Island Tee

CEBU, Philippines – The Mactan Island Golf Club has always been full of surprises during my most recent visits. These are of course pleasant surprises from the conditions of the course, additions to the course, and all sorts of other things that would encourage people who don’t visit often to come back.

Today, the 9th Island Tee will officially start and will run until Sunday. Gen. Rodante Joya (Retired) told me that they have prepared a treat for the participants and there are lots of raffle prizes to take home.

“Maraming LCD TVs,” he told me a few days ago.

The raffles of course are just a bonus for the players, who would be gathering in Mactan for the next four days.

I’m playing tomorrow and Sunday and will be teeing off at the break of day hoping to get a few extra hours to do work and other important stuff.

Yesterday morning, I was receiving text messages from friends, who are members of the club looking for partners.

I am not exactly sure whether they were asking me to pair off with them, but I think it was more of asking me for referrals for non-members who would like to pair off with them hehehe...

So, those who are not members of the MIGC, but would like to join, try calling your friends since they might be among those who have no partners yet.

The number of players was 350 as of yesterday afternoon, but Gen. Joya told me that there are still many last minute entries.

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According to the Amazing But True Golf Facts, readers of Golf Magazine were asked which of Tiger’s possessions would they most want?

Half of the 2,111 respondents said they’d take his wallet, 36 percent opted for his game and just one percent wanted his mansion.

 I know of some who’d take his wife, but that’s not among the choices I guess.

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There is a rugby tournament set this weekend at the dubbed as Cebu 10’s International Rugby Festival.

The event is set at the Aboitiz Sports Field in Mandaue City beside Makro.

The event will officially kick off on Saturday, but teams from other parts of the world would be arriving in the next couple of days.

According to the team information packs that have been emailed, the participants are Kowloon, Nomads, Cebu Dragons, and Barbarians for Pool A.

Those in Pool B are URFC H5N1’s, Alabang, Nomads Carabaos, and Low Flying Dragons.

Games would start at 10 a.m.

Those who would like to watch are welcome to go to the venue. I understand there will also be good food from Gustavian that would be offered there, just bring you wallets hehehe...

One more important thing about the event is that it is also for a good cause. An auction of autographed rugby items will be held with the proceeds to be given to Operation Restore Hope.

This should be something to look forward to this weekend for both rugby fans and those who know nothing about the sport.

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MILESTONES: Happy birthday wishes to my former colleague in The Freeman and now city public information officer, Nagiel Bañacia, who turns a year older today.

Advance birthday greetings to those celebrating tomorrow most specially my friends Garry Yusingco and Locelle Gabunada.