A Message for Mr. Ocampo
Thank you for your reply to our Inquiry about the Centenary of Golf in the Philippines. Yes, we know about the Baguio Golf and Country Club's 100 year celebration this year, as a continuing little and interesting ’controversy’ may be unresolved here. You see, a Country Club does not mean a Golf Course was or is in existence. We realize the Baguio Country Club's golf course came or was most likely constructed later, as it seems the mountain resort and Country club was established first by the American military colonizers then, but not necessarily the Golf course. The earliest golf courses established in the Philippines seem to have been very closely associated with the British community, not only in the Philippines, but throughout Asia, as extensions of British colonial influence, especially in the areas where they were laying down RAILROADS, as it was with the building of the 'original' and first Manila Golf Course in Caloocan, close to the Central Train Station of the Philippine Railways back then. (However, this original site of Manila golf is no longer in existence.)
So was this in Iloilo when the British, specifically the Scottish Engineers, started the survey and building of the Railroads in 1905 to 1909 as commissioned by the US colonizers then. Iloilo already had a very vibrant British trading community since the 1850s! The British Vice Consul, Mr Nicolas Loney, is prominently labeled as the “Father of the Phil. Sugar Industry” for his contribution to the development of the Trading Industry in the Visayas. This presumably led to the establishment of a small but vigorous British trading community in the old city, and subsequently the choice for a railway system in the island of Panay! There were and still, are no, railway systems in Baguio!! That should be an interesting point to consider and settle from history's perspective. In the 1920's, the Sta. Barbara golf course was firmly in existence together with some 10 other golf courses in other areas of the Philippines (from Zamboanga, Cebu to Negros and Baguio and many around Manila), as revealed by the records of the Scotland-based Royal and Ancient Golf Club (thru our correspondence), the world's ruling body in Golf.
Yes, we welcome your visit to Sta. Barbara eagerly, as we are anxious to start our preparations for golf's Centennial. Everyone in golfing Philippines will want to establish and confirm this early beginning of a very popular game in these parts of the world. Thank you very much.
Please give us a call and visit and allow us to host your visit to our Golf Course. You are most welcome!! Dali, kari na di!
Truly yours,
Noel Binayas, MD
Iloilo Golf and Country Club, Heritage Committee