John Hay Golf’s Gambit

John Hay Golf’s Gambit | Daily Tribune

Buddy Resurreccion’s small office at John Hay Golf feels a lot like the man himself — no frills, just what’s needed. A small table in one corner, a laptop, and that’s about it. I honestly can’t even remember if there were chairs for visitors.

I’ve known Buddy for as long as I can remember. Back in the late ’80s, he was the non-playing captain of Aguinaldo, the team that pulled off the unthinkable by winning the Philippine Airlines Interclub while competing in the second-tier Founders division. That breakthrough turned into a mini-dynasty — three straight championships — before the team eventually disbanded.

Most people know him simply as “Cap.” A Philippine Military Academy graduate, Buddy later took a job in Indonesia, where he spent about eight years, if memory serves. When he came home, it was no surprise to see him back in golf, taking on various roles over the years — including managing the PAL Interclub, where he wasn’t afraid to introduce changes to ensure fairness.

That’s Buddy in a nutshell: understated, steady, and always focused on doing things the right way.

These days, aside from his role as general manager of one of the country’s finest public courses, Buddy is deeply invested in something closer to his heart — building a grassroots golf program for the children of golf course workers and students from public schools.

It’s a bold, forward-looking initiative by John Hay Golf, rooted in the belief that talent shouldn’t be limited by access. The hope is simple but powerful: to open doors for kids who might otherwise never pick up a club, and maybe — just maybe — uncover the next Frankie Miñoza.

He showed me the opening slides of a presentation he’s preparing for the Baguio School Board. Buddy didn’t go into all the details, but he shared a key idea: setting up mini hitting bays where aspiring junior golfers can get their first feel for the game under the supervision of coaches.

“Before we allow them to play on the course, they should have hit 5,000 balls,” he said, matter-of-factly.

At its core, Buddy’s mission is to bring down an unseen barrier. For many people, golf is still viewed as a sport only for the rich — exclusive, expensive, and out of reach. Private clubs, high fees, costly equipment, and rigid rules all reinforce the idea that golf isn’t meant for ordinary folks. As a result, many kids never even consider trying the game.

That mindset hurts the sport. When access is limited, talent is lost. Young players from working-class families turn to sports that feel more open and familiar, while golf misses out on potential stars.

Changing that starts with access. Public courses show that golf doesn’t have to be played behind gates. Affordable rates, junior programs, and beginner-friendly practice areas make a real difference. When kids can hit balls and learn without pressure, golf becomes less intimidating.

Grassroots programs help too. Bringing golf into public schools, setting up simple hitting areas, and offering basic coaching can open doors. At that level, golf becomes just another sport kids can try — no different from basketball or football.

Equipment, of course, is a challenge. To address that, Buddy is reaching out to the Philippine Sports Commission and the private sector for support. He points out that countless golf clubs are sitting unused in garages and storage rooms — equipment that could find new life in the hands of kids who just need a chance.

Most of all, the story around golf needs to change. When people are reminded that players like Frankie Miñoza, Ben Arda and Celestino Tugot all came from humble beginnings, it becomes clear that golf isn’t about money. It’s about skill, patience and opportunity.

Hopefully, the Baguio experiment will spark similar initiatives in other areas and even encourage private courses to start programs of their own.

Open the game, break down the barriers, and golf stops being seen as “only for the rich.” It becomes a sport for anyone willing to learn, play and chase their passion.