Cebu is the traveler’s fantasy of a tropical island come true - balmy weather, pristine beaches, crystalline waters, and luxurious resorts with all the frills of modern living. The island-province of Cebu was where the Portuguese navigator Ferdinand Magellan planted the Cross of Christianity in the name of Spain in 1521. But even before Cebu became the Occidental gateway to the Orient, it was already a popular entry point among Asian merchants.
From a small fishing village and trading port, Cebu has grown into a highly urbanized metropolitan area while retaining its stature since the Spanish colonial times as the center of trade and commerce in Souther Philippines. Cebu has since transformed into a choice tourist destination, with many leisure establishments taking full advantage of its sea-valley-and-mountain location.
Metropolitan Cebu, the country’s second biggest metropolis, is the political, economic, educational and cultural center of the Visayas. Hotels, shopping malls, entertainment halls, casinos and golf fairways are ever present in the metro to cater to every tourist’s whim.
"Cebu is strategically located at the center of the Visayas Region. When you come to Cebu, you can also visit neighboring islands in just a matter of hours," said Patricia Roa, the Regional Director of the Department of Tourism.
Cebu also takes pride in having the country’s oldest colonial city, Cebu City. Many landmarks attest to the richness of its history. On April 14, 1521, Spanish voyager Ferdinand Magellan planted a cross to mark the spot where some 800 natives - led by Rajah Humabon and his wife, Queen Juana - were baptized into the Catholic faith. The original cross is now encased in a hallow hardwood cross and can be found in a roofed kiosk along Magallanes Street.
Cebu's accessibility, its reputation for excellenct peace and order, and the fact that is houses most of the best beach resorts in the country, makes it a primary destination of more than 40 percent of foreign tourists who visit the Philippines.
Cebu's attractions, however, do not only cater to the itinerant beach lovers. For the sightseers, Cebu's tourist spots are abundant. The cityscapes also have their own brand of cosmopolitan charm, touched with unique island warmth. There are luxurious hotel accommodations, complete sports facilities, cuisine, from native to exotic and a vibrant nightlife.
As Cebu is home to the two greatest Asian golfers, Ben Arda and Celestino Tugot, it's no accident that several excellent championship courses have been located around the the area.
The first golf course, Cebu Country Club, was organised in 1935 but it wasn't until 1948 that the first country club facilities were constructed on a rural farm site near the edge of a then quiet country town. Now boasting of an 18-hole, par 71 championship golf course, Cebu Country Club hosts several national golf tournaments every year. It's reputation as a world-class golf course, with white sand traps that are furnished with coral rock, situated in the city's premier business district also adds to the club's flavor.
Carved out of the verdant hills of Pardo in Cebu City, another championship golf course, the Alta Vista Golf and Country Club, follows the natural terrain and beauty of this breathtaking hilltop recluse from the world. Golf aficionados, nature-lovers, and family members will fancy the surrounding view of the city, birds-crowned hills, the blue waters of the Cebu Straits and the isles of Mactan and Bohol that lurk beyond.
The golf course-cum-recreational center features a par 72, 18-hole championship golf course, a multi-function clubhouse, two covered tennis courts, a covered basketball court, covered squash court/badminton court, 8-lane tenpin bowling alley, swimming pools (adult/children), a gym (men/women), table tennis, and fine-dining restaurants among others.
Designed by the Black Knight Desing Company, the same designer of The Legacy Course of The Orchard in Manila, Alta Vista features challenges which include several tee mounds for different player levels, carefully-made sandtraps, sparkling lakes and waterfalls --- all of which do not just pose obstacles, but more importantly, become sources of inspiration.
Just a little further but worth the visit is Verdemar Golf & Dive Resort in Bogo, Cebu -- a quiet town located on the northern tip of the Island of Cebu. Although the golf course is exclusive to members, tourists and guests are allowed to putt into Verdemar's greens and have the opportunity to meet very interesting people.
Verdemar features a golf course that offers a true test of skill for golfer. The meticulously maintained par 71 is extremely challenging due to the distances including the challenge in teeing off over five natural creeks. The golf course is nestled on a 120-hectare oasis and is surrounded by mango trees and tropical plants, white beaches, and the South China Sea. The several creeks and well-manicured greens add to the pleasurable golf experience.
“The entire property is really spectacular. Their golf course is truly one of the best golf courses that I’ve visited in the Philippines,” remarked Bill Benedict, chief operating officer of SMARTWEB Philippines.
The club house and facilities are welcoming and allow golfers to enjoy the tranquil surroundings. With fantastic sea views during the day and loverly sunsets at night. The club is currently planning several expansions to accommodate golfers who seek pleasure and leisure in a quiet place.
On the opposite side lies Badian Island, a little sleepy island that houses the Cebu International Golf and Resort, an 18-hole, par 72 golf course set amid a majestice landscapre, where rolling hills meet the "dolphin habitat" Tañon Straight.
Cebu International Golf and Resort is considered as a "hideaway"-tropical gem built on the lagoon side of the island of Badian, in eight hectares of lush landscaped gardens.
Indeed, whoever said that the best golf courses in the Philippines are only found in the capital Manila has never been to Cebu. #
Mars W. Mosqueda Jr.
Published in Pargolf Magazine, Malaysia
November, 2004
