Summit Point Golf and Country Club is certainly full of surprises. Located in the bustling city of Lipa in Batangas, I always had the idea that the place was just too far from Metro-Manila. However, the opening of new road networks the past 3 years has significantly reduced travel distance to as short as an hour and 30 minutes drive when one leaves around 530AM or so. That is a plus point any way you see it.
Entering the faclity, the first thing you will see in this place is the grand and classic European inspired clubhouse; warmly welcoming members and guests alike. Inside the structure, the general staff, from the guard to the registration desk, the dining area and the locker room are all quite friendly and seemingly ready with a smile. Simple gestures, really-- but such actions mean so much to first time vsitors.
I just had to say that as I have personally encountered clubhouses that seem they would rather not have you there. Maybe some of you may have experienced similar bad behaviour in other facilities, too.
Summit Point was designed by Robert Trent Jones Jr. and the main theme of his creation is the adherance to the design of famous holes around the golfing world. Let me quote an article from the Philippine Star (Dec. 28 2001) where some of the famous holes were briefly described:
"Among the chosen holes are the 10th, 11th and 12th holes or better known as "Amen course" of Augusta National, the 18th hole of Harbour Town in Hilton Head Island, South Carolina which is better known as the Lighthouse hole, the 14th of St. Andrews and the 10th hole of Pebble Beach."
Boy, that article was spot on!
Reading the brief descriptions of each hole as found in the scorecard, oe can't help but feel the excitement of being able to play even a semblance of Augusta's hallowed Amen Corner or the revered fairways of St. Andrews' 14th hole which is adorned by facsimiles of the dreaded pot hole bunkers. The rest of the holes don't come short as well since the greenskeeper is certainly doing a very good job with manicured greens and fairways.
