It’s scorching outside. Any fantasies of a prolonged cool season have already been dashed this week.
In some provinces, classes have already been suspended due to severe heat. Indices are reaching well above 40 degrees Celsius and more into the mid-40s. As much as I love golf, the hellish conditions make it a tough task.
With temperatures expected to only get hotter, what choice do we have?
Starting at the break of dawn is one option. But the disadvantage is that as the round progresses the hotter it gets. Playing late in the afternoon is another possibility, but you start during the peak of heat and risk not finishing your round before darkness sets in.
Of course, there are courses in higher areas like Tagaytay, Caliraya or Baguio but unless you have the whole day or are planning a trip up north, choices are pretty limited.
In the months of March to May, the best course to play is the only one which can be played at night — Club Intramuros Golf Course.
Granted, it may not be championship length, but it is by no means an easy course.
I recently got to play at Club Intramuros and had such a blast. I highly recommend it to golfers who’d like a nice round without burning themselves under the blazing sun. Admittedly, I haven’t been to this gem of a short course in maybe five years or more.
Since then, the club has had a refresh of its clubhouse, particularly the lockers and function rooms.
Resident manager Mylene Magsino has been busy keeping the club in top shape.
In fact, on my visit, I discovered that the driving range is under renovation, a much needed one at that.
Krystine Godalle, the club’s accounting head, toured me around and showed the recent improvements the club has undergone.
A crucial change was the use of better, more energy efficient lighting for the course. From what I remember, there used to be some blind spots in the evening. Some holes were inadequately lit, and in some approaches, the ball can be difficult to track. But that’s all in the past.
The club’s food has also improved. Café used to be operated under a concessionaire.
Now the club’s food and beverage is run in-house, with head cook Dominador Gamboa at the helm.
Simple dishes like pancit, kaldereta and other classics are available and are priced reasonably. So, it’s ideal to come for a heavy merienda, relax and tee off at 6 p.m., just when the sun starts setting.
Intramuros has a good mix of scoring opportunities and brutal short holes.
The course exemplifies the “risk versus reward” aspect of course management. There are driveable Par 4s which are tempting, but a slight deviation can lead to double bogeys and worse.
Par 3s are short but very demanding.
Almost all the greens are raised and a lot have multiple tiers and mounds. So, hitting greens with wedges still doesn’t guarantee pars.
The signature par-3 10th, a true island green, is around 165 to 170 from the blue tees. Depending on the wind, this is a tough green to hit with no safe landing zones. It’s our version of TPC Sawgrass’ 17th, maybe even a touch longer.
On my recent round, I hit one flush and straight, only to discover that I was a couple of feet from the brink behind the green.
Scoring well at Intramuros requires patience, lots of it. With the charming surroundings, the historic walls of Intramuros, the Manila City Hall and Manila Hotel providing gorgeous backdrops, it can also be difficult to keep focus.
But of course, the main draw will always be the ability to dodge the heat, playing without even the need for headwear. The constant breeze, the bright lights and the sounds and sights of Manila make for an amazing experience, even for someone who has played the course before.
Green fees are very reasonable, too! Fees are P1,000 for day golf and P1,500 for night golf.
As of writing, night golf is available every Wednesday and Friday, but with plans to add Tuesdays, too.
Summer heat is no reason to stop enjoying a round of golf with buddies. Keep Club Intramuros in mind when planning a game and you will surely not regret it!
