For love of the game

Non-golf players can’t understand why their spouses are hooked to the sport, virtually turning them into "grass widows" on weekends. Not until they pick up clubs and putters do they realize that golf can be a consuming game of skill, discipline, strategy. They themselves love to spend hours in the golf course, sometimes forgetting what the cook’s preparing for the evening meal. As Leni Alano Cabili puts it, "Many golfers are into the sport simply for the love of it."

I had merienda at the Manila Golf Club the other day with Remy Romero Salas, former president of the Women Golfers Association of the Philippines (WAGAP); Amalia Montecillo, also a former WAGAP president and founder of Jr. Golf; Gina Tuason, current president, and Leni, former treasurer, and the conversation revolved around how it is to be hooked to the game.

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Leni recalls that when her family came to Manila from Basilan and checked in at a hotel, "The first thing my brothers asked the reception desk was where the nearest golf course was." Her parents were golfers, and her father flew a Piper Club just so he could play with friends in other islands. It was only when her first child was one year old (she married Camilo Cabili who later became mayor of Iligan City) that she took to the golf course, and fascination turned to love. She played everyday; now, that her daughter has turned 31, she’s still at it, but only twice or thrice a week, although she plays without fail on Wednesdays at the Philippine Navy course of which she is a member.

Remy decided, if she can’t lick her husband, she better join him. Not only did she become a regular player; she became WAGAP president, which encourages women to take up the game. Today, she says, there are about 400 women golfers, although there could be more who are not members of the 24 golf associations around the country.

Amalia became WAGAP president herself, and more, founding Jr. Golf for kids from various clubs, ages 5 up to 18. Jr. Golf produced such players as Jennifer Rosales, Heidi Chua (the best in the amateur level), Dotty Ardina, of Sta. Rosa, Laguna, who won the San Diego Jr. World Tournament, and Jayvee Agoho. She also organized the Asia Pacific Jr. Golf Club Confederation which is composed of players from 12 countries. Last December the tournament was held in Southwoods, Laguna.

WAGAP, says Gina, has sent such winners as Heidi Chua, Jayvee Agoho and Aileen Yao to the Queen Sirikit Cup in Thailand where 123 countries sent their best amateur players.

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The surprises at the courses are many. Amalia, who has the poet in her, many times loses her concentration on the game, "because I listen to the birds chirping, and squirrels scampering around the course." And Leni adds, one encounters cobras in golf courses, but nor eport has been heard of a player being bitten.

Gina says one can play in the same course everyday but not get bored. "The challenges differ everyday. One day one may be feeling out of sorts, and another day, one’s biorhythm is working, so she plays well. Of course, one’s frame of mind has an effect on one’s game, like a problem at home or in business."

Leni agrees with Gina, saying, "A lot of women have gone into golf because they’re conscious of their health. You walk five hours, and do a lot of bending. It’s really mental, you’re like a surgeon asking the nurse for the scalpel, for some instrument. In golf we ask the caddy how we can get to that hole faster, what club will I use? Where do I go? You have to know how to read the greens. You’ll know whether to go fast or slow, to putt slow or fast, and you have to study the slopes and turns of the course."

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The four women represent Manila Golf and the Philippine Navy in the different circuits. For the WAGAP circuit, they’ve played in Mt. Malarayat, the Riviera, Valley Golf, Wack Wack, Sherwood, Manila Golf, Southwoods and Sta. Elena. They’ve been playing at the Luzvimin tournament run by WAGAP at the Cebu Country Club; the Ditas Valles Cup, also at Manila Golf and the Philippine Ladies Open also at Manila Golf, and the Dominga Capati tournaments which are held in Canlubang.

The sport is expensive, you bet. The women’s husbands are members of their clubs, the membership fees running into several millions. But the women point out that there are those who become good players and not belong to expensive private clubs because they are determined to learn the sport. Dominga Capati stands out as such a model; she was once a laundry woman and became the first Filipina golfer to compete in tournaments abroad.

The women’s regret is the lack of sponsors for ladies’ tournaments. Amalia said, "That’s probably because the sponsors feel they don’t get the same mileage that they do when sponsoring men’s tournaments."

If you want to see some of our lady golfers at work, like Leni, go watch, or play at the Joe de Venecia Cup Golf Tournament at Villamor Golf Club on October 30. The tournament is a fund-raising event for the Center for the Promotion of Peace and Development of Mindanao. Newspaperwoman Deedee Siytangco will be playing.

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Talking about golfers at the CPPDM-sponsored tournament, lawyer Manolet Ocampo says initial entries from the Upsilon Sigma Phi Fraternity who will be playing are Benny Fulgencio, Cesar Guerzon, Boy Versoza, Jericho Alfiler and Verden Dangilan.

Sigma Delta Phi Sorority sisters who will be playing are Babes Salmingo, Shirley Antonio, Elvira Pangilinan, and Ike Galvezon-Ines. More names of players and sponsors later.

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Don’t forget to visit the OPTA@Podium weekend organic market which is open Saturdays and Sundays at the front driveway of the Banco de Oro, cor. Julia Vargas and ADB ave. in Ortigas Center. Organically-grown vegetables, fruits and potted herbs will be a-plenty, and dairy products (milk, chocolate, keso) and baked goodies will be nice to have under the tents. Free-range chicks and chickens will be available, as will be rice and sugar and fruit juices.