Tommy Manotoc — hailed as one of the greatest Filipino amateurs never to turn pro — has added his voice to the growing outcry to save Club Intramuros, the storied, century-old golf course nestled within the historic walls of Intramuros.

“Sayang,” was all Tommy Manotoc could say at first. “I played my first tournament there when I was seven years old. Many of us started there as kids. Club Intramuros was the heart of junior golf.”

The Manila city government’s plan to convert the iconic course into a forest park has struck the local golf community like a lightning bolt.

One of the oldest golf courses in the country, Club Intramuros dates back to the early 1900s. It was built on what was once the moat surrounding the walled city that was turned into a sunken garden before being transformed into a golf course during the American colonial era.

It began as a modest nine-hole course known as the Manila Municipal Golf Links — or simply Muni — before expanding to a full 18 holes by the early 1930s.

In 1995, golf architect Andy Dye breathed new life into the aging course, transforming its once flat layout into a compact yet challenging urban gem.

Over the decades, Club Intramuros became home to some of the country’s finest golfers, including Tommy Manotoc, whose career spans nearly seven decades. When Manotoc speaks, the golfing world listens.

“I believe Club Intramuros should stay as it is,” said Manotoc. “What they can probably do is to provide easy access to Manila residents so that even children studying in public schools can have a chance to play the game.”

At 76, Manotoc remains a fierce competitor, still participating in major team tournaments like the Fil-Am Invitational and the Philippine Airlines Interclub. He is chairman of the Junior Golf Foundation of the Philippines which holds regular tournaments at Club Intramuros.

Petition out

The golf community has been thrust into action. An online petition is gaining traction and has secured nearly a thousand signatures at https://c.org/jpRPs5zPFf.

The petition warns the conversion would erase a vital piece of the city’s cultural and historical identity, and urges the government to reconsider the proposal, calling Club Intramuros “one of the last remaining open-air heritage landmarks within the historic walls of Intramuros.”

“We believe the preservation of the golf course is essential not only to our community but for the cultural, economic, and historic identity of the City of Manila,” the petition reads.

The signatories described the course as more than just a recreational space, saying that for decades it has offered accessible leisure, supported local livelihoods, and provided a unique tourism experience that distinguishes Manila from other cities.

They argue that converting it into another park, without thorough consultation or study, would mean “the loss of a living heritage site and the erasure of many decades of history and tradition.”

Livelihoods at stake

The petitioners highlighted that hundreds of workers — caddies, staff, and employees — depend on the golf course for their livelihood, many of them having served the community for years.

“The closure of Club Intramuros would put these people at risk of losing not only their jobs but also the dignity and stability that comes with them,” the statement said.

Vital part of tourism, heritage

While critics may see the golf course as serving only a select few, supporters argue that its impact reaches far beyond the fairways.

Club Intramuros has long been a tourism landmark, attracting both local and foreign visitors while generating revenue for the city and the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA).

“The course has long served as a vital piece of tourism infrastructure — balancing green space, cultural heritage, and economic sustainability,” the petition says.

Preservation, not erasure

The petitioners clarify that they support environmental preservation and green initiatives, but stress that such efforts should not come at the expense of Manila’s history and identity.

“Instead of erasing the golf course, we urge stakeholders to consider improvement, modernization, or integration of more sustainable practices — without sacrificing the heritage and economic benefits it already provides,” they said.

For many golfers and heritage advocates, Club Intramuros is not just a playing field — it is a living reminder of Manila’s layered past, and a symbol of how history and progress can coexist.