Malarayat Golf and Country Club is one of the most exclusive and prestigious golf clubs in the Philippines. With only 80 members, this golf club holds some very special secrets. What is the membership procedure of Malarayat Golf and Country Club? Is it really as exclusive and difficult to get into as people say? I had the opportunity to interview one of the members, Dale Avila, and got some insider knowledge about this exclusive golf club.
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What Is Malarayat Golf And Country Club?
Dale Avila gave me a short introduction about the club, “Malarayat Golf and Country Club is an exclusive golf and country club. It was founded in the 1960s, and since then, has only accepted members who have demonstrated exceptional ability and leadership. The club is located in an out of the way area in Lipa, a small city about an hour and a half south of Manila. This part of the country is mostly mountainous, and is very green, which contributes to the quality of the food and drink there. The region is famous for its mangoes, and when in season, the fresh fruit can be found everywhere.”
When I asked about the fees and expenses associated with joining this club, he clarified, “It is a private club, which means that the membership fees are rather high. The good thing about this club though is that the fees are well worth it. The expenses are also rather high, and include things such as food and drink, transportation to and from the course, and greens fees at the golf club. One of the biggest expenses though, is the initiation fee. This is a one-time payment of about US$250,000, which is used to cover the cost of setting up a new member. The money is most appreciably used to improve the course, make necessary course adjustments, and to purchase new golf clubs. Another huge expense is the requirement to have a full-time coach. This is because the members are required to train three to four times a week, and the demands of the schedule often make it difficult to find adequate time for practice. The coach helps them improve their games, and gives them the inspiration to practice more consistently. This type of incentive is not generally provided by other sports clubs in the Philippines. It is quite the opposite, most sports teams in the country are sponsored by companies, and therefore don’t offer the same motivation to practice. This is why Malarayat Golf and Country Club is so exclusive and prestigious.
Benefits Of Being A Member Of Malarayat Golf And Country Club
This club has many benefits for its members, “One of the main benefits of being a member of Malarayat Golf and Country Club is the camaraderie. The members help each other out, and support one another on and off the course. There is also the opportunity to meet people with common interests, and establish lasting friendships, which in turn brings satisfaction and pleasure to the members. This kind of relationship building is not something that can easily be achieved by members of other clubs in the country. They are often more interested in winning tournaments, rather than having a good time with their friends. Another big advantage of being a member of Malarayat Golf and Country Club is the privacy. We are not talking about being hidden away in a glass dome here, we are talking about being in a place where no other members will bother you. The scenery is also rather spectacular, being surrounded by lush evergreen terraces, and the sound of trickling streams adds to the appeal.”
How Do You Feel About Visiting This Club?
After getting to know more about this club, and meeting some of the members, my gosh, it really is an exclusive club! Visiting this place has always been on my bucket list, and now that I’m finally going, I’d say it’s well worth it. It’s a great opportunity to have a look at what a night out at a luxury hotel in the country is like, and for the price of a night at a five-star hotel in Manila, you can have a full day at this club. The course is absolutely stunning, and the scenery is something to behold. Getting to this part of the country by car is easy, and as Dale Avila said, although it’s out of the way, it’s well worth the trip. If you’re a golf fan, or enjoy playing golf, this is one place you don’t want to miss out on.