It's one thing to admire Luisita Golf and Country Club from afar, and another to actually play it. At least for a so-called "arm-chair golf editor" like myself.

Behind the age-old balusters in the veranda where we took our breakfast, the fairways stretched forever.

Dotted by grown trees. Embraced by meandering bodies of water.

Now don't get fooled by its dreamy, bucolic lagoons. Because behind that beauty lies its real, menacing nature: A massive golf ball black hole.

That morning it was covered in mist that makes it all the more like a scene from a movie.

"It is a hidden gem," general manager Bones Floro told Tribune Golf Plus. "Probably it was one of only two golf courses in Asia built by Robert Trent Jones Sr."

Owned by the Cojuangco family in the 1960s, the estate was acquired by businessman Martin Lorenzo in 2015. And even though Jones' son, Robert Jr., was tasked to serve as a consultant, Floro said its features mostly remain intact.

"When we took over, we didn't want to change anything or add to it," Floro said.

"And that's saying something because my boss (Lorenzo) has always wanted to add value to the business. Add value to the members."

'If we do hole by hole. It takes time. And it's more expensive because of extended mobilization. All we want is just restore.'

Still, Floro said plans are underway to "refresh" the layout, and "restore" the drainage and irrigation.

But the dilemma is in choosing how they'd begin work: Close it altogether or do it per hole.

"Either do that in one go and close the course, but our members would be up in arms," Floro said.

"If we do hole by hole. It takes time. And it's more expensive because of extended mobilization. All we want is just restore."