The Iloilo Golf and Country Club, Inc., formerly and informally known as the Santa Barbara Golf Course, is a private members-only golf course and club based in Santa Barbara, Iloilo, Philippines. Situated 15 kilometres (9.3 mi) north of Iloilo City, it spans a 35-hectare (86-acre) area of plain and rolling hills in Barangay San Sebastian in Santa Barbara. It is considered the first golf club in the Philippines and the oldest existing golf course in Southeast Asia.[1]
It was the first Philippine golf club to be accepted as an affiliate of one of the oldest and most prestigious golf clubs in the world, the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews, based in Scotland.[2]
History
The golf course was established as the Santa Barbara Golf Course in 1907 by a group of Scottish expatriates involved in building the Panay line of Panay Railways, completed the same year. It opened to the public in 1913 as a basic 9-hole course.[3] Initially, the club was exclusive to English and Scottish migrants, but by the late 1920s, wealthy Filipino landowners gained entry, including Mariano Cacho, Oscar Ledesma, Tomas Confesor, William Gemperle, and the brothers Eugenio and Fernando Lopez. With the establishment of the Philippine Commonwealth in 1935, more Filipinos became involved in government and business, further enhancing Iloilo’s mestizo elite to acquired economic power.[4]
The Santa Barbara Golf Course became a prominent golfing hub, attracting enthusiasts not only from the Visayas but also from Manila. Its skilled caddies produced talented professionals sought after by clubs in Manila, including Siodina, Nadales, Rates, Pinet, and Sinfuego, reflecting the course's significant influence. Notable American and British golfers like Gene Sarazen and Jug McSpaden frequented Santa Barbara during their visits to the Philippines.[5]
After World War II, returning migrants, together with members of the now-destroyed Polo Golf Club in Polo, Arevalo, Iloilo City, reestablished the club as the Iloilo Golf and Country Club in 1947.
The National Historical Institute (NHI) validated the club's history and designated it a national historical site in 2007, marking its centenary year.[6] The unveiling of its historical marker was attended by former President Fidel V. Ramos, an avid golfer himself, NHI Director Ambeth Ocampo, British Embassy dignitaries, members of the Iloilo elite, and participants of the Mayor’s Cup.
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