Golfers, caddies and even ordinary stakeholders voiced out their concerns a day after news broke out that the historic Club Intramuros Golf Course will be turned into a forest park.

Rey dela Cruz, a 71-year-old avid player at the 18-hole, par-66 course that is sitting on an 18-hectare property at the heart of Manila, stressed that demolishing the 119-year-old course would be a “shame” since it is already part of country’s history for being one of its oldest sports facilities — even older than the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex that was established in 1927.

“This is a historical place,” Dela Cruz told DAILY TRIBUNE in an interview on Saturday morning.

“It would be a shame if it would be turned into a public park.”

Dela Cruz stressed that contrary to the popular belief that golf is the sport reserved exclusively for the rich, famous and powerful, it doesn’t hold true for Club Intramuros due to its accessibility and affordability — even to those who couldn’t cough out millions of pesos in membership.

In fact, for less than P2,000, ordinary Filipino can enjoy a round of 18 holes while swinging with the beautiful backdrop of watchtowers, centuries-old churches and a massive wall that stood witness to how the people of Manila survived the Spanish, American and Japanese occupations.  

“It is very accessible to the public,” Dela Cruz added after enjoying his morning round with his buddies.

“You don’t need to be a member to enter. Night golf is also a thing here.”

One of Dela Cruz flightmates, 55-year-old Jong Jongco agrees, saying that turning Club Intramuros into a forest part will be counter-productive not just due to its historical value but also due to the existence of nearby Luneta Park, where countless foreign and local tourists visit to have their pictures taken at the monument of the country’s national hero, Jose Rizal. 

“This is a tourist spot since it is a historical place,” said Jongco, Park is more logical than spending billions in turning a century-old facility into something that the city already has.

“I hope they won’t turn the golf course into a park. We already have Luneta Park. They could improve that instead.”

Caddies were also up in arms over the course’s planned conversion into a park.

Speaking on condition of anonymity for fear of getting reprimanded — or even sacked — by their superiors, they said closing Club Intramuros will deprive them their only mean of earning a living.

“We will definitely suffer because we have been working here for a long time,” a senior caddie said, adding that they are clinging on to hopes that the plan would not push through.

“There have been talks, but I’m not sure what will happen. It’s really hard to say because nothing has been relayed to us. We only saw the reports from social media. I just hope that they will not close it down to turn into a forest park.”

Green initiative

The uproar sparked on Friday after President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. and Manila Mayor Francisco “Isko” Moreno Domagoso met in Malacañang to discuss the transformation of Club Intramuros into the Intramuros Forest Park — a sweeping green initiative that will turn one of Manila’s most exclusive spaces into a public sanctuary for all.

The 50-minute meeting, also attended by Domagoso’s Chief of Staff and former Press Secretary Cesar Chavez, centered on how national and city governments can collaborate to deliver a project that balances heritage, ecology, and urban livability.

“The Forest Park will serve as Manila’s green heart — a space where history, ecology and community converge,” Domagoso said.

“We want future generations to experience Intramuros not only as a monument of the past but as a living, breathing city of the future.”

President Marcos expressed support for the project, calling it “a visionary step toward sustainable heritage development.”

The plan forms part of Manila’s 10-year comprehensive development agenda, which also includes the rehabilitation of nearby Plaza Calderon, the Lawton Underpass, and several heritage walkways to improve access to the walled city.

End of an era

Club Intramuros is no ordinary patch of green. Built during the American colonial period on what was once the moat surrounding the fortress, the compact course is being managed by the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA) under the Department of Tourism.

Despite its small size, it held a unique charm. Golfers loved its proximity to the city’s hotels and offices — and the surreal feeling of hitting balls beneath the shadow of San Agustin Church or Fort Santiago.

At night, the course glowed under floodlights, one of the few in the country where players could tee off after sundown. Its modest clubhouse hosted quiet events and served as a peaceful enclave amid the city’s chaos.

But not everyone saw the golf course as a fairway to the future.

Urban planners and heritage advocates long argued that the space could serve a greater public purpose. They envisioned a lush urban forest park, open to everyone — a place where residents could breathe, stroll, and rediscover the beauty of old Manila.

Under Domagoso’s proposal, that dream is finally within reach. The plan reimagines the area as a “living lung” for the city — a haven of native trees, gardens, walking and cycling trails, and open spaces for cultural and educational activities.

A greener vision for Manila

The shift from private golf greens to a public forest marks a symbolic moment for the capital: A return of land from exclusivity to inclusivity.

“The golf course has had its place in Manila’s history,” Domagoso said, “but today, we need lungs more than luxury — parks more than fairways.”

For President Marcos, the project represents more than a change in land use; it’s a chance to restore balance between the city’s rapid development and its fragile heritage. The Intramuros Forest Park, he said, could set a precedent for how historic cities evolve sustainably without erasing their past.

As plans move forward, the manicured greens of Club Intramuros will soon make way for wild gardens and shaded paths. What was once a playground for a few may soon become a park for millions — a green refuge in the heart of old Manila, where history breathes again beneath the trees.