Mimosa unfit for RP Open

Unfit for use.

Organizers of the DHL-Philippine Open yesterday confirmed The STAR’s story last week that one of Mimosa’s composite courses is in poor shape and will not be ready for the big event when it is staged Feb. 26-29 in Clark Field, Pampanga.

"Di talaga pwede," said RP Open organizing committee chair Benny Gopez, referring to the Lakeview layout which was "hardly touched" one week after the 88th staging of the country’s premier golf championship was launched with a media golf tournament last weekend. "Mas maganda pa nga ang Aguinaldo."

Gopez, also the sec-gen of the National Golf Association of the Philippines, which is on top of the project, made another inspection of the sites last Saturday together with NGAP vice president Adm. Luisito Fernandez in the presence of Mimosa general manager Richard Atendido.

The organizers, however, said they are not yet going to transfer the event to another course and, in fact, will give the Mimosa management one last chance to come up with a venue truly championship in form and character.

According to Gopez, Mimosa’s only remaining option is to refurbish Mimosa’s other "nine" — the Mountainview course, which was actually the NGAP’s first choice together with the adjacent Acacia layout before the decision to tap the Lakeview side was made. The organizers said the Acacia side passed the criteria.

"Since Lakeview is in bad shape, we checked the Mountainview course again and found it to be more suitable. But they have to close it tomorrow (today) and start its renovation," said Gopez. "It’s non-negotiable."

Otherwise, he stressed, they would be forced to hold the fabled event, presented by San Miguel Corp., to another venue.

The final decision is expected to be announced tomorrow when NGAP president Rod Feliciano, Clark Development Zone head Manny Angeles, Gopez and other DHL-RP Open officials and sponsors grace the PSA Forum at the Holiday Inn Manila Pavilion.

But even if Mimosa fails to effect changes on Mountainview and the organizers are forced to move the event to other venue, the DHL-RP Open is assured of a grand staging with a number of world-class courses just waiting to be tapped.

Foremost is Luisita, that jewel of a par-72 layout in Tarlac, which the organizers also surveyed last weekend.

"In three days, Luisita officials assured us that the course will be in championship form," said Gopez, who added that other courses ready to host the Open are Riviera in Silang, Cavite, Tagaytay Midlands and Eagle Ridge, also in Cavite.

With barely three weeks before the Open, Gopez said they have to decide the soonest possible time since a team from the Asian PGA Tour is arriving this week to conduct an ocular inspection of the venue.

The APGA is bringing in some 100 foreign players, led by defending champion Rick Gibson of Canada, with the local challenge to be spearheaded by former champions Frankie Miñoza, Gerald Rosales and Cassius Casas.