PARTICIPANTS of the recently-concluded 70th Philippine Airlines (PAL) Interclub Golf Tournament were all praises for the Apo Golf and Country Club (AGCC) and Rancho Palos Verdes Golf and Country Club (RPVGCC) that served as venues for this year's edition of the annual golfest in Davao City.
Cebu Country Club's Bayani Garcia, who competed in the regular men's tournament, said he loves AGCC. "It's my favorite course in the Philippines," Garcia, who helped his team finish fifth in the Founders Division, said.
Garcia, marketing head of VoxPop Cebu, shared that when he spent four years in college at the Ateneo de Davao University, he often played at AGCC every week or at time twice a week.
"(Apo Golf) is where I got to hone my skills playing with the pros. It's a very fair course, very tough yet there's a reward. I'm in love with this course. I can play here each and every day and still find enjoyment in playing here whether (it turns out) good or bad," he said in a media interview at the AGCC clubhouse after submitting a 35 in his second day of action after scoring 36 in his 70th PAL Interclub debut.
His teammate Julius Pierre "Pio" Neri, son of VoxPop Davao Publishing, Incorporated chairman Julius Neri, Jr., for his part, said that RPVGCC posed a challenge. He played at the Mandug-based course on March 1, scoring 39 points, and on March 4, submitting 26.
Neri said, "It's little bit tricky little, a bit difficult, a little bit long for short hitters. It's an advantage for me I'm a long hitter."
Meanwhile, veteran sports journalist Al Mendoza, who writes a regular column in the VoxPop network, said, "Both courses in perfect shape!Pang-championship talaga. They can compare not only with the best courses in Metro Manila but in the world as well."
Mendoza, a member of the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB), played in the two-day PAL Media Golf Tournament that was topped by Davao City photographer Roland Jumawan.
