The Philippines has launched Golaman, the country’s first online golf booking platform, in an effort to boost sports tourism and support local youth development. Developed over nearly a year by Korean-led firm Philippine Golf Resort Reservations (PGRR), the mobile app currently covers 79 golf courses across key locations, including Manila, Tagaytay, Clark, Subic, Batangas, Cebu, and Davao.
The application is now available on the Android Play Store and is scheduled to be fully operational by September 15.
Golaman aims to simplify tee-time bookings for both local and international players while positioning the Philippines alongside regional golf hubs such as Vietnam, Thailand, Japan, South Korea, and Singapore.
Beyond booking logistics, the platform includes a revenue-sharing model that directs a portion of its earnings to the grassroots initiatives of the National Golf Association of the Philippines (NGAP).
"This is not just about booking tee times. We want to create an ecosystem where the growth of golf tourism also contributes to the growth of Philippine golf."
— Aaron Kim, CEO of PGRR
Kim emphasized that allocating funds to NGAP's community-level programs will help expand opportunities for young Filipino golfers and build a stronger talent pipeline.
The platform was officially unveiled on Friday during a media launch at the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) House. The event drew key representatives from the sports, tourism, golf, and aviation sectors.
Among the attendees were:
"I think this program will click. We’ve been talking about this for the last 12 months, and now it’s here. It’s a perfect collaboration... If we push sports tourism we push sports development."
— Patrick Gregorio, PSC Chairman
Gregorio noted that more venues are expected to sign on, expanding beyond the initial 79 courses toward the country's total of more than 120 facilities.
NGAP President Al Panlilio framed the platform's release as part of a broader strategy to showcase the country globally and stimulate local economies.
"Golaman is not simply a booking platform but a launch of the national golf tourism initiative. And this will reposition our country as a premier golf destination. This is a national effort that is designed to showcase the Philippines to the rest of the world. Golf tourism creates jobs and creates business. This will attract more tourists to our country."
— Al Panlilio, NGAP President
Panlilio added that structural support from tourism revenue could help identify and develop promising young athletes, remarking:
"We have a lot of Alex Ealas in golf."
— Al Panlilio, referencing the Philippine tennis star
Tourism Promotions Board COO Marga Nograles also pointed to golf’s role in expanding tourism reach beyond conventional sights.
"Golf is more than just a sport but a gateway for people to discover our culture and our world-class golf courses. This is a milestone initiative."
— Marga Nograles, TPB COO
The launch event included representatives from participating courses, such as Lakewood, Pradera, Subic International, Mimosa Plus, South Pacific, Philippine Navy, Villamor, and Mt. Malarayat.
Major domestic and international airlines and travel partners were also in attendance, including Philippine Airlines, Cebu Pacific, Sunlight Air, Jeju Air, Singapore Airlines, Korean Air, and Hana Tour.
With 79 courses integrated at launch, Golaman aims to simplify course access for travelers while establishing a funding mechanism to support grassroots golf development across the Philippines.
Source: Tiebreaker Times
