Top 10 Golf Courses in The Philippines
The Philippines has been a golf nation for more than a century. The game arrived with the American colonial administration in the early 1900s, and the country developed a golfing infrastructure early enough to host international events long before most of Southeast Asia had identified golf as either a sport or an industry. Manila and its surrounds contain an extraordinary concentration of established clubs with serious histories, while newer resort developments outside the capital have added dramatic tropical layouts to the national portfolio. Filipino golfers play enthusiastically at every level, and the presence of world-class caddies — many of whom have worked international tours — is a distinctive feature of the golf experience here. Open the map to see the spread of courses from Luzon to Mindanao.
1. Manila Golf Club, Makati
Manila Golf Club is the oldest golf club in the Philippines, founded in 1901 and now residing in Forbes Park, one of Metro Manila's most exclusive residential enclaves. The par-70 course is relatively short by modern standards, measuring under 6,500 yards, but its tight, tree-lined fairways and small greens reward precision over power in the manner of the great private city clubs everywhere. The club carries a weight of institutional history — it has shaped Philippine golf governance and produced numerous national champions over more than a century. Access is by introduction from a member; it is not a visitor course, but its reputation defines the standard against which Manila golf is measured.
2. Wack Wack Golf & Country Club, Mandaluyong
Wack Wack is the Philippines' most internationally recognised club, home to the country's most prestigious course and the venue that has hosted more national open championships than any other. The East Course — the championship layout — was designed by C.H. Alison and redesigned to its current configuration over subsequent decades; it plays to over 7,000 yards from the back tees and has a par of 72. Wack Wack hosted the World Cup of Golf in 1977, when Gary Player and Hubert Green represented their nations against the formidable field that the event attracted in its prime years. The club is private and access for visitors requires a member's introduction or corporate arrangement.
3. Sherwood Hills Golf Club, Trece Martires
Sherwood Hills, located in Cavite province south of Manila, is one of the newer premium clubs in the capital region. The course winds through a well-wooded landscape that provides welcome relief from the flat suburban terrain that characterises many Metro Manila layouts. The par-72 design is modern in its approach to strategy, with generous landing areas off the tee giving way to tighter green complexes that require precise approach play. The club operates a more open visitor policy than the old Manila establishment clubs, and green fees are available to the public on weekdays.
4. ClearWater Resort and Country Club, Mabiga
ClearWater, in Pampanga province north of Manila near Clark, is a resort-style development that has built a reputation for consistent conditioning and a relaxed atmosphere. The par-72 course is set around the resort's water features, and several holes play alongside or across sizeable lakes. The design is ambitious without being brutal, making it accessible to the resort visitor while still providing a meaningful test for the lower-handicap player. Clark's relative proximity to Manila — roughly two hours without traffic — has made ClearWater a practical destination for Manila golfers seeking an out-of-town round.
5. South Forbes Golf City, Silang
South Forbes, near Tagaytay in Cavite province, occupies terrain with an unusually cool climate by Philippine standards — the elevation above sea level keeps temperatures noticeably lower than at sea-level courses. The par-72 course runs through rolling hills, and the cooler air means distances play differently than golfers accustomed to Manila's heat and humidity might expect. The overall development is large-scale, with residential properties surrounding much of the course. Visitor access is available and green fees are competitive.
6. Orchard Golf and Country Club, Dasmariñas
Orchard Golf, in Dasmariñas, Cavite, has operated since the early 1990s and has established itself as a reliable quality venue in the southern Metro Manila corridor. The par-72 parkland layout is set among mature trees, and the course conditioning has been consistently maintained to a standard that attracts regular Philippine Golf Tour events. The design does not attempt spectacular drama but produces a straightforward, enjoyable examination of the complete game. Visitor access is available through various green-fee packages.
7. Forest Hills Golf and Country Club, Antipolo
Forest Hills, situated on the slopes above Antipolo in Rizal province east of Manila, offers one of the more dramatic settings available within easy reach of the capital. The par-72 course climbs and descends through hilly terrain with valley views, and the elevation makes the approach into Antipolo from the east memorable on a clear day. Several holes require carries over steep drop-offs, and the undulating greens are among the more testing in the region. The club is open to visitors and is an established Philippine Golf Tour venue.
8. Splendido Taal Golf Club, Laurel
Splendido Taal, on the shores of Taal Lake in Batangas province, benefits from one of the most remarkable settings of any golf course in the Philippines. Holes play with the view of Taal Volcano — one of the world's most active volcanoes — across the lake, and the combination of tropical vegetation, water, and volcanic skyline is genuinely arresting. The par-72 course was designed by Robert Trent Jones Jr. and sits within a resort and residential development. Resort guests have access to tee times, and the course operates a visitor policy.
9. Tagaytay Highlands Golf Club, Tagaytay
Tagaytay Highlands, one of two courses at the Tagaytay Highlands development, is the more challenging of the pair. The par-72 layout uses the considerable elevation of the Tagaytay ridge to spectacular effect, with views across the caldera to Taal Volcano appearing throughout the round. The cooler temperature — sometimes dramatically so by Philippine standards — and the exposed ridgeline positions create wind conditions that change the character of the course from day to day. Resort membership is the primary route of access, but visitor packages are available.
10. Beverly Place Golf Course, Manila
Beverly Place is a shorter, more accessible course in the Metro Manila area that provides a quality eighteen-hole round without the formality or exclusivity of the establishment private clubs. The par layout is adapted for the tight urban land available, and the course is particularly popular with weekday recreational golfers seeking a round on short notice. Green fees are competitive and visitor access is unrestricted.
Planning Your Philippines Golf Trip
The Philippines' golf season runs effectively year-round, but the best conditions for Metro Manila and Luzon are from November to May, when the northeast monsoon brings dry, relatively cool weather. The typhoon season peaks between July and October and can interrupt play significantly, though courses in Cavite, Batangas, and Tagaytay province are somewhat sheltered from the worst of the storms. Green fees at private clubs requiring member introductions are generally unavailable to casual visitors; the resort and semi-private courses listed above accept advance bookings with rates from roughly PHP 2,000 to PHP 8,000 (€35 to €140) depending on the venue and day. Manila is the natural base for any golf itinerary, with the major courses all within two to three hours. Open the map to visualise course locations and plan your travel logistics.