Bogeys, birdies and bylines

After decades of chasing stories at the Fil-Am Invitational, I’m finally in one. Trading my press pass for a golf glove, I joined fellow scribes Ding Marcelo, Jun Engracia, Dodo Catacutan and Nelson Beltran on the fairways of the 75th Fil-Am Invitational — and what a first impression it was.

Walking onto John Hay Golf, I paused. Towering pines framed the fairways, cool mountain air drifted across the valleys, and a light mist clung to the greens, giving everything an almost magical feel. The scenery alone could make you forget about the game — almost. Then I noticed the greens: fast, undulating, and downright tricky, the course’s last line of defense. Even a perfect drive didn’t guarantee an easy putt; each green demanded patience, focus, and a touch of luck. John Hay’s pristine conditions make it beautiful and challenging every step of the way.

The Fil-Am uses the Stableford scoring system, which changes everything. Instead of fretting over every stroke, you earn points per hole: bogey one, par two, birdie three, eagle four, albatross five. Double bogey? Pick up and move on. One bad hole doesn’t haunt you — you chase the next opportunity. Stroke play is the opposite: one disaster hole can crush your round and make you play timidly. In Stableford, you’re thinking, “Why not?” In stroke play, “Better not.”

The first tee was nerve-wracking. Drives wobbled, approaches flubbed, and I remembered why we usually write about the action rather than creating it. By the back nine, though, I started seeing the course differently — subtle slopes on the greens, the wind whispering through the pines, and the perfect spots for cheeky risk-reward shots. Missed putts became laughs; good shots, quiet victories. I ended up with 18 points — three pars, a couple of saved bogeys, and a few pick-ups — solid bogey play for a first-timer among journalists.

Next up is Baguio Country Club, the other Fil-Am venue, which promises a different kind of challenge. If John Hay tested precision and fast greens, Baguio focuses on strategy, patience, and reading the course. Nestled in the heart of the city, the course is steeped in history, with tree-lined fairways and rolling terrain that reward careful planning. The cool mountain air makes every shot deliberate, and the greens demand focus and touch.

For us scribes, it’s another chance to step out of the press box and into the shoes of the golfers we’ve covered for decades. Every hole tells a story, every shot is a small adventure, and between the scenery, friendly rivalries, and the spirit of the Fil-Am Invitational, Baguio promises another round full of lessons, laughs, and memorable moments.

That’s the spirit of the Fil-Am: sportsmanship, tradition, and personal growth. Players cheer each other on, respect the course, and embrace the challenge while enjoying the game. By the end of the day, it wasn’t about points or the leaderboard — it was about feeling the course beneath your feet and understanding why this tournament has endured for so long.

And yes, I finally admitted it to myself: writing about golf is a lot easier than playing it.

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NOTES: Our team’s participation wouldn’t have been possible without the generous support of several key partners. A huge thank you to the Philippine Sports Commission, under the chairmanship of Pato Gregorio, John Hay Golf and John Hay Hotels for backing this unusual newsroom adventure. For keeping us looking sharp on the fairways, thanks to LGR and MacBeth for our uniforms and jackets — nothing like a bit of professional flair to boost confidence on the first tee! Special shoutout to Raul Encarnacion and GM Buddy Resurreccion of John Hay Golf for their warm hospitality and guidance, which made our debut smooth, enjoyable, and unforgettable. And of course, we have to doff our hats to our indefatigable non-playing captain, Ramon Bonilla, for keeping the team organized every step of the way.