KC Hillcrest Hotel & Golf Club [CLOSED]

The course is not that long; it doesn’t need to be one because of the slopes. For long hitters, some par-4 holes are actually driveable, and even the par-5 9th hole is so short that it can be reached using a driver and a mid-iron (NOTE: my 2 playing partners for the day both made birdies on that hole. Yup, on in 2, 2 putts). The fairways are decently mowed, the rough is not overly thick, but the greens are… a shade or two less bumpy than the moon. “Macho putt” should be your mantra for the day, otherwise, you will keep leaving your putts short.

There are no forced carries (except for water-in-play off the tee on the 16th hole). Challenges are created by narrow landing areas, ravines on either the left or right side, uneven lies and small greens in certain holes. Caddies are pretty good, since they were there during the Evercrest days.

The clubhouse is sparsely adorned, and the menu is a one-pager filled with Korean food that are on the north side of expensive. The lockers are old, almost decrepit with worn tiles. The shower stall i got into didn’t have hot water. And don’t expect to have your shoes cleaned up by the locker attendants; despite my flight being the only one in the locker room, nobody came around to pick up our shoes. Oh, they do have a ‘grooming room’ — with just a comb and a hairdryer. No gel, lotion, powder, mouthwash, toothpaste, hand towels, shaving cream etc.

Following are some of the memorable holes:

4th hole — a snaking par 5 with a ravine on the left side and bunkers framing the green.

6th hole — an uphill par 4 that doglegs to the right, with a row of townhouses looking down on the smallish green.

9th hole — as earlier mentioned, a short uphill par 5 with a big bunker guarding the front of the elevated green.

A metal bridge separates the 12th and 13th holes.

15th hole — a snaking uphill par 5, with the green tucked to the left. Watch out for the knob on the right of the green. Probably the most scenic hole in the course, as one can view the lake separating the 16th and 18th holes and the clubhouse at the distance.

18th hole — the longest par 4 on the course (412 yds from the blue tees), the lake on the right of the fairway is not much of a factor.

P.S. A morning round is better, and do try to head back to Manila before 4pm if you don’t want to get caught in the traffic along Tagaytay Ridge and the Sta. Rosa-Silang road.

‘Course Review and Pictures were written and submitted by GolfPH Member Raymond Fortun’