Story & photos by Mike Besa
Tagaytay Highlands quietly opened the fifth nine holes on golf in their gargantuan development that spans the mountains of Cavite to the midlands in Batangas. The Lucky 9 was named by Belle Corp. Chairman Willy Ocier, as the opening of the golf course coincided with the opening of the City of Dreams, Belle’s first venture into the lucrative gaming market.
With two world-class championship golf courses already on the property, the pressure was on to deliver a golf course that would be equal, if not superior, to the stunningly beautiful Tagaytay Highlands International Golf Club and the first 18 at Tagaytay Midlands.
To this end, Belle Corp. enlisted the services of golf architect, John Olenoski. Although not exactly a household name, Olenoski initially worked with Arthur Hills and Associates before joining Jack Nicklaus Design, where he spent 13 years honing his skills and learning design at the knee of the greatest golfer of all time.
Although not as high up as the other golf courses on the property, the Lucky 9 still shares sublime vistas of Taal Lake and the surrounding countryside but counters with gorgeous perspectives of Tagaytay Highlands towering above it. If your game goes sour here, it isn’t difficult to distract yourself with the inherent beauty of your surroundings.
The addition of the Lucky 9 gives Tagaytay Highlands/Midlands a total of 45 holes of golf on offer for the intrepid golfer, making the leisure development the second largest golf complex in the country behind the giant Eagle Ridge Golf and Country Club.
The Lucky 9 offers a very different flavor of golf and adds impressively to the variety of golf available to its patrons. Although situated further down the mountain, the elevation changes one faces are more severe than that of Midlands.
It’s championship length for a nine at 3,453 yards from the tips. It’s a unique layout with three par 3s, three par 4s and three par 5s . The five pars are surprisingly long and two of them are the toughest holes on the golf course. The par 3s are gorgeous. They don’t have to work hard to impress you; they’re so pretty. The par 4s offer good variety; not too long with nicely defended greens.
A huge challenge for all that walk the Lucky 9 are the greens, some of which are remarkably small and feature blind approaches made from both natural and man-made obstacles. The elevation changes make just standing over the ball difficult in some instances.
The opening hole sets the tone for the round. It’s a short hole; a mere 306 yards from the gold tees. It begs for you to take driver and go for the green, but the green is a tiny target, hidden from view off the tee and heavily guarded by bunkers and a ravine beyond it.
The second hole is the longest on the property at a full 650 yards from the tips. Mercifully, the hole plays downhill, easing the golfer’s pain, somewhat. The shortest of the par 3s provides a respite before tackling the toughest hole on the course.
The view from the fourth tee will make most golfers weak in the knees. The 544-yard par 5 snakes down the side of the mountain, over a ravine then back up on the other side. The target off the tee seems miniscule; the hazard on the left and OB right compress your perception. It’s the 1-handicap for a reason.
The next three holes all feature elevated tee shots making the most of the beautiful landscape. They are beautiful golf holes all and a real pleasure to play.
In contrast, seven plays completely uphill. The tee shot is arguably one of the most difficult on the golf course; a long carryover a ravine to a fairway far above the tee box. The green is far above the landing area and will not be visible until the ultimate approach shot in. Many will wonder at why the hole ranks as one of the easiest on the course.
Perhaps somewhat controversially, the course ends on a par 3 and it’s a brute. 242 yards from the tips make this the toughest of the par 3s and a tough hole to end on. It lends credence to the idea that the Lucky 9 might grow into a Lucky 18 in the near future.
The many blind shots make this a golf course that needs to be learned before it can be truly enjoyed. The small greens put a premium on ball striking as does the length of the last two of the par 3s. The breaks are subtle, making them somewhat tricky to read. The length of the par 5s and the nature of the tee shots will put a premium on driving the golf ball making the Lucky 9 the complete package. It’s a golf course that demands much of your golf game.
Many will not do well first time out here but that shouldn’t be a big deal. Conditions on the course are as good as you can find anywhere, and the club works hard to keep it that way. You’re on one of the most beautiful properties in the country so there’s plenty to lift your spirits here.
Besides, it’s the nature of our game. Some bad, some good but enough to keep you coming back. The Lucky 9 is like that. I’ll be back.
Image credits: Image by Rhoneil Cousart