Mount Malarayat Golf & Country Club at 20
It’s not every day a business gets to celebrate a milestone and October 20, 2018 marks the 20th anniversary of Mount Malarayat Golf & Country Club and Residential Estates.
It doesn’t seem that long ago when this integrated leisure, recreational, and residential complex was just farmland in a quiet town, but Anjeanette Turalba-Fuentebella President of AVT Properties, the managing company behind the property, explains how it all came into fruition.
Active Group, the full-service real estate conglomerate headed by Architects Antonio and Cristina Turalba, already had in its roster a full range of successful real estate developments: from urban high rises to economic, socialized, and middle-income housing. “In 1995 the property was presented to my parents. Back then it was just all farmland—for poultry farm, coconut trees, and lanzones” says Fuentebella. “My dad believed the property was too picturesque just to be residential and upon considering the landscape, thought it would also make a great golf course.”
Anyone who has visited Mount Malarayat Golf & Country Club knows that its architectural integration with nature is an exemplary feature of the property. As the first project that was different from its usual real estate developments, Active Group let the property dictate the layout to maintain the natural landscape of the land, and the majestic mango tree that refuses to budge from its original spot in the golf club is a testament to this.
Active Group worked with the prestigious J. Michael Poellet Design Group, a renowned golf architect group from California, to design their 27-hole, all-weather championship course. “They tried to keep as many trees as they could. Mike Carr, project manager for the JMP Design Group, moved thousands of trees and replanted them,” says Fuentebella. “The Makulot Course Hole 8 still has the original mango trees that were there from the beginning, and the undulation of the course has always been that way.”
With three separate nine-hole courses to tee off at, many golfers enjoy the challenge Mount Malarayat’s golf course offers. An added bonus is they can play safely, rain or shine. “The foundation of a golf course is very important,” explains Fuentebella. “Under the course we have a well-planned drainage and sand capping, which is around 6-12 inches of sand under the grass to absorb any water.” Mount Malarayat Golf & Country Club has such a confidence their golf course that they have a policy: if your golf shoes get muddy at all any time during their play, they will waive your green fee. “We haven’t waived any green fees at all in the last 20 years,” reveals Fuentebella.
Mount Malarayat Golf & Country Club currently has 800 active members and is open to private events such as weddings and other special celebrations. With a cooler, breezy climate compared to Manila, gorgeous scenery, and complete facilities that include a hotel, it is a perfect weekend getaway or home for a destination party. “What is unique about our property is that there’s a sense of privacy,” says Fuentebella. “Because our property is sprawling, we can host four events at the same time and none of the groups will run into each other.”
In line with its 20th anniversary, Mount Malarayat Golf & Country Club continues to update its property, starting with the renovation of The Sand Trap, the Pro Shop, the men’s lockers, and the golf course, Mt. Makulot, which reopens for play in November 2018. The other two courses will likewise have a facelift scheduled within the next two years.
Aside from the golf and country club, Mount Malarayat continues to expand their roster of residential products, with condominium units planned for the near future. “These last 20 years we have seen the growth of Lipa City’s commercial establishments and businesses boom,” says Fuentebella. With an S&R opening in January 2019 and outlet shopping in Lima, you can tell that more and more people are wanting leave the congestion of city life and relocate closer to their property. “Furthermore, those who live in the San Pablo and Laguna areas find that its easier to drive to Mount Malarayat Golf & Country Club rather than up north.”
Though it can be a challenge to manage such a huge property and garden but those behind Mount Malarayat Golf & Country Club hope to continue to offer their members and guests good facilities, good service, and an enjoyable game for the players—with their hopes to get the next generation of players into golf, too.
To celebrate its 20 years, Mount Malarayat Golf & Country Club has several exciting plans in store. “Aside from the member-guest golf tournament, we have a family fun fair like a mini carnival with food booths. We want to encourage our members to share this event with their friends as it is open to the public,” says Fuentebella. “We have many exciting prizes in store such as 20 country club annual rights, a Rolex watch, an international trip, a golf cart, golf clubs, and more. We promise you a great weekend!”
Happy 20th Anniversary, Mount Malarayat!