Manila Southwoods (Masters)

The Masters course at Manila Southwoods is one of the tougher Jack Nicklaus courses is Asia, perhaps the toughest. Being a so called “signature course” which means a little more of the Great Bear’s time was spent on location than would be the norm. The Southwoods Golf & Country Club is unusual in having two signature Nicklaus courses on the site (the other is called Legends) and it is perhaps for this reason that one of them turned out to be as tough a track as it is. The Masters course has hosted several Philippine Open Tournaments as well as the 1996 World Amateur Team Championship.

The course features trouble at every turn. Fifteen holes incorporate water as a hazard. The course guide comments that the 366-yard 1st should be regarded as “a gentle start to a bear of a course”. Things toughen up considerably at the 2nd and the gloves are fully off by the time we reach the 6th which is the stroke one hole.

Nicklaus courses are by no means everybody’s favourite. I for one would question the placement of bunkers alongside water, and the use of large tracks of shallow sand and the persistent reflex to select water as the hazard of choice. The Masters course at Manila Southwoods is a high-octane version of a Nicklaus course for the tropics and it is a hugely enjoyable day out on one of the tougher courses in the region.

Reproduced with kind permission from The Finest Golf Courses of Asia & Australasia by James Spence.