Alta Vista Golf & Country Club

Add in the abundant foliage flanking most of the par 4s and 5s, and you have a design that’s been called everything from “challenging” to “heartless.” The latter is harsh on the designer, who has applied a light touch with bunkers and water hazards and instead relied on the astonishing roller-coaster terrain to defend the par of 72.

With barely a flat lie out there, the narrowness is off-set by the course’s shortness. With no need to boom away off the tees, golfers can focus on accuracy and course management, not to mention the breathtaking views that Alta Vista (‘High View’) offers over the surrounding city and the Cebu Strait beyond.

There’s no breaking yourself in slowly, however. Your opening tee shot must clear a 150-yard ravine, and there’s a pond to clear when you drive at the 4^th. On the flip side, there’s a bunch of good scoring opportunities from 11 through 15, when three par 4s averaging 336 yards are interspersed with par 3s of 145 and 157 yards. The par-4 12^th and par-3 13^th are heavily bunkered, though, so proceed carefully.

The handsome clubhouse is designed along Spanish colonial lines, and has a golfers’ lounge and bar, a pro shop, café, and restaurant.