True to the country’s premier air base’s catchword “Lipad PAF,” the Villamor Golf Club has soared to greater heights the past 11 months or so with a makeover that turned the quaint military layout not just into a top championship course but also a leading golfing destination.
No less than the country’s top pros have marveled at the transformation of the tight, challenging course into one true test of golf during the recent ICTSI Villamor Match Play Invitational.
“It’s more than ready to stage the (Philippine) Masters again,” said Tony Lascuña, who ruled the men’s side of the first head-to-head clashes on the Philippine Golf Tour calendar.
Through the initiative of Col. Roelito Nolasco, PAF, GSC (Ret.) who was re-appointed as adviser for administration, under PAF CG (Commanding General) Lt. Gen. Connor Anthony Canlas, the par-72 course and the entire VGC underwent a major facelift to the course and its infrastructure.
“If ICTSI will include the Philippine Masters in its future calendar of events, VGC will be more than glad to support it,” said Nolasco, hinting at the success of the recent ICTSI Villamor Match Play as prelude to the Masters return on the PGT schedule starting next year.
Long regarded as one of local golf’s versions of the four Majors, ICTSI and the PGT revived the PH Masters in 2017 after a 17-year wait, with Clyde Mondilla claiming top honors and Jerson Balasabas topping the 2018 edition via playoff over Dutch Guido Van der Valk.
Touring pros hope to see it again on the calendar next year.
To make VGC more challenging and be able to bring out the best and the worst from the weekend hackers, low handicappers and even the pros, Nolasco said they plan to adjust the height of the rough, relocate pin placements and tee markers, maintain the required thickness of the bunkers, and add sand traps, water hazards and trees.
Aside from bringing back the Masters to its home, plans are also afoot to make VGC an all-weather layout like most of the country’s premier championship courses with an eye on making night golf available in the future.
