World-class Mount Malarayat Golf & Country Club is a golf course-country club-residential estate complex developed by the Active Group of Companies covering over 200 hectares in Lipa, Batangas.
Characterized by the seamless integration of man-made and natural environment, the centerpiece of this family resort destination is the 27-hole all-weather championship golf course designed by the internationally-renowned J. Michael Poellet Design Group.
The grand dame of golf courses in the Philippines, celebrated its 20th year anniversary with two days of festivities on October 19 and 20, 2018. Teeing off the celebration was a member-guest tournament on October 19 with a format of a two-person team competition using the net aggregate stroke play and stableford scoring system. Over 170 amateur teams of Malarayat club members and guests registered to play. Hole-in-one prizes included a golf cart, golf set, and Php100,000cash. Exciting raffle prizes were also given to the participants: 30 country club associate memberships, 3 Golf club associate membership and a Rolex watch.
On October 20, people from all ages filled the lawn area of the club as a family carnival fair was held from 3:00PM – 6:00PM with lots of entertainment, fun, games and food carts. Capping the day was sumptuous dinner lovingly created and prepared by world-renowned Chef Billy King and his team at the driving range.
Such was the grand celebration of Mount Malarayat Golf & Country Club for its 20th milestone year headed by the company’s Chairman, Architect Antonio Turalba, Sr., and his family. The family of architects and realtors made sure that everybody’s trip to this side of Batangas was all worth it. After all, the entire Mount Malarayat project has been – and continues to be – unique in land development, combining features of a world-class golf course, the amenities of a deluxe resort hotel, and the exclusivity of an upscale gated community all these years.
Today, it remains to be the golf course of choice by local and international golfers. Moreover, the estate complex stands as a model development worthy of emulation and replication. Chairman Turalba said he will just let others speak for the success of his company’s most iconic project having gone through three financial crises and survived the test of time.
“We stood by our faith in the God-given, all natural features of the property: the vegetation onsite, an undulating terrain, the man-made lakes. We did not need to do any major interventions or alter the landscape in any way; all we did was work with what nature had provided and improve on it,” he said.
The club is nestled in the bosom of the mountain range for which it is named for. Situated about some 1,200 feet above sea level, the weather is cooler than lower locales and provides the ideal climate for golf. Celebrated Chef Billy King likened the ambiance here as the beautiful combination of Tagaytay and Baguio but without the pollution.
“In the future, people will see more improvements in enhancing the property. We have to improve and continuously enhance that features. It will be for the generations to come, and this place will benefit them,” the amiable chairman said.
The centerpiece of the golf and country club, the 27-hole all-weather championship golf course, has hosted the 89th and the 93rd Philippine Open and various international tournaments.In its 20 years history, it has reigned over other golf courses being the country’s “most photogenic course” and “the best golf course in the Philippines.”
Its Par 5 Hole #7 has been voted by the editors of “Golf’s Magazine” as one of the “Top 500 Best Holes in the World.” Golf aficionados and experts have been impressed by the course’s “two-tiered greens which require golfers to play precision golf,” and the fact that “they did not cut any corners building this course” as the dream golf course is complemented by a driving range and putting greens for a complete.
Moreover, the jaw-dropping overall scenery of the country club – with the famed Mount Malarayat mountain range on the backdrop – makes golfers, their families and friends, decide to constantly play, stay and return. You see, anyone can play and stay at Mount Malarayat provided they come along with a club member. For those who would like to sleep over, the club’s hotel has well-appointed guest rooms and suites.
The country club also pays tribute to the peaks in the Malarayat range: Mt. Makulot, Mt. Malapunyo and Mt. Lobo by naming the three nines after them, with the first tees of each of the nines pointing golfers directly at the mountain for which the nine is named.
For the fitness buff guest, the country club has a fully-equipped gym, as well as sports pavilions for basketball, tennis, and badminton. They can also for more leisurely activities like biking, billiards, darts, ping-pong, tennis and fishing. Also available is an open-air swimming pool complex (which includes a children’s pool, an adult lap pool, man-made waterfall and perimeter fountain jets).
For those who would like to celebrate special occasions or hold corporate activities right at the country club, the club hotel’s various function rooms/ activity centers can accommodate from 50 to 1,500 persons. Sand Trap Lounge, the restaurant managed by the celebrated chef, Billy King, serves an international selection of delicious breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
Mount Malarayat Golf & Country Club is only about an hour’s drive from Makati, via the South Luzon Expressway (SLEX) and the Southern Tagalog Arterial Road (STAR). For more information, call at 0917-626-9278 or (043) 404-3000.