|
|
| City Guide - Manila - Sport | ||
|
||
|
Sport Given the shortage of other facilities in the city, sports in Manila are surprisingly well catered for. Cockfighting fills the place in the national psyche that bullfighting occupies in the identity of its onetime Spanish overlords, but its appeal to outsiders can be limited, as with jai alai, the Philippine version of pelota imported from Spain. Basketball is the most popular modern international sport, and Filipinos can be found hooping as diligently as US kids. The Philippine Basketball Association league centres on the Cuneta Astrodome (tel: (02) 833 7333) on Roxas Avenue, Pasay City, with ticket prices ranging from P20 for restricted view up to P220. Golf: Club Intramuros on Bonifacio Drive, Intramuros (tel: (02) 478 470) is a preferred city centre location, with an 18-hole par-60 course, and is particularly good for night golf. Green fees are P1000 a round for visitors. Despite its name, the Wack Wack Golf and Country Club on Shaw Boulevard, Mandaluyong City (tel: (02) 723 0665), is a completely serious operation with two championship courses and a fee of P7200 per guest. Fort Bonifacio Golf Club in Makati (tel: (02) 858 323) is maintained by the Philippines Army and has the lowest green fees in Metro Manila; the Manila Golf and Country Club, (tel: (02) 817 4948) conversely, is one of the Philippines' most exclusive. Manila Golf Tours, Unit 406, 3520 Agapita II Building, Mola Street, Pasong Tamo, Makati City (tel: (02) 890 2790), arranges circuits specifically for golfing enthusiasts. Horseracing: As with other sports that facilitate gambling, horseracing is a part of Manila society, with millions of pesos bet every week. Hippophiles should visit the San Lazaro Hippodrome on Felix Huertas Street, Santa Cruz, with racing on Wednesday, Thursday and weekends, and admission from P5. Tennis: Many of the better hotels maintain tennis courts. At the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex on Vito Cruz Street, Malate, courts are available for P32.50 per player per hour (rising to P45 at weekends). Well-connected visitors may prefer the courts at the Philippine Columbian Association, Plaza Dilao, Paco (tel: (02) 521 1506), but access to their facilities requires sponsorship or a Guest Card from an existing member. Yachting: The Manila Yacht Club on Roxas Boulevard (tel: (02) 521 4457) is a social and sporting Mecca; visitors are admitted only courtesy of existing members. |
||
