When we last visited the Villamor Air Base Golf Club, we were impressed by both the condition of the golf course and the plans of the general manager of the club, Maj. Gen. Guillermo “Gems” Molina (ret). A dynamic go-getter, Molina examined Villamor’s operations and together with then-Commanding General of the Air Force, Lt. Gen. Galileo Kinatanar Jr. decided to restructure the club’s operations for increased efficiency and profitability, and assert its status as a Morale, Welfare and Recreation Center for the Philippine Air Force.
The changes centered on innovation, growth and improvement. The biggest change was that to the playing membership. The term “member” is no longer used at Villamor to describe the patrons that have paid for playing privileges at the club. The term used today is “Playing Privilege Holder.”
The change caused an uproar with members, most of them under the impression that their membership rights would be taken away. But General Molina moved to assure them that the Air Force would respect the rights of those that had patronized the club in the preceding years, even taking time to speak with all that were uncertain of the club’s direction and the Air Force’s motives.
General Molina did away with the members’ monthly dues, instituting a “pay as you play” system where members pay green fees that reduce the more the members play and bottom out after the fifth game. In his words, “the VAB Golf Management, as directed by the VAB Golf Council last December 27, 2018, teed off with our most important drive yet—our launching of the 5-4-3-2-1-0 Privilege Arrangement, based on a ‘pay as you play’ principle and grooved to work to the advantage of any local non-military PPH and members of the Ladies Chapter according to the frequency of their games. Coupled with that, the Council has suspended the monthly dues of all local non-military PPH and members of the Ladies Chapter in order to free them from the burden of seeking leaves or paying for unused privileges due to injury or inevitable long absences and, at the same time, ensure the right-framing of the issue of playing privilege in a military golf course.”
The 5-4-3-2-1-0 Privilege Arrangement asks that a privilege holder pay a sliding scale green fee, which decreases with the PPH’s play per month, bottoming out with his sixth round of the month. The fees start at P1,070 and level off at P570. The financial impact on the playing privilege holders has been minimal and solves the issue of members taking leaves of absence from their obligations of their monthly dues due to health or work-related matters.
This year, the Air Force received VABGC’s Transfer Certificate of Title and re-established VABGC primarily as a Morale, Wellness and Recreation facility of the PAF, as well as of the entire AFP, as Metro Manila South Sector’s disaster evacuation area.
The Air Force started a number of key projects, such as the construction of an Airmen’s Condominium on a part of the fairways; the conversion of a garbage dump into an orchidarium and the widening of the canal along fairway 11 as a flood-control measure. The club also secured Resort World’s commitment to discontinue its discharge and rechannel all of its wastewater away from the golf course. The tee mound of Number 11 will be reconfigured, and a new tee house will be built there. The reconstruction of the old tee house nr 3, formerly occupied by a Korean restaurant, will be converted into the VABGC administrative building. The club also purchased 30 additional golf carts and acquired a number of critical pieces of equipment. Security CCTV cameras were installed at key points of the clubhouse, the Clubhouse, entry/exit points and parking areas, and operationalization of a control room.
An extensive wireless connectivity (wi-Fi) system was installed for the benefit of all customers starting with Globe’s construction of its cellular tower. LED lights were installed in the Driving Range, fairways and greens and PAF’s huge identity signage at the main gate. Other facilities were likewise upgraded—the Social Hall, Ballroom and Greenside Dining, function rooms for special purposes were all spruced up.
The facilities weren’t the only things the club upgraded. VAGC personnel were subjected to days of conscientious reassessments and painstaking efforts to institute sorely needed reforms, which impacted the club’s operations. The goal was to turn the club into a vision-led, values-guided and mission-driven organization. The measures included the Air Force’s more pronounced presence inside VABGC, enforcement of military rules and regulations, shift to the use of armored cars for revenue collections, admin, finance and procurement process reengineering, accounting transparency, guided ethical redevelopment of our rank and file, inculcation of the PAF InSTEP core values of integrity, service above self, teamwork, excellence and professionalism; and, out there in the fairways, renewed sense of honor.
Further, seeing the need to keep the base of players refreshed with new talents, the Council has decided to open VABGC’s doors to the entry of Limited Annual Playing Privilege (LAP) Holders who may avail themselves of the same Privilege Arrangement, in consideration of a one-year privilege fee.
General Molina promises to pursue efforts to complete all projects, sustain reforms in the system, improve the club’s culture, and implement high-impact projects—the establishment of the Caddie Academy, launching of the Goal-in-the-Hole Initiative, development of the VABGC disaster readiness infrastructure, conduct of a Big Drive Challenge, and host the Philippine Masters yet again.
General Molina closes by saying that, “Under the decisive leadership and guidance of our new Commanding General, Philippine Air Force, and PAF Golf Council Chair, Lt. Gen. Rozzano Briguez, and our current VABG Chair, MGen Jose Tanjuan, Jr., we are confident of meeting our targets and thus expect to reap still higher dividends for the long-term benefit and satisfaction of our Playing Privilege Holders. But as in years past, we shall be needing your sustained patronage, support and cooperation to make VABGC greener, stronger and better than ever.”
When implementing changes that carry such broad impact, there is bound to be some confusion. General Molina has placed himself at the disposal of all, personally meeting with all playing privilege holders that are confused about issues that concern them. It’s been a busy year for Molina; making the changes he deems fit, upgrading the quality of the facilities and services, reassuring playing privilege holders that their rights will be respected and seeing to the care and feeding of the golf course.
The process has just started and things at the club are still a bit murky. But time and the proper attitudes should iron all these things out. We hope and pray that things work out to the mutual benefit of everyone concerned.
Image credits: Mike Besa