It comes as no surprise therefore that when the Manila Golf & Country Club, one of the most historic and exclusive clubs hereabouts, decided in 2005 to renovate its golf course, there was hardly any fanfare to herald the P400M make-over.

A few months ago, after members (there are only a little over 500 who can claim the distinction) suffered in silence for over two years that construction work was done, the course was finally opened.

In muted glee, the members took to the fairways to sample the fruits of their self-imposed deprivation. They were left to celebrate by themselves as the course was initially available for play to members only.

Very recently, non-members were allowed to play on invitation, and were given a peek at paradise in the heart of the metropolis.

It is almost incredible how Manila Golf manages to be enveloped in serene, breath-taking beauty with its verdant fairways and greens, refreshing ponds and fountains against the backdrop of the concrete jungle that has sprouted all around its Makati environs.

It is easy to deduce that all this was cleverly designed to calm and soothe the minds and souls of people presumably in search for a quick escape from the rigors and stresses of corporate life, multi-million peso decisions or whatever it is that the rich (who neither need nor seek to be famous) are beset with in their daily lives.

For those who are passionate about golf, the course has changed drastically only in terms of aesthetics since the lay-out has basically been preserved, save for a cosmetic retouch here and a tweak or two there to make play more interesting.

For while there have been many a memorable tournament, both in the amateur and professional ranks played through the years at Manila Golf, the advent of modern courses had exposed the course at the mercy of better players.

With the redesign, one must watch his tongue before boasting that he can conquer Manila Golf as he used to. Despite the charming aura created by the familiar flame trees and other flora and fauna, the modern papsalum grass, the all-weather conditions and the environmentally-correct and eyepleasing silica sand, there are subtle but substantive changes that could make one eat his words and kowtow in humble genuflection before "the grand old lady" that is Manila Golf.

From the coffee table book that the club commissioned for the reconstruction, it is learned that Manila Golf was born out of Caloocan in 1901, in a property that now includes the University of the East Caloocan campus. It was built by British engineers who needed R&R from their work in the Manila Railway Company. For some unexplained reason, the British expats called it the Buayas Golf and Country Club.

It moved to its present location in Forbes Park in 1948 acquiring the 44-hectare property at the dirt cheap price of P400,000 from the Ayalas, who offered it as part of their forward-looking build-up of Makati as the high-end enclave south of the capital.

The club has come a long way from being the exclusive haunt of the British, Americans and other Caucasians.

Today, it is the proud home of successful Filipinos of various ethnic and racial lineages, along with some expatriates whose mother companies own a share. Members gather not necessarily to play golf, but to enjoy each other’s company.

Part of the charm of the club is its egalitarian nature. Although the members log book gives off the aroma of old rich, power and influence, the atmosphere is that of easy camaraderie born out of the unspoken understanding that all members are equal, no matter how many gazillions one has over another.

This quiet respect for each other is evident as the conversations and discussions at the clubhouse while pleasant and animated, are never loud or boisterous. It seems all the members know each other and although they do not stand on ceremony, are conscious of basic courtesies among personalities bound by filial ties to their club.

And these courtesies are generously accorded even to guests brought in by members so that, even if an outsider is awed- as one would unavoidably be in the presence of various degrees of affluence and influence- one still feels a sense of being a welcome visitor in the home of a grand old lady that is the Manila Golf and Country Club.