Watching young golfers chase their dreams feels different now. Every junior player represents countless sacrifices from parents, coaches and grandparents who have invested time, money and hope in a child’s future. That makes this assignment feel larger than a tournament story.
NAGAOKA CITY, Japan — Golf has given me lifelong friendships, travel, stories and lessons that stay forever.
A few weeks ago, it gave me something more personal. I became a grandfather for the first time.
As I watched my apo sleep peacefully during a hospital visit, I found myself thinking about how the game has prepared me for this stage of life. Golf teaches patience when things go wrong, humility when things go right, and perspective when the scorecard starts to feel heavier than it should. One bad hole does not define a round, just as one difficult day does not define a life.
Those are lessons I hope to pass on someday, perhaps first on a putting green, long before she understands what par means.
Her name is Eliana Shae, chosen by my son, Sean Carlo, and his wife, Edel, for their first child and my first granddaughter.
I looked up the meaning of her name, and what I found felt like a blessing. Eliana is often interpreted as “God has answered” or “my God has answered,” while Shae is associated with grace, strength and admiration. Together, the name sounds like a prayer answered.
That meaning stayed with me because it reflects the same values golf has taught me over the years. Grace, not just in victory but in defeat. Strength, not only in striking the ball but in recovering after setbacks. Admiration, not for trophies, but for the character a person shows along the way.
Now I’m back in Japan, this time to cover the Philippines’ campaign in the Yonex International Junior Golf Championship in Nagaoka, about 90 minutes from Tokyo aboard the Shinkansen.
Watching young golfers chase their dreams feels different now. Every junior player represents countless sacrifices from parents, coaches and grandparents who have invested time, money and hope in a child’s future. That makes this assignment feel larger than a tournament story. It is also a reminder of the quiet people behind every promising swing.
The Philippines is represented by Nicole Gan, Brittany Tamayo, Chloe Ang, and siblings Gab and Bea Lapuz, with veteran coach Temyong Murakami serving as both mentor and interpreter.
Before flying to Haneda on Philippine Airlines, I managed to squeeze in two rounds at John Hay Golf in Baguio City.
As usual, I took the 2:15 a.m. sleeper bus to Baguio on Friday. By the time I fully woke up at 6 a.m., we were already in the cool mountain air of the Summer Capital.
The weather cooperated enough for one full round, but Friday’s rain chased us off the course with three holes left.
If you’re planning to play in Baguio, book an early tee time. The afternoon rains are almost as predictable as a golfer saying, “I was striping it on the driving range.”
Friday also brought encouraging news for Philippine golf, as Januarius Holdings renewed its title sponsorship of the 76th Fil-Am Invitational for a fourth straight year. JJ Atencio formalized the partnership with Eduardo Arguelles of John Hay Golf and Baguio Country Club general manager Anthony de Leon.
Earlier fears that Januarius is pulling out of the Fil-Am Invitational turned out to be unfounded.
Now it’s on to Nagaoka.
This trip is about junior golf, but it is also about beginnings. The young players here are taking another step in their journeys. Back home, my granddaughter has just taken her first.
When she is old enough to hold a golf club, I hope she finds in the game what I did: Patience, friendship, resilience and memories that outlast any trophy.
