11 courses, 18 days, one epic golf journey

From Iloilo to the foot of Mayon Volcano, a group of golf buddies turned a nationwide road trip into a memorable test of endurance, friendship, and love for the game.

By the time Dockie Ricky de Castro and his companions reached Mayon Golf Course in Legazpi, Albay, on 9 October, they had done more than complete another round of golf. They had brought an ambitious dream to life: playing 11 golf courses across the Philippines in 18 days.

Their Philippine Golf Grand Slam Expedition 2026 began on 22 September, with de Castro, Jerry Stehmeier and Dioey Bautista of Alabang 515, Banjo Maddela of Riviera Golf, and Raymond Sarmiento, their driver, setting out from Alabang on a journey that would take them across islands, mountain roads, ferry routes and some of the country’s most distinctive golf destinations.

The expedition was never simply about ticking courses off a list. It was about discovering the Philippines through golf, meeting fellow enthusiasts along the way, sampling regional specialties and strengthening friendships through a shared passion.

And, of course, getting to the next tee.

Their journey began with a drive from Alabang to Batangas Port, followed by a roll-on, roll-off ferry crossing to Caticlan and a road trip to Iloilo. The first round came at Sta. Barbara Golf Course on 23 September, followed by Negros Occidental Golf and Country Club, popularly known as Marapara, in Bacolod the next day.

After continuing through Negros, the group played Negros International Golf in Pamplona on 27 September, bringing the expedition to three courses before crossing into Mindanao.

Dakak Golf Course in Dapitan, Zamboanga del Norte, provided a memorable change of scenery. Playing amid coastal views and mountain surroundings, the group enjoyed both the course and its facilities, meeting golf director Mike Besa and general manager Nina Magbanua.

The trip also made room for connections beyond golf. The group toured Misamis University in Ozamiz and paid a courtesy visit to its president, Karen Feliciano-de Leon. The university is owned by the Feliciano family, relatives of De Castro, who serves as its board chairman.

From there, the expedition continued toward Cagayan de Oro, where Pueblo de Oro Golf offered a familiar feel for the Manila-based golfers, with its Metro Manila-style layout and well-maintained playing conditions.

The group then headed to Del Monte Golf Course in Manolo Fortich, Bukidnon, where the landscape and the course’s established character made the next round another highlight.

By then, the expedition had crossed roughly 2,000 kilometers by road and completed six courses, passing the halfway mark of its 11-course target.

A meal hosted by Stehmeier added another memorable stop. Golfing friends from Bukidnon, including Arnel Dumalaog and Mario Reyes, joined the group for a spread featuring exceptionally sweet pineapple, durian, lanzones, kinilaw, and Cebu lechon.

A new member, Marion Raagas, also joined the expedition for its Cagayan de Oro, Bukidnon and Davao legs.

Davao delivers two different tests

The expedition moved south to Davao, where Rancho Palos Verdes Golf and Sports Club welcomed the group on 4 October with rolling fairways, tropical surroundings and smooth, well-kept greens.

The scenic layout offered a variety of shots and made for an enjoyable round. The following day, Apo Golf and Country Club presented a different challenge, with long, tree-lined fairways and rolling greens that demanded distance control and accuracy.

The group thanked Apo member Al Etrone for arranging tee times and ensuring the golfers were well accommodated.

Davao also offered a taste of local hospitality away from the fairways. The group met Amy Lou Lizada-Aarts and her husband, the couple behind Bistro Rosario along Torres Street, and enjoyed a meal in the restaurant’s warm and elegant setting.

By the end of their Davao stop, the golfers had completed eight of their 11 courses, with Leyte, Samar and Bicol still ahead.

Rain, water hazards and a final push

Getting to the next destinations was an adventure in itself. From Davao, the group headed north to Surigao, took a ferry to Southern Leyte, then continued by road to Ormoc.

At Leyte Golf and Country Club on 7 October, heavy rain forced the golfers to stop after the 12th hole. Although they could not complete the round, they found the course’s layout interesting and saw potential for further development.

The following day, San Juanico Park Golf and Country Club in Tacloban City challenged the group with a course that demanded strategic play. Numerous water hazards, small elevated greens, and challenging approach shots demanded patience and precise course management.

Here, distance alone would not be enough. Choosing the right club, knowing one’s yardages, and resisting the temptation to attack every hole were essential.

With San Juanico completed, the expedition had reached 10 courses. Only one remained.

The final leg took the group through Samar before a ferry crossing from Allen to Matnog brought them into Luzon and onward to Legazpi, Albay.

On 9 October, they arrived at Mayon Golf Course for the expedition’s 11th and final round. Light to moderate rain initially threatened to disrupt play, but the weather eventually cleared enough for the game to proceed.

The course was in good condition, providing a satisfying final round. Yet the defining feature was the magnificent Mayon Volcano rising above the landscape.

Playing beneath the iconic volcano’s near-perfect cone offered a fitting conclusion to a journey that had showcased the country’s varied terrain and golfing destinations.

Eleven courses. Eighteen days. Mission accomplished.

The memories beyond the scorecard

For the group, the achievement was about more than completing 11 rounds. It was the accumulated experience of long drives, ferry crossings, changing weather, regional cuisine, visits with fellow golfers, and the camaraderie that made every stop worthwhile.

There were birdies and missed putts, challenging holes and unexpected delays. The trip also brought new friendships, reunions with old acquaintances, and the pleasure of discovering golf courses beyond the familiar Metro Manila circuit.

The expedition demonstrated how golf can become a passport to places and experiences that might otherwise be overlooked. From the historic fairways of Iloilo and Negros to the mountain scenery of Bukidnon, the tropical landscapes of Mindanao, the water-lined holes of Tacloban and the dramatic backdrop of Mayon, each destination brought a different character to the journey.

For De Castro and his companions, the final tally was clear: 11 golf courses completed across the Philippines from 22 September to 9 October.

But the memories cannot be reduced to a number.

The Philippine Golf Grand Slam Expedition celebrated friendship, discovery and the enduring appeal of the game, proving that sometimes the best golf adventures are measured not by the score, but by the journey to the next course.