Top 10 Toughest Golf Courses in the Philippines
Below is the list of the top 10 toughest golf courses in the Philippines. These courses are renowned for their challenging layouts, intricate hazards, and unforgiving terrains that test golfers’ skills, precision, and strategic prowess. It’s worth noting that this list is subjective and based on various factors such as course difficulty, ratings, and reviews. Nonetheless, golfers looking for an exciting and challenging experience can look to these courses for an unforgettable round of golf.
Toughest Golf Courses in the Philippines
1. The Country Club (TCC)
The Country Club
Located in Canlubang, Laguna, The Country Club is not only a world-class golf course but also one of the most challenging in the Philippines. Designed by the legendary Tom Weiskopf, the course is a championship-standard 7,650-yard course that will put even the most seasoned golfers on their toes.
The course’s difficulty comes from its extremely fast greens, narrow fairways, and strategically placed water and sand traps. In addition, strong winds from Laguna de Bay Lake are also a major obstacle, making long shots difficult to control. In particular, the par-5 18th hole with its surrounding water traps has become a “nightmare” for many golfers at the end of the round.
Not only is it challenging, but The Country Club is also home to the Philippine Open, the country’s most prestigious golf tournament, attracting top professional golfers. It is also home to the national golf team, a testament to its difficulty and class. If you want to challenge yourself on a golf course that requires precision, smart tactics, and a strong mentality, then this is the place to be!
2. Apo Golf and Country Club
Apo Golf and Country Club
Ranking 2nd in this list is Apo Golf and Country Club; the course is located in Davao. With a length of about 7,119 yards (par 72), this course is not only challenging in terms of distance but also in terms of strategic design full of traps.
The highlight of Apo Golf is the narrow fairway, requiring golfers to have an accurate tee shot if they do not want to fall into the dense forest on both sides. The sand traps are cleverly arranged in the most uncomfortable positions, combined with small greens and fast speeds, making putting the ball never easy. In addition, the course also has many water hazards and undulating terrain, forcing players to think carefully about the strategy of each shot.
Not only does it have challenging terrain, but Apo Golf and Country Club also regularly organizes major tournaments, attracting many top golfers in the Philippines and the region. If you want to try a golf course that is not for the faint-hearted, Apo Golf will definitely make you upgrade your skills.
3. Sherwood Hills Golf Club
Sherwood Hills Golf Club
If you are a golfer who likes to conquer challenges, the Sherwood Hills Golf Club in Trece Martires, Cavite, will definitely make you concentrate from the first stroke to the last stroke. Designed by the legendary Jack Nicklaus, this golf course has a strong links style, a wide fairway full of deep sand traps, rough terrain, and unpredictable winds, which makes every lap a real battle.
What makes Sherwood Mountain difficult to play is the rapid greens, which are closely protected by sand traps, and the dense grassland area can make you lose the ball after a mistake. The design of golf holes has a variety of hitting angles, which forces golfers to have smart tactics, not just relying on strength, but carefully calculating each blow.
One of the most memorable holes in Sherwood Mountain is hole 17, which is 4 feet long and 447 yards long. You need accurate shooting to avoid getting into trouble, and small and fast greens will challenge your sprint ability. Not only that, holes 9 and 18 are also famous for their strategic water traps, which makes the end of the game always tense.
If you are looking for a first-class golf course and need comprehensive skills, from pitching, risk control, and bunkers to sprints, Sherwood Mountain Golf Club will definitely bring an unforgettable experience with several rounds of challenging competitions, which will make you want to come back for revenge!
4. Riviera Golf and Country Club
Riviera Golf and Country Club
Riviera Golf and Country Club in Silang, Cavite, is not only one of the most beautiful golf courses in the Philippines but also one of the most difficult to play. Rivera Golf and Country Club has two 18-hole golf courses, which are Couples Course and Langer Course. Each course has its own challenges, forcing golfers to change their strategies and skills to adapt.
The couples course has a links style with spacious but challenging fairways. Wide fairways make it easier for golfers to pitch, but deep sand traps and strategic obstacles make players carefully consider the landing point. Green has a high slope and is very fast, which requires good putting skills. In contrast to their counterpart, the Langer Course is designed according to the natural mountainous terrain, with narrow fairways, small greens, and many challenging underwater traps. This is a golf course, which requires players to have smart tactics and good ball control ability; otherwise, it is easy to throw the ball into rough areas or fall into dangerous traps.
Riviera Golf and Country Club is not only famous for its difficulty but also the venue of many large-scale golf tournaments in the Philippines. The combination of Couples and Langer courses brings a completely different experience, which provides golfers with opportunities to improve their skills and challenge themselves on various terrains.
5. Luisita Golf and Country Club
Luisita Golf and Country Club
The next course in this list is Lusita Golf and Country Club, which is both beautiful and challenging. The course was designed by Robert Trent Jones Sr., with a length of 7210 yards (72 par) and features 18 holes, and an 11-hole lake; this means your ball can swim instantly with just one inaccurate hit!
One of the largest holes is the 17th hole, with a par of 3 and a length of 214 yards. You have to cross the lake to reach the green. Trust me, standing on the tee and seeing the water ahead, the pressure is not small. Luisita has hosted the 2015 Philippine Open and the 2019 Marine Games, which proves the difficulty of the stadium. If you want to try challenging shots, this is definitely a golf course not to be missed!
6. Mount Malarayat Golf & Country Club
Mount Malarayat Golf & Country Club
Have you ever played golf in a beautiful but challenging mountain area? If you haven’t already, Mount Makarayat Golf & Country Club in Lipa, Batangas, will be an experience worth trying. This golf course is not only famous for its spectacular scenery but also gives many golfers a headache because of strong winds, narrow fairways, and lightning-fast greens.
There are 27 holes in the course, which are divided into three areas: Mt. Makulot, Mt. Lobo, and Mt. Malipunyo. Among them, Mt. Makulot is a real challenge. Holes 7 and 5 are particularly famous for their beauty but not easy to conquer. Strong winds from the valley can distort the direction of the ball; therefore, if you don’t calculate carefully, you may be trapped in a strategic sand trap.
It is no coincidence that Golf Digest once listed some holes here as “the 500 most beautiful golf holes in the world.” If you want to try it on a beautiful and “difficult” golf course, Mount Malarayat Golf and Country Club is definitely a destination worth visiting!
7. Orchard Golf and Country Club
Orchard Golf and Country Club
Orchard Golf and Country Club is one of the top golf courses in the Philippines, which surely will impress players who love challenging golf rounds. This course has two 18-hole courses with completely different styles, which bring various difficulties to golfers of all levels.
The first 18-hole course is the Arnold Palmer Course, which has a spacious fairway, which gives players a pleasant feeling, but don’t let it deceive you. If you are not careful, strategically arranged water traps and bunkers can make your attack a nightmare. In contrast, its counterpart, Gary Player Course, brings real challenges, narrow fairways, deep bunkers, and little green. You must have smart tactics for every shot unless you fall into a dangerous trap.
Not only are they challenging, but Orchard Golf and Country Club is also appreciated by many golfers because the quality of the courses is always in the best condition. For this reason, the course was once rated as “the best golf course in the Philippines,” which proved its prestige and position in the golf field. If you are looking for a beautifully designed and challenging golf course, Orchard Golf and Country Club is definitely a destination not to be missed.
8. Summit Point Golf and Country Club
Summit Point Golf and Country Club
Have you ever played golf on a golf course that requires you to calculate every stroke accurately? If not, the Summit Point Golf & Country Club in Lipa, Batangas, will provide you with an exhilarating experience that will leave you captivated. Designed by Robert Trent Jones Jr., this golf course is not only an entertainment place but a real test of a golfer’s skill, tactics, and psychology.
What makes Summit Point unique is that it reproduces the essence of world-famous golf courses. If you ever dreamed of playing in Augusta, San Francisco, Andrews, or Pebble Beach, Summit Point brings you the closest to the legendary venue in the Philippines. But don’t rush to think playing golf here is easy! With narrow fairways, fast greens, and strategic sand traps, this course can turn an interesting game into a challenging one if you can’t control your swing well.
Furthermore, Summit Point is also proud to host prestigious tournaments, drawing thousands of both seasonal golfers and risk-takers. If you are used to playing golf on a predictable golf course, this is the place to improve your skills and test your swing consistency.
9. Sta. Elena Golf and Country Club
Sta.Elena Golf and Country Club
There are several golf courses that you can play without calculating too much, but Sta. Elena Golf & Country Club is an exception. This is one of the most challenging golf courses in the Philippines, where every shot needs to be carefully considered, as the slightest mistake can cost you a bogey, or worse, a double bogey.
Designed by Robert Trent Jones Jr., Sta. Elena is an international standard golf course with beautiful natural terrain but extremely difficult to play. The fairways are wide but have strategically placed sand and water hazards, making it difficult to find the right spot to land the ball. The greens are fast and have delicate slopes, requiring golfers to have good putting skills if they want to avoid losing points.
This course is not only famous in the Philippines, but has also hosted many professional golf tournaments, attracting the best golfers in this area. The course is maintained at the international level to ensure that every round brings a real sense of competition. If you want to try a beautiful, difficult, and tactical golf course, Sta. Elena would be the perfect choice!
10. Wack Wack Golf and Country Club
Wack Wack Golf and Country Club
The last name we want to mention in the top 10 toughest courses in the Philippines is Wack Wack Golf and Country Club. Located in downtown Manila, this is one of the oldest and also the most challenging golf courses in the Philipinnes.
The most special place of Wack Wack Golf and Country Club is the East Course, a 72-par, 7,222-yard course, famous for underwater traps, deep pits, and rapid greening. One of the most challenging golf holes here is hole 8 and hole 3, where you have to cross the pool to reach the small green area, and there are protective shelters on both sides. Only one blow lacks accuracy, and you can easily lose points.
In addition, Wack Wack has hosted the Philippine Open, the Asian Tour, and the World Golf Cup, attracting the best golfers in the world. If you are looking for a historic and challenging golf course, Wack Wack Golf and Country Club is definitely a destination not to be missed!
Philippines Golf Tournaments & Events
The Philippines is a popular destination for golf enthusiasts, with numerous golf events and tournaments taking place throughout the year. The Philippine Golf Tour is a professional golf tour featuring the country’s top golfers, with several events taking place annually. Another prominent event is the World Golf Championships—HSBC Champions, which has been hosted in the Philippines in the past.
The country also hosts the Philippine Open, which is the oldest golf tournament in Asia, and the Philippine Amateur Open, which attracts top amateur golfers from around the world. In addition to these events, there are several charity golf tournaments and corporate golf events organized in this country every year, providing an opportunity for golfers to give back to the community and network with other golf enthusiasts.
Overall, this country offers a vibrant and active golfing scene, with a variety of the toughest golf courses in the Philippines. Interested in a golf holiday in the Philippines? You can check out our best Philippines golf holidays or contact us for a tailor-made golf holiday.
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