For more than a century, golfers teed off within the ancient stone walls of Intramuros — their swings framed by watchtowers, centuries-old churches, and the rumble of traffic beyond the moat. Soon, that rare scene will fade into memory.

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. and Manila Mayor Francisco “Isko” Moreno Domagoso met in Malacañang on Friday to discuss the transformation of the Club Intramuros Golf Course 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 B. 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.

The end of an era

The Club Intramuros Golf Course is no ordinary patch of green. Built during the American colonial period on what was once the moat surrounding the fortress, the compact 18-hole, par-66 course covered about 18 hectares of land 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.