THE moment when you get out of the car and walk inside the John Hay Golf premises felt like stepping into another world as you're welcomed by the postcard-pretty greenery, the crisp Baguio air, and the clubhouse's old country charm.
It only got better as you stepped into the first tee, where the colorful foliage, rolling fairways, well-manicured greens, the smell of pine trees, and caddies in white overalls and green caps gave off that Augusta vibes on Masters week.
The best part? This golf course is now open to the public.
For decades the playground of American servicemen and their families and later turned into a privately run club exclusive for members and their guests when the US military left, John Hay returned to government control by virtue of a Supreme Court ruling that favored the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA).
A court sheriff backed by police personnel enforced the Supreme Court ruling on January 6 and turned over the 247-hectare property to state-run BCDA. although there remain legal entanglements involving the claims of Camp John Hay Golf Club members and owners of villas and hotel rooms inside the complex.
Weeks before the turnover, the BCDA took steps to ensure a smooth transition. It entered into short-term deals with Landco Pacific Corp., the real estate arm of the MVP Group, for the management of the Manor and Forest Lodge hotels, and with Golfplus Management Inc. and Duck World PH for the maintenance and operations of the golf course.
Golfplus president Bong Arguelles has been tasked to keep the Jack Nicklaus-designed layout in pristine condition during the transition and he has brought over a number of staff, equipment and resources for that purpose.
There have been challenges, primarily because some of the equipment for the course's upkeep and continued operations, like golf carts [20 brand-new units have been brought up from Manila], water pumps, and furniture, need to be either sourced or replaced.
But these details are hardly noticeable when playing a round of golf in the par-69 course, with the fairways lush and green and the bentgrass greens rolling true and fast like nothing you'll ever experience in any other public course in the country.
Competitive rates
Compared to the rates of private golf clubs for members' guests or those charged by other public courses like Mimosa Golf Club, for example, inside Clark in Angeles City, the fees set by Golfplus in consultation with the BCDA are competitive.
An 18-hole round on a weekday will set you back P3,000 [nine holes is P1,500], with another P1,000 for the golf cart [not mandatory until further notice] and a minimum P700 for caddie fee. Weekend rates climb slightly to P4,000 for 18 holes.
LOOK:
Consistently ranked among the finest golf layouts in the country, this beauty of a course can now be enjoyed by anyone with a tee time or a walk-in lucky enough to get one [Arguelles says the ideal number for the course is 130 golfers a day maximum].
BCDA chairman Larry Paredes pointed out, correctly, that there may be finer courses both private and public in the country, but John Hay, with its fresh Baguio weather and unique challenges, is simply one of a kind.
"You can enjoy playing golf elsewhere," said Paredes, admiring the cool air and picture-perfect view from a back-nine tee box, "but this you can only enjoy here."
Paredes and BCDA president and CEO Jake Bingcang are in agreement that the game plan for Camp John Hay is a long-term lease agreement, either with present partners Golfplus and Duck World PH or other interested parties.
However, BCDA director Pocholo Ponce De Leon bared that included in the 'terms of preference' set by the board is the John Hay course staying accessible to the public.
So if you're an avid golfer headed to the country's summer capital anytime soon, better leave some space in the trunk for your golf set.
You won't regret it.
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