Member-golfers of Sta. Lucia golf clubs all over the country gather every year for the Sta. Lucia Golf Tour (SLGT).  What brings them together is not just the love for the sport but also the camaraderie, fun and festivities that happen together with the competition.

Most of the players would attest that The Tour has become not just a competition of golfers and golf clubs but also a special social gathering of friends and peers.  For the entire duration of the competition, they don’t stop sharing stories, jokes, food and drinks, and taking pictures that create a special bond among them.  They also know that the fun and excitement doesn’t just happen on the fairways, but also in the clubhouse and the get together sessions after a full day’s golf.

SLGT Organizing Committee Chairman Vicente R. Santos said, “Golf is already an enjoyable thing for these players; making the downtime equally entertaining for them is the challenge for the organizers.”

The different Sta. Lucia golf clubs sponsor the entertainment, food and drinks for The Tour’s participants.  They make sure that the players will never grow hungry, thirsty, nor bored. When the dust of the day’s competition subsides, the festivities intensify.  The gathering turns into revelry with picture taking and sharing galore, greetings and anecdotes exchanged, and fun and laughter a plenty.

Equally exciting is the awarding of raffle prizes and special prizes.  This year’s major sponsors, such as Philippine Airlines, LG, Marco Polo Hotel Davao, Mariott Hotel Cebu, Mandarin Oriental Manila, Rizgolf, Empire Golf & Sports Shop, Titleist and Tour Master Golf will make sure that the prizes that are up for grabs are truly worth drooling over.

The host cities also add color to this once a year golf extravaganza. The Tour is played in the three major cities of the country, namely: Davao in September, Cebu in October; and Manila in November.

Davao offers golf-friendly weather most of the time.  Cebu, on the other hand, teems with Queen City hospitality and historic charm. And, what can we say about Manila and its diversity; you name it, Manila has it.

Santos continued, “For 11 years, we have been making The Tour more enjoyable for the participants and their parties who are there for the festivities.  This year, we want them to be even more comfortable and hassle-free by taking care of the frills.”

The organizers know from experience that one of the most challenging tasks for the participants is finding the delicacies or special local products of the host cities to bring home as pasalubong. Santos and his group will again have most of these available for ordering at the lobbies of the host hotels.

The committee also assures participants that the event has worry-free luggage handling system once they check in their bags at the airport. Their luggage will be waiting for them in the hotel room next and their golf bags ready for their tee off.

“We hope that The Tour will become a more exciting once a year event with the changes we’ve installed,” Santos stated.

At the onset of its second decade, the Sta. Lucia Golf Tour has not just become a trophy and bragging rights for the winning golf club and players, but it has also become a memorable experience for everyone who comes to participate. The players can expect tough competition in the golf course and a more thrilling time outside.  When the Sta. Lucia Golf Tour kicks off this September, everyone is in for more than the usual fairways.