NEWSFLASH

CAMP JOHN HAY BECKONS

Baguio City, June 29, 2002 (STAR) by Ray Butch Gamboa - Philippine summers are harsh and oppressive, but they’re everyone’s excuse to seek the exhilarating coolness of the mountains of Baguio. It’s just not complete without a trek to Pine City.

Have you gone to Baguio lately? Fortunate if you took the Marcos Highway and found the wide, well-paved route a far cry from the pot-holed, landslide and road cut prone and time battered Kennon Road that wreaked havoc on your vehicle’s suspension and added at least another hour of bone rattling to your travel time. With this new alternative road to the country’s "summer capital" this smooth and safe, travel is a breeze.

Our trip to the "city of pines" was through the invitation of our good friend and Fil-Estate’s corporate golf director, Jerric Hechanova. I am to include the Camp John Hay Golf Course as part of the series on "outstanding golf courses in the country" which I feature on our TV show Business & Leisure and similarly on this column. What met us was an entire leisure package.

Camp John Hay’s total leisure package

Camp John Hay, now operated by Leisure Inc. is located at Loakan Road in the city proper. The Camp John Hay Manor is an imposing edifice that exudes the warmth of Baguio’s character, surrounded by towering pines and sprouting riotous colors all over the sprawling estate. Majestic is the word for what greeted us as we got out of the Subaru Forester. Incidentally, the Forester was one great ride, a pleasure to handle, and made our travel a pleasurable sightseeing tour at a crisp pace. Embarrassingly, the racer in me came out again as I passed every single vehicle in front, what with power and high performance generously given by the Forester at a mere push of a button. There was no mistake when Nicky Mariano of General Motors Automobiles Philippines insisted that we used it for the trip.

As many "baby-boomers" and those older would know, in the past, Camp John Hay, this erstwhile American Base was always a part of one’s weekend stay in Baguio. Who could pass on the great American foods, the foot-long hotdogs, the giant burgers that almost covered your plate, the long queue to the cashier as food attendants slopped on to your plate the greasy eggs and crispy bacon that was everyone’s idea of a great breakfast? Then it was breakfast al fresco at what was once known as the 19th Tee, among the towering pines and the greenest grass that always smelled freshly cut. Trust the Americans to maintain their facilities in tip-top condition.

After Uncle Sam packed his bags, John Hay was a ghost of its old self. Some enterprising establishments tried to recapture the old spirit, but the magic left on the last bus that carried away the American soldiers and their families. Even the grass didn’t seem to grow as healthy, or was it just the ambience that left with the Americans?

That’s a pretty long digression, but the point is simply this: Camp John Hay is back to its old glory and more, thanks to a consortium known as the Camp John Hay Development Corp.

The Camp John Hay Manor and the new Camp John Hay Golf Course and Clubhouse account for the "more", but the green grass in its entire splendor, the riot of colors in Baguio’s flora, and the unmistakable aura of Baguio are alive again in Camp John Hay.

Climate here averages 19 degrees Celsius all year round. If you’re lucky, nights and early mornings can reach a chilly 12 degrees, and you can call your friends in Manila and hear them swearing at the oppressive Manila heat. But it is the end of summer now, so we settled for a comfortable 20 degrees.

Camp John Hay Golf Course

The golf course was too inviting to pass up, so we sauntered off into the cool greens. It is definitely one of the best courses in the whole of Northern Luzon. Imagine the sight of all those pine trees that stand as sentinels, while you hit a perfect swing. Imagine the ubiquitous scent of the pines, the flowerbeds that never run out of colors, and the nippy thin mountain air that cleansed our soot-filled lungs. Imagine all these in a vast carpet of greens.

And the layout! I tried hitting a few balls and imagined playing 18 holes on a clear Sunday morning. Ah, whatta life, except that I didn’t have the luxury of time as I took the opportunity to tape two shows (Business & Leisure and Auto Focus) while I was there, aside from the originally planned golf course feature. Pass on that one for now, but I crossed my fingers that I get the chance for this treat real soon.

The course is a golfer’s dream, with challenges in every hole. The course is an 18-hole par 60 spanning 600 yards and re-designed by the Golden Bear International using the design in 1998, the new management widened the fairways and sand-copped them to provide an all-weather golf course. It took all of nine months to finish the new refurbished course, and by December 1998, the new Camp John Hay Golf Club was ready. There were new bunkers added, and some of the old ones were re-shaped.

Only the best was in order here, so Tifway Grass 419 was used in the fairways and Bentgrass was used for the greens. For the tee boxes, a new variety of grass called soisu-I was planted.

The greens are forever green. This is because of the high-tech irrigation system they employ here, where only the exact amount of water needed for the course is released, and is determined by a computer. This computerized irrigation system not only ensures proper maintenance, it also eliminates wastage of precious water! And there are catchment basins for surface water run-off. This translates to immediate playing time after a heavy downpour. At least 20 minutes waiting time is required, and the course is playable again! Thanks to the improved drainage system and the sand-copped fairways. Then too there are the new cart paths so golfers do not have to step in the vegetation. Battery-operated golf-carts are readily available to avoid polluting the clean air of Baguio.

All those pine trees that somehow pose more challenges to the golfer intrigue friends who have had the pleasure of playing this 18-hole course. One can easily underestimate his drives in a course that looks as comfortable as this one. With such a cool and lovely setting, one can get lulled into a false sense of easy playing. Watch out! Challenges lurk everywhere, and I intend to find out for myself one lazy Sunday with the family.

The closest I got to one though was when Camp John Hay Golf director Ryan Pantaleon played through for us Hole # 5, considered as one of the most difficult in the course, and came out with flying colors with a legitimate par. That’s one up for Jeric, who birdied Southwoods’ most difficult hole when we made the TV feature on that remarkable golf course accessibly located south of Metro Manila.

After a couple of hours of further exploring, it’s back to the cool comfort of the Clubhouse. The comforting scents are enough to warm you on a blustery day. They used red cedar, oak and pinewood here, not only for the exteriors but for the interiors as well. You can imagine the warm odors of wood welcoming you after a tiring day at the course. The high ceiling and vast wood paneling give the Clubhouse a homey, rustic feeling that only Baguio and its climate and character can give. The stone works are unmistakably Baguio, and combined with a lot of wood elements, the end result is simply enchanting. (Next week: Camp John Hay Manor)

For comments: (email address) bl-star@sunshine-tv.com

Camp John Hay Manor

Whether you come up to Baguio for golf, for sightseeing or just to cool off, an overnight stay is inevitable. And after the unfortunate and tragic demise of the historical Pines Hotel in a fire and the modern-day Hyatt Terraces during the city’s unforgettable killer quake, The Camp John Hay Manor now stands unchallenged in having the best and the classiest accommodations that the city can offer.

There are four floors serviced by three elevators, with a total of 189 rooms. Of these, 112 are studio-type with double beds and 21 with king-sized beds. There are 44 one-bedroom suites and 12 two-bedroom suites, which are luxurious home-away-from- home accommodations. Each room is equipped with cable TV. There are also IDD-NDD phones that have Internet access for those who can’t leave the office behind. A refrigerator is standard and in some rooms a microwave oven and an in-room safe.

Our gracious host, Mr. Heiner Maulbecker, the former Hyatt Terraces manager who now expertly runs both Manor and Clubhouse, expects to have all the targeted 200 rooms plus a luxurious spa operational by October this year.

Nights are soothing at Camp John Hay Manor. One can opt to walk leisurely among the greens and savor the crisp air, work up an appetite worthy of Le Soufflé’s cuisine, which is exclusively served at their main dining. Always consistent in its quality, the F & B services run by legendary Billy King offers top-notch selections like the sinigang na sugpo I had that evening. The citrus-flavored broth with a hint of tangy spice and plump prawns and crispy Baguio veggies swimming in the broth was comfort food at its most soothing, perfect for a cool Baguio evening. A cup of coffee, then a goblet of warmed brandy or superb cognac as you listen to great music at the nearby Piano Bar of the Manor, where music- loving guests never fail to congregate for fun-filled sing-a-longs that merrily last through the night. There is still the promise of a comfortable bed and bath to look forward to before calling it a remarkable day.

Baguio is still everyman’s destination in the Philippines, a place for all seasons, and for all the right reasons. One doesn’t even have to find a reason not to go the long drive. Five thousand feet above sea level is that much farther away from the aggravations, the heat and the pollution of the city. Camp John Hay Golf Club and Manor were certainly a delectable bonus.

For comments:(email address)bl-star@sunshine-tv.com