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| Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) Chairman Patrick “Pato” Gregorio with sports officials, stakeholders, and junior golfers during the inaugural PSC Chairman's Cup held last October 9, 2026 at the Luisita Golf and Country Club in Tarlac (Image Source: Manila Standard/National Golf Association Of The Philippines) |
For children who grow up watching their parents carry golf bags or tend greens, the game can seem close enough to touch yet difficult to pursue. The Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) hopes to give more of them a chance to step onto the fairway and develop their own talents. That aspiration brought more than 100 golfers to Luisita Golf and Country Club in Tarlac last October 9, 2026 for the inaugural PSC Chairman’s Cup, a gathering that connected government officials, private sector partners, media representatives and junior players through a shared cause.
Organized by the PSC and the National Golf Association of the Philippines (NGAP), the tournament rallied support for Fairway To The Future, a grassroots program seeking to make golf instruction and training facilities accessible to young Filipinos who might otherwise struggle to enter the sport. PSC Chairman Patrick “Pato” Gregorio initiated the program in line with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s directive to strengthen grassroots sports with Commissioners Fritz Gaston and Walter Torres helping advance the initiative. “We believe golf talents can be found all over the country, and through this program, we might discover a diamond in the rough who can become a champion,” said Gregorio. Young golfer Winter Serapio headlined the event, representing the emerging talent the program hopes to nurture. The presence of junior players alongside established sports officials and supporters gave the tournament’s purpose a visible face: children who need opportunities to learn, compete and improve. Fairway To The Future targets golfers aged 18 and below including children of caddies, greenskeepers and other club employees, public school students, out-of-school youth and young players from provincial communities. Its proposed framework combines community and school-based instruction with standardized coaching, regional training centers and a structured competition pathway. Participating facilities would provide designated practice areas free of charge and waive green fees for registered juniors during prescribed hours. These measures aim to address practical barriers to participation, giving young players access to both instruction and places where they can regularly develop their skills. “We intend to expand our partnerships as we continue the program. Hopefully, more stakeholders will join us in providing opportunities for our children,” said Gregorio.
At Luisita, participants competed in a four-person scramble using the Molave point system, with divisions for Juniors, Government Partners, Private Partners, Media, and PSC–POC (Philippine Olympic Committee). The team format encouraged cooperation, fitting an event built around collective support for youth development. During the awarding ceremony, NGAP President Al Panlilio presented Gregorio with a customized Philippine-themed VESSEL golf bag bearing the same design used by the national team at the 2026 Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan. The presentation linked the country’s international golf campaign with the grassroots work needed to develop future national players. NGAP Secretary-General Bones Floro and Tarlac Governor Christian Yap also joined the gathering. The PSC and NGAP will lead the nationwide program in partnership with the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority, Bases Conversion and Development Authority, Armed Forces of the Philippines, and Department of National Defense. The tournament received support from major sponsors Smart, John Hay Golf and Malbon Golf alongside Asia Brewery, Pocari Sweat, Milo, Patton Studio, Bluebird Golf, and Philippine Airlines with assistance from Philippine Golf Resort Reservations. For the children Fairway To The Future hopes to reach, the most meaningful result will come beyond tournament day — when access to a lesson, a practice area and a coach gives them a chance to play the game themselves.
