The country’s touring pros gird up for a fresh season in new normal with a busy calendar lined up for both the Philippine Golf Tour and the Ladies PGT starting with the ICTSI Luisita Championship on March 22 at the fabled Tarlac layout.
Notwithstanding the long layoff, with the men’s side being out of action for a year, the fact that the circuit will finally resume with a full schedule is enough to energize the touring pros, eager and thrilled to hit the fairways again in pursuit not only of golfing honors but also of livelihood sustainability.
With the lowering of Covid alert levels in the country, both circuits are now back in the spotlight although strict protocols will be enforced to ensure the health and safety of all players along with the event and course personnel.
The PGT held its last tournament last March 2021 with Miguel Tabuena winning at Eagle Ridge while top amateur Rianne Malixi upstaged the country’s leading pros in the last LPGT leg at Midlands last December.
Fierce action is expected right in the kickoff leg at the challenging Robert Trent Jones, Sr.-designed course slated March 22-25 for the PGT with the LPGT scheduled in the first three days.
Meanwhile, the women’s tour will feature 10 tournaments over the country’s championship courses, including two new host venues, while the PGT will have five tournaments, all slated in the same week of their counterparts.
From Luisita, the ICTSI-backed tour heads to the Hallow Ridge Golf Club San Pedro, Laguna, which will host an LPGT event for the first time on April 6-8, while Splendido Taal in Batangas will next stage the twin tournaments on April 19-22.
The fourth LPGT leg will be next held at the Malarayat Golf and Country Club in Lipa City, Batangas on May 11-13 while the nearby Summit Golf and Country Club will host the next PGT and LPGT events on May 24-27.
The tour then heads north for the LPGT championship at the posh Pradera Verde Golf and Country Club in Lubao, Pampanga on June 1-3 then back to Gen. Trias, Cavite for the PGT4/LPGT7 championships at the Eagle Ridge Golf and Country Club on June 20-24.
Valley Golf Club in Antipolo, which hosted the PGT’s four-leg inaugurals in late 2009, is back as host on Sept. 7-9 for an LPGT event while Hallow Ridge will be back as host both for the LPGT and PGT on Sept. 27-30.
The Pinewoods Golf Club in Baguio will also mark its first hosting of the country’s premier circuit for the LPGT’s final tournament for the year on Oct. 12-14 with the grueling ladies circuit to culminate in the Tournament of Champions of sorts on Nov. 14-18 at the Manila Southwoods Golf and Country Club in Carmona, Cavite.