Phl Open returns to old home at WW

Last Monday, the Asian Tour, the National Golf Association of the Philippines (NGAP) and the Wack Wack Golf and Country Club (WWGCC) jointly organized the media launch of the ICTSI 2011 Philippine Open, also known as the 95th Philippine Open.

The launch was preceded by a media golf tournament at WWGCC’s fabled and newly renovated, par -72, 7,222-yard east course, site of the Philippine Open to be held from May 12 to 15, 2011. The media tournament allowed media to test the course which has drawn raves from the likes of former national amateur champion and NGAP director Tommy Manotoc and Canada’s 2002 Philippine Open champion, Rick Gibson, among others.

Helping bring back the Philippine Open as a leg of the Asian Tour and to WWGCC, which last hosted it in 2008, was one of our primary goals upon our election as president of WWGCC especially at a time when the country is exerting all efforts to become a sports, sports-eco-tourism, business and leisure destination. 

As a young boy of 10, I would tag along in many rounds of golf at Wack Wack with my father Felipe, himself president of WWGCC from 1972 to 1973. That early, I had always thought of WWGCC as the one and only venue of the Open. The Philippine Open had traditionally been the kick-off leg of the Asian Professional Tour. After all, WWGCC had been continually hosting the Open since 1935 to 1980. After 1980, the Open would be held in other courses like Valley, Puerto Azul, Holiday Hills (TAT Filipinas), Riviera, Malarayat and Villamor.

Each time the country hosted the Open, the golfing world was reminded of the fact that the Philippine Open is one of the world’s oldest men’s professional golf tournaments. It is also Asia’s oldest golf and national open tournament.

Since the Philippine Open started in 1913 at the Manila Golf Club, the tournament has produced 65 winners, of which 13 were Filipinos, a number of them emerging triumphant more than once. Larry Montes, who died in the United States some years ago won the Open a record 12 times: 1929, 1932, 1936, 1937, 1941-44, 1948, 1951, and 1954. Montes’s victory in the 1929 Open at the Manila Golf Club was the trigger that led to the establishment of WWGCC and the eventual transfer of the Open to WWGCC.

It appears that Montes, then a caddy had won the tournament but was asked to leave in the middle of the awarding ceremony since caddies were not allowed inside the clubhouse. This incident angered William “Bill” Shaw, an American member of Manila Golf who decided to form a group that would establish a golf club which would be a model of non-discrimination and tolerance. Thus, the WWGCC was born.

The last years of Ferdinand Marcos and the early post-EDSA I period were marked by unprecedented economic and foreign exchange difficulties. The execution of Benigno (Ninoy) Aquino at the then Manila International Airport triggered economic and political upheavals that led to Marcos fleeing the Philippines for Guam and eventually, Hawaii. Massive capital flight had taken place causing, among other things, dollar shortages and the weakening of the peso relative to the US dollar. Tournament organizers therefore offered prize money in pesos rather than the traditional US dollar which drastically reduced the international character and prestige of the tournament. 

Although the Open is 98 years old, the Open has been held only 95 times. The Philippines did not host the Open from 1945 to 1947 as the country focused its attention to recovering from the ravages of World War II. If 98 years is used as the reckoning date, the Philippine Open will celebrate its Centennial year on 2013.

Two former champions, Artemio Murakami and Angelo Que, and the 2010 Asian Games golf silver medalist and the youngest Filipino golf pro, Miguel Tabuena, all agree that the winning score will be anywhere from two to three under par.

The course has become more challenging after the number of bunkers and water hazards was increased, widened and lengthened. Except for number 14, all of the east course’s fairways are guarded by monster bunkers. The wind factor further highlights the need for precision.

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Several Sundays ago, the Tennista Inc. observed its first anniversary at the Philippine Columbian Association. Tennista, which is made up of tennis enthusiasts who engage in social action and promote the tennis sport, was one of the many volunteer groups that campaigned hard for then Sen Benigno Aquino III. The group toured the different clubs during the 2010 presidential campaign. Among those present at Tennista’s celebration were Mayor Jess Burahan, Jess Capulong, Alex Nakpil, Rina Caniza, Ernie Punzalan, Baby Gregorio, Anne de la Peña, Odette Aspirin and former Miss Universe Gloria Diaz.