Manila Anyone?

[Kostas]

Anyone playing tennis in Manila, Philippines?

My wife and I are relocating for my job. It's a big city and I'm sure there are lots of players there.

I'm a low end 4.0 and she is a high end 4.5. Let me know if anyone wants to get together after we get settled in.

[rommil]

Hey man, just reading this now........I am not from Manila and I have been stateside since 96 but I have a friend who hits with pros from Manila. I am sure they can recommend places to play and hit with you. If you are interested email me here from my account.

[Chotobaka]

If you are looking for something beyond just tennis I recommend the Manila Polo Club. Monthly fees are ridiculously low by US standards, especially for a full-blown very upscale club. They have literally every sports recreational activity you can get in RP. For racquet sports, indoor and outdoor courts plus squash and badminton (much tougher sport than most imagine when not played in a back yard with beer in hand). Court fees are stupid low -- around 100P an hour with a ball-boy, half of that picking up your own balls. I could never get used to the ball-boy thing.

One of the best features is the fact that they have relationships with many other clubs in Asia and the USA, so you can have tennis privileges in lots of very nice facilities in varied places.

I am not a club-type guy but if I was in Manila (I much prefer the provinces) I would seriously consider an all encompassing place like this as a complete recreation/entertainment center.

[Greg G]

^ Chotobaka hit the nail on the head. Not many choices for public courts in Manila. Manila Polo Club is the best here. Other country club choices with plenty of courts are Alabang Country Club, Makati Sports Club. Valle Verde Country Club has a strong tennis program. There are other smaller clubs with less number of courts.

I suppose it all depends on where you're located. Proximity is important, given the traffic conditions here.

Re ballboys, I had the reverse experience. When I stayed in hawaii for a year, the first few times I hit, my partners were pissed off because I wasn't picking up the balls

[RobertoFedFan6]

If youre gonna live in a private village or will have friends there. almost all upscale villages will have tennis courts such as Corinthians, Valle Verde, Ayala Heights. check out rockwell club as well they've got good coaches too. But Greg G was right, public courts are non existent here in Manila! hahaha

[Kostas]

Originally Posted by Chotobaka

If you are looking for something beyond just tennis I recommend the Manila Polo Club. Monthly fees are ridiculously low by US standards, especially for a full-blown very upscale club. They have literally every sports recreational activity you can get in RP. For racquet sports, indoor and outdoor courts plus squash and badminton (much tougher sport than most imagine when not played in a back yard with beer in hand). Court fees are stupid low -- around 100P an hour with a ball-boy, half of that picking up your own balls. I could never get used to the ball-boy thing.

One of the best features is the fact that they have relationships with many other clubs in Asia and the USA, so you can have tennis privileges in lots of very nice facilities in varied places.

I am not a club-type guy but if I was in Manila (I much prefer the provinces) I would seriously consider an all encompassing place like this as a complete recreation/entertainment center.

We just arrived and are staying in a hotel until we can find a place to live.

We are 99% certain we will be living in either Rockwell or The Fort. We have looked into the Manila Polo Club, but we were under the impression that it was incredibly exclusive and impossible to get into. Is this not the case?

[Greg G]

You could check out the tennis courts at Colegio San Agustin in Dasmarinas Village. Been meaning to take a look myself, I hear the sports facilities are pretty good.

[makinao]

Apologies in advance if this is isn't allowed here.

Check out the local forum http://www.pinoytennisonline.com/forum/

[Chotobaka]

Originally Posted by Kostas

We just arrived and are staying in a hotel until we can find a place to live.

We are 99% certain we will be living in either Rockwell or The Fort. We have looked into the Manila Polo Club, but we were under the impression that it was incredibly exclusive and impossible to get into. Is this not the case?

You do need to be sponsored and voted in by the Board. As with all things in RP, this can be easily arranged. As a Kano living there you should have no problem.

[Kostas]

Originally Posted by Chotobaka

You do need to be sponsored and voted in by the Board. As with all things in RP, this can be easily arranged. As a Kano living there you should have no problem.

I've been talking with some colleagues and locals and it doesn't appear realistic that this is something that is going to happen for me unfortunately.

It appears pretty difficult to get my foot in the door.

[Chotobaka]

Originally Posted by Kostas

I've been talking with some colleagues and locals and it doesn't appear realistic that this is something that is going to happen for me unfortunately.

It appears pretty difficult to get my foot in the door.

Have you contacted the club? Nothing to lose by doing so. Make friends.

[rommil]

Originally Posted by Kostas

I've been talking with some colleagues and locals and it doesn't appear realistic that this is something that is going to happen for me unfortunately.

It appears pretty difficult to get my foot in the door.

You can try and contact Toto Joven or Tony Sagansay, I have their numbers if you want. They are PI pros I believe. Maybe they can help you

[makinao]

Hi Kostas, found anything yet?

[rommil]

Originally Posted by makinao

Hi Kostas, found anything yet?

He is prob stuck in the hideous Manila traffic for the last days

[West Coast Ace]

^^^ LOL! The joke is they never have traffic fatalities because the cars are moving too slow.

Polo Club is awesome. Friend is a member so I had the run of the place for a week. Great coaches to hit with. The shell courts are fun. Can't wait to go back.

[Kostas]

Originally Posted by rommil

You can try and contact Toto Joven or Tony Sagansay, I have their numbers if you want. They are PI pros I believe. Maybe they can help you

Hey guys...I have been stuck in traffic! EDSA is a biotch!

So we have just gotten settled in the Fort in a nice condo at Serendra.

Haven't even had time to look at the tennis scene yet first hand but all we have is a feeling that the Polo club isn't in the cards for us.

rommil - I would really appreciate it if you could pass on those numbers. We have to start somewhere. You can PM them to me if you like.

Now that we're getting settled in my wife and are both anxious to get out on a court somewhere.

[rommil]

^^^^sent you the numbers. I always try to skip Manila going home, despise that traffic among other things

When you get time , try a trip to Cebu and esp Bohol (where I am from), the provinces are way more relaxing than Manila, although Cebu is not that anymore.

[Greg G]

I think your best bet would be the CSA tennis courts in Dasmarinas Village-5 minutes from Serendra. 5 hard courts. Valle Verde Country Club is maybe 10-15 minutes away- by membership, but the shares are waaaay less costly compared to Polo Club. 1 outdoor hard court (not in good shape), 7 indoor shell courts, 5 outdoor shell courts.

[Cris8]

Kostas, I'm also moving to Manila in January. If you're still looking to play tennis then, let me know. I'm a frequent visitor to the country and am confident we can find good courts to play at.

[Kostas]

Well we haven't had much luck thus far. I can't even get past the gates at the Polo Club. The monthly dues aren't that much, but a share apparently costs about Php9.5million.

I checked out the Army Gymnasium court today and it's not in great shape.

We have been looking at the CSA courts, but I'm not sure if we can get in Dasmarinas or not. I will have to try this week. Do they rent those courts out to the public?