Trouble brewing in this country club

Problems seem to be hounding some of Metro Manila's posh country clubs, those members-only sports clubs where a share can cost as high as P170 million.

But this time, for a change, it has nothing to do with cheating in golf, which has apparently become a pastime of some avid and even prominent golfers. (That’s another story).

Just the same, this exclusive country club, nestled in a city that lies approximately 12 kilometers east of Manila, is facing what some members dub as problematic leadership.

The problem has been going on for several months now, insiders said.

Curious, I went through a lengthy letter to members that’s been circulating and here’s what I gathered:

Apparently, three directors on the board have already resigned while a sitting board member has described the board as “the most dysfunctional he has ever served on.”

Allegedly, the president reportedly hired the spouse as a consultant, without consulting stakeholders.

Long-time members say this kind of issue is unprecedented in the country club, which according to published records began operating in the mid-1970s.

Operational problems

As a result of this, or perhaps in addition to instability on the board, major facilities of this sports club have also been shut down early last year, according to the letter drawn up by concerned shareholders.

“Major facilities were shut down in early 2025 due to a lack of building permits (Lanai Kitchen, Rizal Ballroom, men’s and ladies’ locker rooms, new parking area, Tanay Deck, Veranda), resulting in revenue losses and member inconvenience,” a copy of the letter shows.

There are also outstanding concerns for key projects including the renovation or construction of the Game Room, PWD elevator, teppanyaki station and kitchen facilities.

Actually, the concerned shareholders said in their letter, project bidding lacks transparency.

For instance, members paid an additional P3,500 in the first quarter of last year for the assessment of the façade, main lobby and main driveway yet the renovations have not begun after a year.

The club has also spent millions of pesos on legal disputes and settlements involving former managers and staff who have filed labor cases against management for dismissal-related issues.

What’s the plan?

As it is now, they said, there has been no annual strategic business plan despite a formal proposal at the first board meeting.

Even the Securities and Exchange Commission has called out the leadership for a long-unresolved share issuance (prior to the current board’s term) involving 500 unauthorized shares reportedly issued way back in 1979.

And yet, against this backdrop, share auctions continue despite unresolved verification of SEC authorization.

First-world problems

This may sound like first-world problems. But there’s no denying it matters to the members.

For the concerned shareholders themselves – many of them businessmen – they are after good governance.

“Good governance leads to a professionally run, dynamic and united club, leading to an even higher share price,” they said.

Stronger governance reforms may be needed to restore confidence, they also said, adding that many of them have been members for decades.

Against this backdrop, they hope to see better leadership in their beloved country club, an extension of their home where they meet with friends while playing their favorite sport.

It seems these issues have divided club members.

Learning about this problem in this country club involving millions of pesos, unfinished projects and leadership being questioned by stakeholders, I couldn’t help but compare it to our country.

F. Scott Fitzgerald said something like: Let me tell you about the very rich. They are different from you and me. They possess and enjoy early, and it does something to them... unless you were born rich, it is very difficult to understand.

But with all these stories of cheating, corruption and problematic governance in country clubs including golf clubs, I guess the rich – at least some of them – are just like everyone else.

Crazy over EV

Long before the Middle East crisis, triggered by the US-Israel attacks on Iran, erupted, I’ve been hearing tycoons and businessmen getting bitten by the EV or electric vehicle bug.

Apparently, even if they can afford to load their gas tanks – no matter how much fuel prices skyrocket – they are finding joy in the fuel efficiency of hybrid vehicles and the 100 percent EVs cars.

One particular EV that is becoming a favorite among the well-heeled crowd is BYD, which is distributed in the Philippines by the Ayala Group.

Just last January, a tycoon revealed that he already bought five different BYD units because of how fuel efficient they are. They are also quiet. They look modern and they supposedly promise a cleaner future.

And just recently, I bumped into a former Cabinet official who is also a car enthusiast.

Without any prodding, he suddenly raved about his newly purchased BYD, an eMax9, a popular multi-utility vehicle that costs roughly a million pesos less than the more popular brands in the market.

With global oil prices already hitting $100 per barrel because of the war against Iran, more Filipinos are sure to join the EV craze.

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