Eagle Ridge’s Greg Norman holes open May 1

Playability rounds for the first nine holes of the course designed by Australian Greg Norman for the Eagle Ridge Golf and Country Club in Gen. Trias, Cavite will be allowed starting on Labor Day, May 1.

The opening of the front nine of Eagle Ridge will further expand the country’s biggest golf complex to 63 holes, needing just the Norman back nine to complete the ambitious 72-hole venture project of Sta. Lucia Realty and Alsons Land, Corp.

Eagle Ridge is now the biggest golf complex in the country. With its two existing clubhouses, it can readily accommodate no less than 800 golfers a day.

Already operational are the three championship courses designed by noted designers Andy Dye, Nick Faldo and Japanese legend Isao Aoki all of which are diverse in character.

The Norman version will give members and guests of Eagle Ridge an entirely different option which is that of a very friendly course.

While the Dye and Faldo courses have always proven to be a skill challenge, the Norman layout playing no longer than 7,000 yards can instantly give powerhitters an advantage due to its wider fairways.

The Norman bunkers are strategically located to make things more exciting for players becoming too greedy.

But the "raised up" design of the sand traps which make them visible from all angles helps a lot in choosing the right placements off the tee plus the fact that chances of getting good lies from the traps are always high.

The fairways of the Norman course are planted with evergreen and its undulating greens are made of the high-breed Tifdwarf.

The initial plan for the Norman front nine is to make it an optional third nine for those playing the Aoki course, similar to existing 27-hole clubs, thus reducing traffic at the Aoki especially on weekends.

The new nine is also expected to be used for the monthly members tournament on May 18.

Also set for a soft opening this month is the main golf clubhouse on Eagle Ridge, a sprawling 12,000-square meter structure that, when fully operational, will provide members, their dependents and guests the amenities of a five-star club.