Wack Wack Golf and Country Club
One of the oldest and most prestigious clubs in the Philippines, founded in 1930 and set on mature, tree lined ground in the heart of Metro Manila. Two par 72 courses, a championship East and a gentler West, with a tournament history few clubs in Asia can match.
Photo: Wack Wack Golf & Country Club via Google.
The verdict
Wack Wack Golf and Country Club is Manila golf at its most storied. Founded in 1930 by the American resident William J. Shaw, the club takes its name from the cawing of the crows that once filled the property, and it grew into the traditional home of championship golf in the Philippines. For decades it was the kickoff venue of the Asian circuit and the host of the Philippine Open, and in 1977 it staged the World Cup, won that year by Spain through Seve Ballesteros and Antonio Garrido.
The club runs 36 holes across two par 72 courses. The East is the championship test, the longer and more demanding of the pair, while the West plays a touch shorter and is the members' everyday companion. Both are mature parkland layouts threaded through tall acacia and narra, a rare expanse of old trees in the dense middle of the capital. For a traveling golfer it is a private members club first, but as the prestige round of a Manila trip it pairs naturally with Manila Golf and Country Club and the championship courses south of the city such as Sta Elena Golf Club.
Wack Wack Golf and Country Club at a glance
- Founded
- 1930
- Type
- Private members club
- Holes
- 36 (East and West)
- Par
- 72 each course
- Yardage
- East to about 7,000 yds
- Green fee
- Private, guest access
History, course layout, par and yardage verified June 2026 from the club and leading course databases. Wack Wack was founded in 1930 and runs two par 72 courses; the East plays to roughly 7,000 yards from the back tees and the West to about 6,540 yards, with reported figures varying a little by source and tee. The club is private and members only; any visitor play is by member arrangement or through a tour operator on limited days, and terms change by year. Always confirm access and any green fee directly before booking.
The holes worth the trip
The East Course is where Wack Wack earns its name as a championship venue. Long for its era and still demanding today, it asks for control off the tee down corridors lined with decades old trees, and the closing stretch has decided more than one national championship. The short, exacting par 3 16th is the hole members and tour pros remember, a small target that has wrecked good rounds at the worst moment.
The West Course is the more forgiving of the two, shorter and a little more open, and it is the layout most members play day to day. It still rewards a tidy ball striker, but it gives the higher handicapper room to enjoy the round, which is why it draws the senior and social play while the East hosts the serious cards.
What sets Wack Wack apart for a visiting player is the setting and the sense of history as much as the golf. Walking fairways shaded by old acacia in the middle of Mandaluyong, on ground that has hosted the World Cup and generations of the Philippine Open, is the kind of round a Manila golf trip is built around when access can be arranged.
How to get on
| What to know | Detail |
|---|---|
| Access | Private members club; visitor play is by member arrangement or through an operator on limited days |
| Green fee | No standard public rate; any guest green fee is arranged case by case and changes by year |
| Booking | Through a member or a golf tour operator; the club does not sell general visitor tee times |
| On the day | Smart golf attire and soft spikes; caddies are part of the experience |
| Getting there | In Mandaluyong, central Metro Manila, minutes from the Ortigas and Makati business districts |
| Best months | November to May, the cooler, drier season away from the southwest monsoon |
Access arrangements verified June 2026; Wack Wack is a private members club and policies change, so always confirm directly before planning a visit. For a guaranteed tee time, our team can build a Manila itinerary around the area's championship courses that welcome visitors and add Wack Wack where a member or operator connection allows.
Where to stay nearby
Wack Wack sits between the Ortigas Center and Makati, so the densest concentration of business hotels in Metro Manila is within a short drive, with Bonifacio Global City close by for dining and nightlife. A base in Ortigas or Makati keeps the golf, the restaurants and the airport transfers all in easy reach.
Because Wack Wack is members only, most traveling golfers build a Manila trip around the area's accessible championship courses, with this club the aspirational round if a connection allows. Pair it with Manila Golf and Country Club, Sta Elena Golf Club and The Country Club, or see our Philippines golf holidays. Our team arranges the tee times, lodging and transfers.
Looking for a base? See our recommended hotels and resorts near Wack Wack Golf and Country Club.
Build a Manila golf trip
Wack Wack is a private members club, so most trips center on the area's championship courses that welcome visitors, with this club added where a member or operator connection allows. We build the itinerary, arrange the accessible tee times, and book the lodging and transfers around them. Tell us roughly when and who is traveling and one concierge costs it to the head, with no obligation.
Wack Wack Golf and Country Club questions
How old is Wack Wack Golf and Country Club?
The club was founded in 1930 by the American resident William J. Shaw and is one of the oldest and most prestigious golf clubs in the Philippines.
How many courses does Wack Wack have?
Wack Wack has 36 holes across two par 72 courses, the longer championship East Course and the shorter West Course.
Has Wack Wack hosted major tournaments?
Yes. Wack Wack has long hosted the Philippine Open and the Asian circuit, and it staged the 1977 World Cup, won that year by Spain through Seve Ballesteros and Antonio Garrido.
Can visitors play Wack Wack?
Wack Wack is a private members club. Visitor play is by member arrangement or through a golf tour operator on limited days, so most traveling golfers build a Manila trip around the area's championship courses that welcome visitors.
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Researched and written by the GolfForKings editorial desk. Founding date, courses, par and yardage verified June 2026 from the club and leading course databases; access is private and arrangements change by year, so always confirm directly before planning a visit. Last reviewed June 2026.