Royal Northwoods Golf Country Club

The practice facilities are what golfers come to expect from a private members club, large and well equipped with a driving range and various greens for the practice of the most important area of the game.

A beautiful clubhouse, which offers both the fundamental services that golfers require and the more luxurious services of an on-course hotel merge to create the perfect resort location.

Royal Northwoods can be found almost 2 hours from Manilla, and although a little way from the city, it is more than worth the drive.

At 6776 yards, the course is not particularly long, but the intelligent design by Marsh has created a course that is interesting and challenging to play.

As mentioned the course is not the longest, but deep bunkers, that seem to be perfectly placed to cause the most difficult of problems for even the most gifted golfer.

I have to mention the quality of the greens, which are quite simply superb. Maintainence in general is second to none, and the attention to detail is apparent at every turn.

The challenge that the course possesses is immediately obvious, the hardest hole on the course is the 2^nd.  A par four that requires a pin-point accurate drive that is also long. Too far left and you will find a watery grave, not far enough left and your approach to the green will be blocked out by the enormous bamboos that protect the hole.

A challenger for the signature hole is the 14^th, a par four that is split by the stream that runs the length of the hole, creating the most beautiful of holes, obviously challenging bamboo comes into play again as it borders the stream.

Considered the signature hole is the last. A short, up-hill par four that requires both guile and nerve. A dogleg, protected by a bunker and a resident banana tree is the challenge for the tee shot and the approach to the small double tiered green requires good club selection.

Royal Northwoods is a stunning layout and the potential difficulties of getting a tee are no ore than a hindrance.