It’s been a tad over two years since we were first introduced to Anvaya Cove Golf Club. We were blown away by the stunning scenery and serene beauty of the golf course. More impressive still was Ayala Land Inc.’s steadfast adherence to its commitment to the sustainability of the golf course and that the development exists in harmony with the natural surroundings.
Change is inevitable in the world that we live in. People and commitments change as do the circumstances under which we coexist and do business. I was anxious to see how the intervening years had affected Anvaya Cove’s magnificent 18 and whether the developer’s commitment to the environment had waned.
Let’s cut to the chase. Ayala is standing fast on its promise to make Anvaya Cove an ecologically sustainable development. Take a quick drive around the property and, at first glance, there don’t seem to be all that many houses or other signs that consumers are flocking to this Ayala Land Premiere’s landmark leisure development. But look closer and just the opposite is true. There are houses everywhere and really good sized ones to boot. They’re just not very visible; hidden for the most part by the recent and old growth forest that has been left untouched despite men leaving footprints everywhere.
That’s quite a feat.
On the drive up we were talking about how Metro Manila is on the verge of becoming uninhabitable; if it hasn’t already crossed that threshold. How cool is it then that one of the biggest developers is making the preservation of the environment its first priority.
I had the rare pleasure of playing my first round of golf at Anvaya Cove with its course architect Golf Plan’s Kevin Ramsey. I asked him how serious Ayala Land was about putting the environment first. To answer he related the story of how he needed to remove some of the trees on the notoriously difficult 613-yard par 5 sixteenth hole to make it more playable. To do so he had to get the board of directors to sign a resolution agreeing to the removal of said trees.
Needless to say, this is one developer that is sticking with its guns and that ultimately benefits us all.
The golf course has also benefited from this commitment.
Its use of zoysia matrella on the tee boxes and fairways is paying off. This strain of Bermuda is also known as “Manila grass,” or “Philippine Bermuda,” and is an endemic to our country. This means next to no maintenance (besides cutting, watering and the odd application of nitrogen) to keep the playing surface in top shape. An imported microbermuda called mini-verde is used on the greens; a compromise to enhance the golf experience and this is perfectly acceptable. The amount of inputs used on the greens is almost negligible and will easily be absorbed and recycled by the environment.
The greens have matured nicely. The ball rolls beautifully here so all that remains is to get a good read of the slope. Easier said than done as the course moves from hilltop to valley, the prevailing break changes from hole to hole. A few familiarization rounds are required if a good score is to be posted.
The club has also made subtle changes to the golf course to increase that all-important metric, resistance to scoring. Take hole number 11. Because of the topography, it used to be that after a well-placed drive, the golfer would be left with a flip wedge. Not what you want to see on a par 5!
The club has responded by increasing the cutting height of the fairway on the downslope. This limits the amount of roll you get with the driver. Zoysia matrella is a coarse, dense grass that will stop a rolling golf ball in its tracks. If you don’t want to hit a shot from a severely uneven lie, the play now on 10 is to take a 3- or 5-wood off the tee; that way, you’re hitting your second from a good lie. Of course there are many holes on this golf course which need no such attention.
Five, 14 and 15 are tremendous golf holes. They’re long, require precise control of direction and trajectory both off the tee and with the approach shot and all have small greens with devilish slopes on them. Fifteen seems almost unreasonable; this is a 613-yard long double dogleg that snakes alongside a ravine and traverses a small creek. Its green is hidden behind a small stand of trees. You’re going to need two massive shots just to get into position for the approach shot to the green. This is a hole that will baffle the most accomplished golfers.
This is not a golf course that will brutalize you and leave you senseless. It’s a puzzle waiting to be solved. The key is the tee shot. Ramsey worked hard to give you more than one option off the tee and complicate your decision with cleverly placed slopes and bunkers. Finding the fairway unlocks the puzzle and playing the hole is straight forward from there.
The views are out of this world and will knock your socks off. On this last trip, one of our party played his first game at Anvaya Cove and couldn’t say enough about how much he loved the golf course. From tee to green and by any metric you choose, this is one of the best golf courses in the country. It has a hollowed place in my top 5.
As good a golf course as it is, to focus solely on golf at Anvaya Cove almost misses the point. This is God’s country; majestic views of where the mountains meet the sea abound. Take a morning or an afternoon to explore the many trails that circle the property. Refresh and rejuvenate your body and soul with a massage in their world-class spa. Bask in the glorious sun on the immaculately manicured beach, or better still take a motorboat and explore the surrounding coves. Rent a kayak or paddle board if you desire something more active. Take a dip in the refreshing waters of an uninhabited cove and revel in nature’s glory.
Ayala has a real gem here. We’ll be back regularly to keep tabs on how this baby grows and to keep all of you up-to-date. You know, just to make sure Ayala Corp. keeps its I’s dotted and T’s crossed. It’s going to be a tough job but someone has to do it.
Image credits: Photos by Ayala Land Premiere and the author