Sta. Elena (Makiling & Banahaw)

The Makiling course at Sta. Elena Golf Club is my favourite Robert Trent Jones Jnr course in Asia and pips Navatanee in Thailand and the Lake Course at Spring City in China to that honour. Writes James Spence in his book The Finest Golf Courses of Asia and Australasia.

The relaxed air of this private members’ club belies the seriousness with which the management and staff clearly cherish their club and course. The club has taken the lead within the Philippines for course maintenance and indeed are beginning to take on contracts to maintain other courses in the country. Sta. Elena is the happy combination of lush tropical environment and the intellectual and physical rigours of a Trent Jones course. The course is certainly up with its near neighbour Manila Southwoods in terms of conditioning, presentation and challenge.

The course is one of the best driving courses in Asia with a good balance of safety and danger from the tee. The landing areas are large enough to accommodate the near miss at a 250 to 300-yard range while still prejudicing the golfer with his second shot.

There’s a good mix of holes here. From the blue tees at which the course measures 6.617 yards, the longest par three is 196 yards and the longest par five measures at 535 yards. This is a golf course with a tremendous sense of both balance and flow and its pleasures are subtle in this respect.