With just a few weeks left before the end of summer, you might be looking for one last trip to enjoy the summer sun. And since you are probably exhausted from having to drive too far for the past weeks, something closer to Metro Manila may appeal to you.
From the moment you enter it huge gates, Mount Malarayat Golf and Country Club offers you the possibility of satisfying every family member’s need. It has a golf course for the Dads, a swimming pool for the Moms, a playground for the young kids, and a lake for the slightly older kids to fish in.
Best of all, it is just about an hour and a half away from Metro Manila and rooms can be rented at discounted prices this summer season.
Table of Contents
Directions
Being in Lipa City in Batangas, Mount Malarayat Golf and Country Club is a breeze to get to. All the roads leading to it is either cemented or paved. And with only so much as a slight bump, you won’t need to own a huge Sport Utility Vehicle, or SUV, to get there.
Entrance
Being in the South, just hop on the South Luzon Expressway, or SLEX. Since the Star Tollway is now connected to the SLEX, all you need to do is continue driving on the SLEX Link to get on the Star Tollway.
Turn right at the Lipa City Exit. This is also known as the Tambo Interchange or Exit, so don’t be confused if it is not on the list of exits.
After paying the toll at the Lipa City Exit, turn right on the first road, which happens to be the J.P. Laurel Highway.
Parking Area
You will come across several rotundas made of cement or plastic barricades. Make sure to curve towards the left to stay on the main road.
A sign of the Fiesta World Mall will mark the Santo Tomas-Lipa Road intersection. You’ll also find a large sign of Mount Malarayat Golf and Country Club at this same corner.
Turn right at Santo Tomas-Lipa Road and keep going till you see the huge gate of Mount Malarayat Golf and Country Club on the right.
Landmarks
You should pass the following landmarks between the Star Tollway Lipa Exit and the Mount Malarayat Golf and Country Club gate:
Grounds
- De La Salle Lipa on the left
- Robinson’s Place on the left
- SM Lipa on the left
- Lipa City Hall on the left
- Max’s Restaurant on the left
- Hap Chan Restaurant on the left
- Fiesta World Mall on the left
- Jollibee Fiesta World Mall on the left
- Stonyhurst-Southville International School on the right
Lobby
There are actually two lobbies in Mount Malarayat Golf and Country Club. The area frequently used by hotel guests is the lobby in the Country Club, while the other one caters mainly to golfers.
Lobby
Just like the rest of Mount Malarayat Golf and Country Club, the lobby of the Country Club is rather big. It is decked out in beige tiled for the floors and brown wooded for the ceilings.
A wide glass window separates the lobby from a terrace that lines the entire rear area. It provides an unrestricted view of the artificial lake, the swimming pool, part of the golf course, and several buildings were the guest rooms are located in.
Thanks to the generous amount of dark wood used for the lobby’s ceiling, the harsh light of the outdoors is muted to make the area a very cozy place to linger in. This is further enhanced by the large padded sofas and chairs scattered around low wooden tables.
Lobby
And while the rear glass doors are very effective at keeping the rain out, opening even one of them allows a breeze to pass through the lobby. It is cool and strong enough to make the ceiling fans unnecessary.
It was the perfect spot to relax and catch up on an old, tattered pocket book or to browse through the day’s newspaper.
Function Rooms
For those more accustomed to electronic information, the lobby also provides people with free Wi-Fi. It was fast enough for reading e-Mail or online newspapers but not speedy enough to watch videos or run bandwidth-heavy applications.
The lobby rest room was more on the medium-size. For the male one, it had three urinals and three cubicles and never felt tight. Not only was the entire rest room clean, the water at the sink was heated too.
Price
The prices at Mount Malarayat Golf and Country Club are not exactly cheap. The Narra Suite, which is the cheapest room, can be rented out for a little over PhP 4,000 a night, including breakfast.
Lake
However, we were able to get the same room for a much lower price. The sale price is advertised at PHP 1,557.38 but it comes out to exactly PhP 1,900 when the 12% hotel tax and 10% are factored in.
One of the reasons why the price is so low is because it does not come with complimentary breakfast for two. If you are in the mood to save a bit, it should pose no problem as you can find a place to eat within five minutes after exiting the main gate
But if you are not in the mood to drive out of Mount Malarayat Golf and Country Club, you can grab a bite at the Golfer’s Lounge. Just remember to change out of you short shorts and slippers as the place is very strict about its dress code.
Included in all prices is the free use of the swimming pool, while the other amenities can be availed of at discounted rates.
Room
We decided to take a room in the Narra Suites as this was on sale online. There are other rooms to choose from, such as those in the Tanguile Suites, Yakal Suites, Kaimito Suites, but they are a bit more expensive and were not covered by the room sale during our visit.
Room
The nice thing about the Narra Suites building is its location. Situated right beside the children’s playground, it is just a few meters away from the swimming pool and small Putting Green.
Our second-floor unit had its windows facing the parking lot, but rooms with a balcony facing the playground and pool are sometimes available.
The room itself may be a little bit tight for someone used to having their own space in a room. There were enough gaps to walk around when alone, but if there are two or three people sharing the room, they would inevitably bump in to one another.
The double bed of our room was pushed to the corner near the window, while the single bed was in the center of the room. A lamp, on a night table, was pushed to the wall and in between the two beds. This is where the phone and remote controls for the television and air conditioner could be found. You’ll also find a Bible in the drawer.
While some may find the room to be a little snug, the cabinets had ample space in them. It covered the entire wall separating the room from the bathroom and was from floor to ceiling.
Three shelves divided the entire cabinet. There was a shelf at the top for smaller bags and another shelf at the bottom to separate shoes from the bags. The hanger bar also had a few metal hangers for guests to use.
The television is of the older CRT type and was connected to a cable. The channels were clear, even as it was raining heavily outside. The sound and picture were clear, despite it being an older model.
The air conditioner, though small, did a good job of cooling the room. In fact, I woke up at dawn to increase the temperature as everyone was chilled to the bone by then.
Finally, each building seemed to have its own generator bolted to a corner outside. I’m not sure if it had the capacity to handle all the air conditioners, but it seemed big enough to do so.
Bathroom
If the room felt a little snug, the bathroom was just the right size. Even with a bathtub good enough for one adult, there was enough space for users not to feel claustrophobic.
Bathroom
And just like the rest room in the main lobby, the temperature of the water from both the sink and shower could be adjusted.
There was also a nozzle by the toilet so a tabo, or dipper, is unnecessary. Speaking of nozzles, the shower head was also attached to a nozzle so people could pull it down for a more concentrated wash.
The nozzles and faucets did have a slight amount of corrosion on them, but it was not enough to rub off and leave reddish stains on one’s hands.
As far as the water goes, it was hot and strong and never seemed to run out no matter how long a shower one took.
Another thing I noticed about the bathroom was that there was a small crevice right beside the bath tub. This little recession caught any water from the shower area and directed it to a drain near the toilet.
It is one of the few bathrooms I have encountered that did not flood the rest of the bathroom as the shower and bath tub was used. Other bathrooms deal with this issue by separating the shower area with a partition, but this particular bathroom used a shower curtain.
The result of this ingenious little design is that you could use slippers in the bathroom without tracking mud all over the place.
Amenities
Golf Course
As expected for a country club, Mount Malarayat Golf and Country Club has a lot to offer. As a guest, you get to avail of the following at various rates:
- Golf course
- This is a 27-hole all-weather championship golf course designed by the world-renowned J. Michael Poellet Design Group
- The number seven hole is part of the 500 World’s Greatest Golf Holes of Golf Magazine
- Artificial lake
- People can fish for as little as PhP 100 for three hours
- Most of the Tilapia fish that is caught can be taken home
- Playground
- Includes swings, a slide, and a two-level house over sand
- Putting Green
- The one between the playground and swimming pool allows golfers to play alongside the rest of their family
- Multi-purpose play area
- Also has a nursery and a sleeping area for kids
- Arirang Spa
- For people who want to get a foot massage or a dry body rub
- Locker Rooms
- With a waiting area, Jacuzzi, and Sauna
Pool Locker Room
Other amenities include the following:
- Basketball Court
- Billiard Table
- Dart Board
- Ping-pong Table
- Badminton Court
- Function areas
- Helipad
Among all the amenities, the ones that guests look forward to as a family tends to be the playground and the swimming pool.
Playground
In the case of the playground, it has a pair of swings to one side. But instead of using wood or metal seats, it makes use of a wide strip of dark leather. While it is more comfortable to sit in, the sun can make it a bit hot. I would suggest testing the temperature it with your hands before sitting in it as you may end up jumping out of it with a howl of pain.
Swimming Pool
The swimming pool is composed of two sections divided by a small arched stone bridge. The smaller area is the shallow kiddie pool. It has tiny fountains of water lining the rim, making it a favorite of both kids and adults.
The larger area can be used for lapping. So, if you are a person who swims regularly for exercise, the Olympic-like lines of the bigger pool will make it easier to do laps in the morning. As expected, the pool tends to be filled in the late afternoons so you may want to do laps in the early mornings when there are less swimmers.
Outdoor Shower Area
If wading is not your thing, don’t fret. The pool is big enough to handle a typical weekend. Even with big groups in the pool, you will be able to find a small spot for you to float around without being disturbed by wild splashing.
For people who can afford air travel, there is a helipad by the artificial lake. From the terrace at the rear of the lobby, the big “H” was clearly defined. And while it may be convenient for its passengers, I do wonder if it will annoy the fish enough to get them jumping when a helicopter uses it.
[Then all we need to do is get a bunch of nets ready.]
Staff
The staff as the front desk was very courteous and helpful. They smiled genuinely and never looked like they were harassed when asked questions.
Jacuzzi in Pool Locker
In the case of the suites, each building is assigned someone to handle any problems 24×7. When our toilet clogged up due to the heavy rains that afternoon, we asked for assistance and a very animated lady came over to help out.
You’ll also find one of two member of the staff replenishing bathroom supplies by using a golf cart. Not only do they eliminate air pollution, there is not noise to disturb anyone.
[Heck, even the birds made more noise here.]
Final Thoughts
Mount Malarayat Golf and Country Club a nice place to spend the weekend at. At just an hour and a half away from Metro Manila via the SLEX and Star Tollway, it is very easy to get to.
Grounds
The only thing that one cannot do at Mount Malarayat Golf and Country Club is to walk all around the place. With a 27-hole golf course, it felt like a crime not to enjoy the cool fresh air with a relaxing stroll.
But we were warned by the staff that walking is prohibited because of all the golf balls flying around the place. This is, after all a golf course. And all it takes is one errant ball, flying with the speed of a missile, to destroy the weekend.
So, I stayed in the recommended areas. Not to worry, though, as there is still a lot of things to do and places to explore. And an overnight stay is not enough to do it all.
Must Do’s
Mount Malarayat Country Club at Night
- Bring a camera.
- Put on a healthy dose of sunblock for swimming.
- Do not walk around as golf balls will be flying about.
- Change in to something other than short shorts and slippers for the in-house restaurant.
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