Golf Centenary Celebrations
Launching of the Centenary Celebration of the Sta. Barbara Golf Course
On January 15, 2005 , the Iloilo Golf and Country Club, Inc. through the Centenary Committee headed by Mr. Herminio Maravilla officially marked the start of the celebrations of the Centenary of the Sta. Barbara Golf Course. It was a very well attended affair with many club members and families present, as well as guests from other golf clubs and the media. The evening was started with a sumptuous dinner with a band performing on the 1 st tee box. This was followed by a video presentation showing the History and Heritage of the Sta. Barbara Golf Course. The official logo of the Centenary was officially unveiled by the President, Dr. Alejandro Rivera, assisted by Mr. Francisco "Paking" Maravilla and witnessed by the members of the Centenary Committee. Then, the evening was literally lighted up by the fireworks unveiling the "countdown" to the centenary year 2007.
"Sta. Barbara Celebrates Philippine Golf 1907—2007: A Century of Dedication to an Ageless Game! "
Late in 2004, a preparatory committee was constituted by the Board of the Iloilo Golf and Country Club, Inc. to plan and lead the activities running up to the Grand Celebration of a hundred years in the life of the Sta. Barbara Golf Course in 2007, the oldest in existence in the Philippines. The Iloilo Golf and Country Club, owners of the Sta. Barbara Golf Course envisions a year-long, grand celebration of what in essence should be the unofficial National Golf Centenary in the Philippines ! The distinction belongs to the Sta. Barbara course, and the honor to the Ilonggo bearers of this singular historical and cultural heritage.
The British, being the acknowledged originators of the game, were also the people responsible for its spread in Asia and the Philippines . The composition of the early 1900's Iloilo Golf Club was predominantly British and American, owing to the fact that first, the British community for decades since the 1850's, was well established as traders in Iloilo, and had trading houses (Kerr Company, Strachan & McMurray), banks (Hong Kong and Shanghai) and vice-consular house in the old city. Second, the Americans had just become the new colonizers of these islands.
In 1906, when the Philippine Commission under the Americans ordered the construction of railway systems in the Visayan islands of Panay, Negros and Cebu. Scottish railroad engineers were contracted to build the railroads. The British were operating the Manila Railways then as they were given the franchise by the Spanish government at the time. These pioneers subsequently, lost no time in establishing a 'more homey' community in Iloilo with the addition of a Golf course to play the game they enjoyed so much playing back home! No wonder the early Sta. Barbara Golf Club was also then the only club affiliated with Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrew, Fife, Scotland, the ruling body of commonwealth golfing nations uptil the 2 nd world war.
Prominent local American colonial officials and residents, the expatriate British community, bank officials and traders together with the Scottish engineers composed the original motley group of founding members. In fact, until the 1930's and prior to WWII, the Presidents of the Iloilo Golf Club bore British or American surnames. Doubtless, these expatriates either held high positions and offices in their respective local agencies or were American colonial officials then. Subsequently, prominent native residents and officials, executives of local branches of national companies were accepted as members many years after the club was established.
Thus, the historical association of the Sta. Barbara Golf course has a potentially deep and wide breadth not only in these present times but especially more so in the past. Drawing strength by reaffirming our understanding of and our affinity to this historical link and heritage is the key to this centennial commemoration in 2007.
With, the support of the other golf clubs all over the Philippines under the banner of the NGAP and the Federation of Golf Clubs of the Philippines, Iloilo Golf envisions a year-long celebration of golf as it is linked to local history and culture. a celebration envisioned to be province-wide in ownership , national in scope, multi-generational in appeal and one that can potentially draw renewed interest and participation among the history-conscious British and foreign golfing travelers.