Sherwood’s Ray Bunquin and GD’s Niña Chua and Mike Besa

In my one-issue absence from the magazine, I had a chance to really get back to just playing golf without worrying about a deadline or how to layout the piece I was working on at the time. I can’t tell you how good it felt to have some personal time doing what I love. I also had a chance to get out and meet more of you, our readers, most of whom weren’t shy about telling me what you wanted to see in the magazine. I’m glad you did. In response then, dear readers, we’re increasing the local content of Golf Digest Philippines to make it more relevant, more representative of what YOU want to see in YOUR magazine.

We spent five days at Sherwood Hills Golf Club to walk you through the gorgeous Jack Nicklaus masterpiece. Our thanks to Peng Perez de Tagle, Tito Avanceña, Jason Yu, Raymond Bunquin and Chris Eseo of Club Leisure and Sherwood Hills Golf Club for your most gracious hospitality.

In the time I was away, I took some time to work on my game. I changed my swing (again!) to one plane from two. The results have been amazing. I’m more balanced at the end of my swing and consistency’s improved as a result. I feel much more in control of myself and now feel that even par is possible. Even more amazing is how quickly I’ve adapted. I’m learning how to best utilize the new weapons in the arsenal, tempering the aggression that comes with new-found capabilities. I’m ready and excited for the coming season. I love working on my game and seeing the fruits of my labor; it’s what this game’s all about.

I encourage all of you to rediscover and reaffirm your love for the game. Go out and improve it. See a competent professional. If you don’t know one, we’ll be glad to recommend one to you. Set goals. Challenge yourself. Improve your game. Or go take a golf vacation with your barkada. There are so many beautiful golf courses across the 7,200 islands of the Philippines. How many have you played? Have you heard of Cattle Creek? Mercedes Plantation? Did you know there’s a beautiful golf course in Zamboanga? See what you’ve been missing? Play a new golf course. Rediscover your passion for golf. Get out there and play golf; better golf, more often.

Mike Besa
editors at golfdigest.ph