweet to win it  a level up. This year the Forest Hills Ladies team brings home the Ruby!

Fore!

Girls gone golfing!

Team Forest Hills

It's that time of the year again when women golfers from all over the Philippines come together and battle it out at the fairways in what is known as the  LUZVIMIN (Luzon Visayas Mindanao) Tournament.  Pueblo de Oro Golf & Country Club in Cagayan de Oro is this year's host for the 20th LUZVIMIN Championship.

18th hole of Pueblo de Oro

There are at least 18 prestigious Clubs from all over the country who are part of the LUZVIMIN Championship and some of them include:

Manila Southwoods

Manila Golf

Negros Occidental Golf & Country CLub

Tagaytay Highlands

Riviera Golf & Country Club

Forest Hills Golf & Country Club

Baguio Country Club

Del Monte Golf & Country Club

Negros Golf & Country Club

The Luzvimin Championship was officially opened this week by WGAP ( Women's Golf Association of the Philippines) President Marissa Romano and followed immediately with fellowship and cocktails at the Pueblo de Oro Clubhouse.

Marissa Romano with Rio Co 

Pueblo de Oro Clubhouse

The battle for the top women's golf teams in the Philippines runs all week. So far we have been blessed with sunshine and while we are thankful for this glorious weather in Cagayan de Oro, we pray that the rains in Metro Manila and the rest of the National Capital Region begin to subside.  A lot of the women golfers who have participated in this championship have left family and loved ones in Manila and we can't help but think about them while we are here.


Fore!