The Bravo Golf, the only all-par 3 18-hole course in the Philippines, finally opened its doors to the public last Saturday in Dumaguete City’s nearby Sibulan, Negros Oriental.
The occasion was marked by a one-day tournament involving close journalist-friends from Manila by Bert Bravo, the lawyer-owner of the short but exceedingly challenging layout carved on a hilly precipice overlooking the breathtaking Cebu Channel.
Tourism Assistant Sec. Ricky Alegre hit the first ceremonial tee shot, followed by Bravo and Rep. Arnie Teves to officially signal the birth of Negros Oriental’s first 18-hole layout.
“Finally, I can breathe a sigh of relief,” said Bravo of his course, which took him 12 years to make it a thing of beauty lined up by 50-year-old mango trees numbering almost a thousand.
Built as a nine-holer in 1945 by Don Serafin Teves and Simplicio Manictic, the course was bought by Bravo in 1996.
Working in tandem with famed international golf designer Nouichi Nagato of Japan, Bravo would expand it to 18 holes and is now ready to host events, including those catering to national junior players dreaming a career in golf.
“Anytime, I’d be more than glad to embrace our jungolfers here and help make their dreams a reality,” said Bravo, who made a name building the giant U-Bix Corp. of photocopiers and printers starting in 1974. “This should be a perfect training ground for them.”
Bravo’s select guests from various newspapers in Manila were paired with local residents that included Rep. Arnie Teves, Emil Graf, Edgar Teves Jr., Willy Hauserman, Rolf Ganz, Toting Regalado, Marcelino Maximo and Dr. Bong Rosario, among others.
The tournament’s media division was won by Business Mirror’s Mike Besa, who beat Star’s Lito Tacujan by one shot.
Tony Sisante of Los Angeles topped the guest division by two shots over Teves Jr. and four over Rep. Teves.
