The first of three golf courses at Hann Philippines Inc’s new Hann Reserve development in New Clark City will hold a soft opening this Friday, with access available to select guests ahead of an official launch planned for the coming months.
Once fully operational, the new Dragon’s Landing course by Nicklaus Design – alongside two more courses by KJ Choi and Faldo Design planned to open by 2027 and 2028 respectively – will primarily be available to Hann’s casino guests, while there are plans to host international tournaments in the years ahead.
Details of the property’s impending launch were unveiled at a special media event in Clark on Wednesday attended by Inside Asian Gaming, where Tim Neil, General Manager of Hann Reserve Golf, described the recently completed Dragon’s Landing course as “one of the most special golf courses that has been built and designed globally in the last 10 years”.
“Mr Han (Hann Philippines CEO Dae Sik Han) was very, very clear and we were clear with Nicklaus Design when creating this course that we wanted a world Top 100 course and I think we’ve got something very, very special,” Neil, a former professional golfer, said during a presentation on Wednesday.
“It’s challenging, it’s very undulating, it’s right at the top of a mountain, so it’s kind of a mountain-style links with just panoramic views of the surrounding Zambales Mountains.”
Situated on 450 hectares of rolling greenery, Hann Reserve is described as the Philippines’ first eco-luxury golf and lifestyle estate – combining luxury residences, high-end gaming and world-class dining and retail with an international school, multiple outdoor lifestyle experiences, fitness and wellness offerings and cultural spaces.
Golf, however, sits at the very heart of the project, with Neil confirming that Hann’s casino guests, be they at a new casino to open at Hann Reserve or the existing Hann Casino Resort in the Clark Freeport Zone, are set to have prime access.
“This is a large investment that’s been put in and a product that is one of the most exciting in the world, so what we’ve done is made sure that if you stay in our properties, if you play in our casino, you avail huge benefits to play at Hann Reserve,” he explained. “Mr Han has always said he is building this for our casino members, for those who are in the Han ecosystem and to encourage more people to come into that ecosystem.
“So, I guess this is my pitch to say, ‘Come and join Han, stay in our properties and avail these really large discounts and opportunities’.”
It is with this in mind that Hann Reserve will target the international golf tourism market, aiming to provide a point of difference for travelers looking for a slice of luxury in Southeast Asia.
“We need to be going out actively into these markets,” Neil continued. “With our connectivity in Clark – whether that’s Hong Kong, Singapore, Dubai, Doha, Japan or Korea – we’ll be actively getting out and trying to get more inbound tourism because no doubt when people come into Clark and see Hann Casino Resort and now Hann Reserve, they’ll see a great product.”
Longer term, Neil also revealed that Hann Reserve could become a regular home to world-class international golf events, with talks already underway with various global tours.
“This was integral to the design process of Hann Reserve,” he said. “Not only do we have to have championship golf courses but to host major events we need to have the right infrastructure to support high volumes of people, staging areas and the requirements and demands of a major tournament.
“From 2027 or 2028 we would be looking to host an event and we’ve started discussions. I think this is a really important component, not just for us as operators but for Mr Han as an owner.”
Once fully built out, Hann Reserve’s golf offering will include a world-class clubhouse and a PGA Performance Center aimed at becoming a training ground for the next generation of golfers.
The PGA-affiliated center will offer expert mentorship, international-standard facilities and opportunities for emerging players to compete at championship levels, while an international school, built for 2,000 students, will also boast athlete programs designed to provide pathways for talent from around the world pursuing careers within the golf industry.
At Wednesday’s briefing, Hann said it aims to become the leading developer of exceptional experiences through real estate and integrated resorts in the Philippines.
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