The Philippine Army Golf Club boasts of the Kagitingan Driving Range which houses not just 45 bays, but a pitch and putt green, a practice bunker and a restaurant called D'Port famous for its pancit bihon and crispy pata.  It also has a barber and spa and a lobby/pro shop.

In 2009, the Army Golf Club added a new clubhouse that may be used for holding tournament awards events (or any event for that matter).  Golf enthusiasts or what-have-you.  I never paid attention to these improvements because after all, what do you do in a driving range but get a bay, hire a tee boy, hit at least 3 buckets of balls?  And if you're with your friends, throw in some buckets of beer, order crispy pata, hit more than you can handle so you go home sore and in need of a very good massage but happy?

Price for buckets of balls is reasonable compared to Makati Golf and CIty Golf and the food is excellent. Although in all honesty, I prefer the old Fort Bonifacio driving range which is now occupied by Essensa and new road of Fort Global City towards the new Army camp. But the Kagitingan Driving Range is home to foreign and local golfers. It. is. always. full. at any given time of day. And it is my home too: I lived in Fort Bonifacio for over 30 years so it would be my first recommendation to first time golfers (old timers) looking for PROs. Or just good golf practice time.

I wouldn't appreciate and look at Kagitingan in a new light if not for my friend Hermie Hizon, a long time girl friend forever (GFF) who is the reason for my writing this blog, in order to post her first-time-in-the-driving-range-with-a-PRO (who constantly gave her praises to boost her morale and encourage her to come back and finally take the 12 lesson package).    I had to go back to Kagitingan take photos.  And that's when my OC-ness took over and took note of every detail I can to include in this post. 

To Hermie, here it is, my friend.  I'm privileged to be part of your first time in the driving range.  (Actually, I love being with first-timers -- first time in the fairway, first time to buy new clubs, first time in any golf course, first time anywhere.  Because they never forget you.  )

My father-in-law passed away in November 2007, moved on to be with our Savior on All Saints Day.  That was the saddest day of my life.  You see, I was really close to him, he treated me like his own daughter.  That doesn't mean I don't have a good relationship with my biological father.  All I'm saying is that, I'm fortunate enough to have had a chance to have another Dad, a father like Major General Alfonso Cagurangan Jr.

When I started to play golf again after I got married to his son, though he never said it, I knew that he was proud because none of his children took up golf.  He tried playing golf before and had a set of Callaway Big Berth X-12 irons.  But he only played it once or twice in Luisita when he was assigned there in the '90s as Commander of North Luzon Command (NOLCOM).

He gave me a set, one of two that he never touched, and although it was for men's, I used it as my beginner's set until I bought my own ladies golf set.  I remember how his eyes would twinkle adoringly when I talk about golf, he is at most times amazed at my stories and who I play with.  A mistah (classmate in the Philippine Military Academy) is up to now, a golf addict and my father-in-law understands the passion.

Daddy was very passionate in everything he did -- when he talks, when he moves, when he makes decisions. He screams out his frustrations (his military discipline was forever ingrained in his veins) or he laughs out loud when something amuses him to no end (usually and especially when he talks to his grandchildren).  He is Big Easy -- has a relaxed but *umph* attitude about life.

He once told me that he hoped to someday go back to playing golf.  Hisfave sport was basketball and it was hard to play hoops at his age then of 64, so golf was a possibility. He never went back to golf.   But I'm sure, where he is now, he has all the chance to do anything he wants, including hitting those balls, regardless of sport.

I miss you, Daddy.  We all do.

In my previous blog entry, I mentioned about Coach Bobby.  I think I owe you peeps a proper intro.

Coach Bobby Del Castillo is the regional director of student affairs for PGA of Asia and Lifestyle Change Coach & Expedition Leader Balance Lifestyle Fitness Club located at Discovery Suites in Ortigas Center.  The guy is a character, he is funny, he looks very young for his age, and he looks like he's really, really enjoying himself and living it in the moment. A real trooper, that's Coach Bobby.

Coach Bobby was introduced to me by my friend Ricky Cuenca of Smartmatic.  Ricky told me that Coach Bobby can truly change my mentality about golf and that he can truly make me a really good golfer.  So I contacted the coach who happens to be in the Fitness Club in Discovery everyday.  That's a stone's throw away from my office.  No, change  that, Discovery Suites is a about 500 yards, most likely a Par 5.  The coach and I agreed to meet up one afternoon for me to try his golf program. 

The exercises he taught me were specific to swing and balance improvement.  In one of the exercises, he was quick to determine that my problem is balance.  Which he says can be corrected.  The key is dedication on my part. "Come to the gym everyday," he says.  Haven't been back since, jeez.

Dedication is certainly what he has.  He has been training for the Southpole Expedition 2010. He shared with me some materials and I even found a video file in YouTube about his expedition. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ssPwMmUj2LE

I think he'll make it in Southpole.  The guy is too focused, the Southpole must be a piece of cake for him.  Oooohh, I can't wait for him to come back and train under him for my golf. 

Checkout PGA of Asia

Antonette and I played in Ayala Greenfield on our usual Sunday early morning round last April 18 and was just doing easy golf.  This is when I decided to practice some of the tricks I learned from Coach Bobby  to be a better golfer. 

First, walking properly in the fairway.  Best way to describe it is "like walking on air". Ergo, like floating.  According to Coach Bobby, proper posture is a must -- pull back your shoulders, head down, like somebody has a string attached to your bellybutton pulling you forward. You point your toes and step. It actually looks funny and feels funny but honestly, I think it helps.  Neat trick.

Coach says I will get used to it and before i know, it'll just come naturally. 

The only downside is, the flight behind us will definitely have to wait.  Because walking this way takes time.

I wonder how Annika and Lorena walk on the fairway?

I went back to Navy Golf Club on May 3 with Deng Cruz, Manny Aligada, and Antonette Olavere (all my former colleagues in Globe) and I tremendously enjoyed the game.  Why?  Because of two reasons:  I broke a hundred again and scored 10 strokes lower than Antonette.   

Therefore, I am seriously, seriously thinking of activating my honorary membership in Navy Golf and ditch my membership in Ayala Greenfield.  A number of reasons for giving up my Ayala Greenfield membership:  first, they wouldn't allow my pink cart to park because they don't have any more space and they don't allow any color of carts other than white; second, Ayala Greenfield increased its monthly dues to P4,000 (which makes them one of the most expensive in the country); and finally, I don't get to go as often as I want to because of distance and my ability to get more than one visa from my husband, my Honeybun. 

Anyway, enough on my dilemma about membership.  The more pressing item is my inability to cope with my Challenge!  I'm way behind covering 50 golf courses.  Need to catch up.

Back to my flight.  There wasn't  a dull moment with these guys.  The conversation was deep and we covered so many topics.  I always learn a thing or two and I hope they did too.

I am beginning to like Navy Golf -- the green is well maintained, the fairway too.  Even the bunkers were impressive.  I asked about cart parking.  They don't allow use of personal carts.  Too bad.  Now, the search for a club that allows a pink golf cart continues.