Philippine business executives clash in country leg of 2026 World Corporate Golf Challenge

THE boardroom meets the fairways as the top golfers from the Philippine business sector slug it out in the country leg of the renowned World Corporate Golf Challenge (WCGC) on August 27-28 at the Mimosa Plus Golf Course in Clark City, Pampanga.

At least 72 teams comprising two players each are expected to bring their A-game from their respective companies to the golf course as the Philippines aims forward to becoming one of the continent’s top golf and business hubs.

The 144-player Philippine challenge will serve as a qualifier for the world finals in October to be hosted by Beijing, China after the Shanghai edition last year when the Philippines became part of it for the first time.

Now, the country eyes to soar higher with a tough two-round qualification process to be ran by Tournament Director Jun Cedo in a bid to give the fancied business partners and rivals a run for their own money.

“It marks a significant milestone not only for our organization for Philippine golf as a whole. This will open doors for more partnerships and meaningful stages (in the boardroom and on the fairways),” said Joyce Escandor, WCGC Philippines chairman and chief executive officer of Premier Sports Management as its official country partner.

“Together, let’s all set the tone for what promises an exceptional and memorable season of WCGC.”

Founded in 1993, the WCGC has transformed into one of the world’s most-anticipated annual golf spectacle where business acumen and swinging repertoire cross paths for an explosive battle by day and productive meeting by night.

Hundreds of multi-national and local companies from at least 40 countries will converge on Beijing later this year, mostly coming from finance, marketing, real estate, transportation and mobility, retail, technology, fashion and lifestyle, energy, health and wellness, and consultancy.

They will come from at least 140 qualifiers worldwide, featuring over 11,000 players from over 5,500 companies.

Now, it’s coming to the Philippines with hopes of staging a final here as early as next year.

“It’s my first time in the Philippines as it’s a growing nation in the continent for us. It’s the continent to be and the place to be. We hope for the Philippines to be the next destination of WCGC finals. We’d like to be back for the finals, that’s the plan,” said WCGC Chairman Jose Guerra of Spain after meeting with Philippine Sports Commission Chairman Patrick C. Gregorio earlier this week.

Should the stars align for their negotiations, the Philippines could be the mecca of sporting world anew after hosting recent international tournaments like the world cups of basketball, volleyball, futsal, gymnastics and surfing among the few.

For eligibility, anyone who’s a Filipino working for companies based here in the country are allowed to join to represent their business with the exception of former and current professional players regardless of their company association to ensure fair play.

The Philippines is looking to send two teams in the Beijing final should the WCGC decides to hold two divisions.

A distillery company, home bet Guojiao 1573 of Team 2 carded 81 points to win the 2025 WCGC at Dongzhuang Beach Golf Club in Shanghai. — John Bryan Ulanday