Hyatt duffers take team award

A delegation of 50 strikers and slicers representing the Hyatt Regency Saipan in the 3rd Annual Club at the Hyatt Golf last month in Manila came away with its second consecutive Team Award by topping teams from Guam and the Philippines.

The local duffers brought home the crystal cup by virtue of the highest average team score in the two-day affair upon the Orchard Golf and Country Club links and the newly opened Ayala Greenfield and Leisure Club.

The OGCC in Imus, Cavite previously played host to the Johnnie Walker Classic and served as the determining factor for the flight placements, while the AGLC in Calamba, Laguna, which opened in October near Mount Makiling, was where the CNMI contingent rose to the top.

“Both courses were beautiful, but I liked the course on the second day better because it was more challenging, and I think no one could complain about anything. Everyone was happy,” said Hyatt Regency Saipan Food and Beverage director Sam Cheng.

Cheng was joined by general manager Michael von Siebenthal, while the remaining links lovers were comprised of valued business partners and loyal guests from the Club at the Hyatt membership program.

Cheng said that the organizers of the tournament had considered moving the location of the event every year, but the guests so thoroughly enjoyed their stay in the Philippines on the previous trips that they decided to keep them happy by making Manila their home away from home.

“The people of Manila are very interesting. The food, the shopping, the night life and all out members love to go there so we have no choice but to give them what they want,” he said.

Cheng is relatively new to the sport, but said that his newfound love of the game pays dividends in the business community because it allows for another way to show his clientele appreciation for their continued patronage.

“I just started playing golf when I got here two years ago. You could say that I am a beginner but from time to time I’ve improved my golf skills. I have found it very interesting to learn the game. On this island, golf is not only open up a communication channel between our guests and suppliers, but it also gives us an opportunity for us to recognize our guests. They patronize our restaurants all year long so it’s a time for us to give them a fun time in Manila,” he said.

The trip included an added bonus for Cheng as the F&B director was able to bring back a host of new ideas for the Garapan anchor.

“I’ve seen a lot of different cuisine and a lot of new designs and came back with some new ideas to enhance our hotel’s facilities. That’s always interesting—to go to other cities to improve our facilities to another level,” said Cheng.

The Hyatt Regency Saipan recently hosted its own tournament in the CNMI this past October at the Laolao Bay Golf Resort, and all of the proceeds went toward the Make-A-Wish Foundation.