Alabang Country Club golf director Benjie Sumulong emerged from a meeting almost complaining about the magnitude of this year's Mango Tee.

"Up to the last minute we have people who wanted to either sponsor or help," Sumulong told Tribune Golf.

"But it's a happy problem for us and we take it all the time."

The 36th edition of ACC's signature event kicked off last Monday with the Sponsors' tournament with 144 players seeing action.

Actual meet begins 29 January until 3 February.

Already the biggest member-guest tournament in the country, this year's Mango Tee promises to out-do itself this year.

For starters, there will a car as hole-in-one prize in every Par 3 hole, including a Mercedes Benz. Tesla is sponsoring a hole, according to Sumulong, but not as a prize.

Sumulong said the golf course is primed to make things interesting for the players in the six-day tourney.

Firing the ceremonial tee shots during the Sponsors' tourney were Gen. Gregorio Catapang, Mayor Ruffy Biazon, Rep. Jaime Fresnedi, Alabang board chair George Chua, president Bryan Cabral and committee chair Randy Ang.