Sophisticated applause, poised posture, and the fluid arc of a long iron across the widespread greenery—this is often the image as you enter the world of golf. It’s not your usual sport that is easily accessed on a daily basis. Acquiring a variety of clubs—a minimum of six and a maximum of 14—and the search for a proper driving range alone already signals “exclusivity.” The thought of the sport itself makes you take a step back and contemplate: do you really have the knack for golf, or are you just enchanted as you step on the course?

Considering the rarity of a golf team inside our university, that’s something you don’t see nor hear about everyday. It’s starkly different from the sports you’ll typically encounter, commonly recognized as an “elitist” pastime. Bottom line—it’s not the norm, but it’s certainly worth exploring.

A golfer in green-and-white

Among the rolling greens of the University, golfer Maria Sofia Encarnacion has been exposed to golf since she was three years old. She formally began training at a free clinic in Villamor Air Base Golf Club, Pasay City, at age seven. Before entering the collegiate level, she consistently competed in junior golf tournaments every weekend. Just like every athlete, the pressure to succeed remained visible. 

To this day, her passion for the sport serves as a vital de-stressor. “Naging escape ko na siya from acads na parang ‘Okay, nakaka-relax pala ‘to at some point,’” she shared. “And then, nakakatuwa din kasi malaki na ‘yung naging background ko sa golf before ko siya napili maging stress reliever.” 

From casually joining tournaments through her network within the golfing community, she eventually transitioned into one of the few golfers representing De La Salle University – Dasmariñas (DLSU-D) in 2025. 

Delving more into this, Encarnacion slowly opened a path for a golfing community when The HERALDO FILIPINO featured golfers after their medal-winning performances for the University in April 2025. The growing attention sparked curiosity—how did a golf team even come together in a campus where the sport was virtually unheard of?

In her second year of Political Science, Encarnacion confidently joined intercollegiate tournaments on her own. By her third year, to her surprise, she discovered a blockmate who played as well. Through word-of-mouth, they were able to form a makeshift team and compete in the Pilipinas College Golf Series: Battle of the South. 

“Actually, it came out very organically,” she shared. “Noong nag-ask ako doon sa blockmate ko, which is si Marcus Palces, if he wanted to join, parang okay na okay naman siya to join, to play. Tapos noong tinanong naman niya ‘yung isa naming nakasama, which is si Marquis Calelero, g (game) din naman siya. Tapos ayun, it happened very organically. ‘Yun ‘yung nag-push sa amin to represent.” 

No fairway forward

For most universities, forming varsity teams or sports clubs is almost second nature. Recognition, pride, and medals often follow. In a serious manner, who wouldn’t brag about their school if they always bring home the bacon? At the Battle of the South, Encarnacion and Palces proved their potential, dominating their respective categories, securing the champion and third runner-up titles, respectively. 

The connection built from the tourney sparked an idea to form a golf club. However, as exciting as it sounds, realizations set in: starting a club wasn’t easy. They remained short on team members, and as a matter of fact, this was the “bacon” they didn’t get to bring home. 

“We wanted to form a proper team na recognized ng La Salle,” Encarnacion emphasized. “It’s just that, meron kasing mga requirements I think from CSO/RSO na may certain number of members, and we have to conduct certain events every semester. Eh ang kaso kasi noon, konti lang kami.” This logistical hurdle put a halt to their approach to a formal golfing community inside the University.

The infamous “bourgeois” sport

Addressing the cliché remarks of the game, we can’t erase the fact that golf is often equated to being bourgeois or elitist. It is deeply rooted for us to naturally think that way; the same held true for Encarnacion. 

“I think it is a bourgeois sport. Totoo naman na maraming gagastusin sa golf. I think I have accepted the fact na people would perceive golfers na ‘burgis.’” 

However, she clarified that the label won’t change an athlete at heart. “Pero I know to myself na whatever image that a ‘burgis’ has could be very different from a true golfer—from a player talaga or from an athlete,”  she emphasized.

For golfers who seek to enjoy the adrenaline rush with every swing, Encarnacion shared a word of advice: “Don’t be discouraged with whatever limit that they would set doon sa team or doon sa magiging members.”

Encarnacion wanted to highlight that golf athletes are not always the image they are perceived to be. 

“There are certain players na very down to earth, na they just want to represent… without being judged na elitista sila, na ‘burgis’ sila. We can play any type of sport na p’wedeng ma-recognize ng school without being judged,” she reflected.

***

In this era, a sport like golf can receive different treatment based on its popularity, funding, or capability to bag medals. Golf athletes are easily judged through the eyes of casual spectators, who may not realize the effort behind every swing. If only they knew how many golf balls athletes hit day-to-day (it’s a minimum of 300 to 400, by the way). 

But the point is, golf athletes will continue to play for the game with fervor, despite setbacks. Words are only words, but at the end of the day, it is the golfers who swing the long iron who claim the medals.

Photos by Emmanuel II Hoylar

Originally published in Just Play Vol. 11