⛳ Legazpi Golf Diary: Another Perfect Day for a Round! ☀️ (December 3, 2025)
🌞 Legazpi Weather Report!
Good morning! This is the Golf Diary coming to you from Legazpi City, Philippines.
Take a look at the sky over Legazpi today! It's a gorgeous clear blue sky with the sun mark out all day long!
Today's Weather: ☀️ Sunny
High Temperature: 🌡️ 32°C
With this kind of clear sky, it's definitely going to be a perfect golf day! I hope all our friends in Japan and all the golfers around the world are enjoying excellent conditions today as well!
🇵🇭 Local Hot Topic: Cabinet Reshuffle and Corruption Scandal
Now, before we talk more golf, here’s a quick look at the news from the Philippines yesterday (December 2nd).
There was a major shake-up involving the budget for flood control, leading to the replacement of three key ministers: the Finance Secretary, the Executive Secretary, and the Budget and Management Secretary. Furthermore, in connection with the flood control corruption, 12 high-ranking government officials have been ordered suspended for six months. Nine executives from the DPWH (Department of Public Works and Highways) have also pleaded not guilty to graft charges, creating a lot of noise in the political scene.
This country faces many challenges, but as golfers, let's reset our minds in this beautiful nature and keep aiming for that nice shot!
⛰️ Nice Shots at the Foot of Mayon Volcano! Yesterday's Round Report!
Yesterday, I played a quick 9 holes at the golf course located at the foot of the magnificent Mayon Volcano!
Hitting the ball amid the grand scenery and tropical breeze truly feels amazing! For the full report and my efforts during the round, please be sure to check out the blog post here!
➡️ [Click here for the full report from yesterday's round!]
https://kikukawa-legazpi.blogspot.com/2025/12/2025122.html
🏌️♂️ Finding "Hidden Gems" of Golf Clubs in the Philippines!
And for all the Japanese golfers out there, I want to share something about my shop!
We carefully select high-quality pre-owned clubs from Japan and hand-carry them to the Philippines for sale.
Local golfers here love finding "Japanese masterworks in the Philippines!" and our shop is very popular!
If you're interested, please take a look at our website!
➡️ [Click here for our shop's website]
If you like what you see, please hit the "Like" button and share it with your golf friends—we would really appreciate it!
Keep up the great work, golfers! Have a wonderful day!
🇵🇭 ☆Philippines Golf News☆ (December 2, 2025)
1. Highlight Amateur Tournament: Fil-Am Invitational Golf Tournament
The 75th Fil-Am Invitational Golf Tournament, the most prestigious and large-scale amateur golf event in the Philippines, was ongoing in Baguio City.
Location: Baguio City
Seniors Division Period: November 28 to December 3
December 2nd was a key day towards the final stages of the Seniors Division.
Over 1,400 amateur golfers from more than 132 senior teams were competing in daily intense matches.
Regular Division Period: December 7 to December 13
Approximately 172 teams are expected to participate in this division.
2. Other Golf-Related News (Dated December 2, 2025)
Southwoods Chairman’s Cup Expansion:
Southwoods Golf & Country Club, one of the major golf courses in the country, announced its intention to further expand the scale of its "Chairman's Cup" tournament for the 2026 edition (News dated December 2, 2025).
Upcoming Pro and Amateur Tournament Schedule:
The 2025 season of the professional Philippine Golf Tour (PGT) officially concluded with the "ICTSI The Country Club Match Play Invitational" on November 28.
According to the tournament calendar of the National Golf Association of the Philippines (NGAP), amateur or other tournaments were scheduled between December 2nd and 5th.
Additionally, the "Sen. Salipada K. Pendatun Memorial Cup golf," hosted by UP Vanguard, was reported to be scheduled for December 5th.
As of December 2, 2025, while the official professional tour season had concluded, the traditional Fil-Am Tournament remained the biggest focus of the amateur golf scene in the country.
🇺🇸 ☆US Men's Golf News☆ Major Events (December 2, 2025)
1. Focus on the Hero World Challenge
News related to the "Hero World Challenge" (Albany GC, Bahamas), an unofficial invitational hosted by Tiger Woods, was central, as the tournament was set to begin later in the week (December 4th–7th).
Hideki Matsuyama's Participation and Pairings Announcement:
It was reported that Hideki Matsuyama would be participating in this tournament for the first time in six years, and the first-round pairings were announced on December 2nd.
Release of Power Rankings:
The tournament's power rankings were released on the PGA Tour's official website and other media. Matsuyama, despite being the 2016 champion, was rated as the 8th favorite.
2. PGA Tour Topics
PGA Tour Player Support Programs (Related Information):
New systems aimed at supporting players, such as the "Member Support Program" and "Development Program," are set to begin next season following the reduction in the number of fully-exempt players. This topic continued to receive attention (This information was released in late November but remained a talking point).
Other News (Related to President Donald Trump's Golf):
It was reported that President Donald Trump was enjoying golf at "Trump International" in Florida during the Thanksgiving holiday. He was noted for sinking a chip-in from the greenside, showcasing his skills.
This week, the focus for competitive play was squarely on the preparation for the opening of the "Hero World Challenge."
🇺🇸 ☆US Women's Golf News☆ Major Events (December 2, 2025)
1. World Rankings Announcement and Japanese Players' Status
The results of the Women's World Golf Rankings, updated on December 1st, were reported on December 2nd.
Ai Suzuki Climbs Significantly:
Ai Suzuki, who claimed her third major title at the JLPGA Tour Championship Ricoh Cup, was highlighted for jumping 19 spots to 74th in the World Rankings.
Hinako Shibuno's Season Review:
Columns were published reviewing Hinako Shibuno's challenging fourth season on the US Tour, including expert analysis suggesting the issues were "not technical..." and advice for the next generation of players, garnering attention during the off-season.
2. LPGA Tour Final Event Backstory
Inside stories concerning the "CME Group Tour Championship," the LPGA season finale held in Naples, Florida, in late November, were reported.
Caddies' Dissatisfaction:
A behind-the-scenes topic involved the jumpsuits (overalls) provided to the caddies at the tournament. It was reported that the design and the mandatory requirement to wear them were "very poorly received" by some of the caddies.
3. Japanese Domestic Tour Movement (Contest for Next Season's Exemption)
While not a direct LPGA Tour event, the Japan Qualifying Tournament (QT), which affects players aspiring to the US Tour, was being held during this time.
JLPGA Final QT Day 1:
On the first day of the JLPGA Final QT (the qualifying event for next season's priority ranking) which began on December 2nd, rookie Aina Fujimoto, who passed the professional test this year, achieved a hole-in-one and got off to a great start, which became a big topic.
As of December 2, 2025, while the LPGA Tour was in its off-season, the finalization of the World Rankings, the preparation status of Japanese players for the next season, and the domestic competition for tour cards were major points of interest.
🇯🇵 ☆Japan Golf News☆ (December 2, 2025)
1. JLPGA Qualifying Tournament (QT) Begins
The Qualifying Tournament (QT) Final Stage, which determines the priority ranking for the next JLPGA Tour (Japan Women's Professional Golf Tour) season, began at Shishido Hills Country Club in Ibaraki Prefecture.
Day 1 Leader: Shizuku Takahashi took the sole lead after shooting a 7-under par "65."
Contention: Miyuki Miyazawa and rookie Suzuka Sadayama (who passed the final professional test in November) were tied for second place at 6-under par, one stroke behind.
Key Focus: This marks the start of an intense four-day battle as players aim for the top 30 to 40 spots to secure playing privileges for the upcoming season.
2. Domestic Men's Tour (JGTO) Final Event Pairings Announced
The first-round pairings for the JGTO Tour's 2025 season finale, the "Golf Nippon Series JT Cup" (starting December 4th), were announced.
Money List Battle: Money Ranking leader Kudai Kaneko was paired with Taiga Semikawa (Ranked 3rd) and Ryuichi Oiwa (Ranked 4th), both of whom have a chance to overtake him for the Money Title. This grouping promises a high-level contest from day one.
Featured Pairing: Takumi Kanaya, who primarily plays on the US Tour, was scheduled to play with Keita Nakajima, who mainly competed on the European Tour.
Fate of the Money Title: Only Kaneko, Semikawa, and Oiwa have a chance to claim the Money Title, drawing significant attention to the outcome of this final tournament.
3. Junior National Tournament, "Uniqlo Japan Junior Golf Cup," Opens
The "Uniqlo Japan Junior Golf Cup 2025 / 8-Region Competition," a national inter-regional tournament for junior golfers, opened at the Tom Watson Golf Course in Miyazaki Prefecture.
Boys' Division: On the first day, Koshin Nagasaki of Nissho Gakuen took the solo lead. The Kyushu and Kansai regions were competing for the team lead.
Girls' Division: High school senior Soraku Sato (Shikoku) took the lead in the girls' division with a 4-under par.
The Japanese golf world remains active even in the off-season, with the crucial QT for the next season, the preparation for the Men's Money Title decider, and junior development tournaments keeping the news flowing.
🇯🇵 ☆Japan Golf Equipment Industry News☆ (December 2, 2025)
1. Store Expansion and Opening Information
Golf 5 Opens a New Store in Hiroshima:
Alpen Co., Ltd., which operates the "Golf 5" chain of specialty golf stores nationwide, announced the grand opening of "Golf 5 Fuji Grand Higashi-Hiroshima Store" on Friday, December 12, 2025 (Press release dated December 2nd).
The store will feature the largest selection of PING products in the region and around 4,000 used clubs, reflecting a focus on the used club market and efforts to expand its share in the area.
2. New Products and Gear News
PRGR Introduces a Limited Edition Wedge:
PRGR announced that a limited edition wedge, the 'R35+', featuring the newly developed heavy and thick 'enjoy grip', will be released on December 5th to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the 'R35 wedge' (News dated December 1st).
New Model Conformance List Registration:
It was reported that a new driver head, believed to be the Cobra 'OPTM,' was being successively registered on the Conformance Lists of the R&A and other bodies. This news is building anticipation for new model changes and product launches from various manufacturers for the upcoming season.
Strong Sales of 'XXIO 14':
Sales rankings show that the Dunlop 'XXIO 14' series drivers and irons, released in late November, have been performing strongly immediately after launch. The irons, in particular, saw a stronger initial uptake than their predecessor, capturing market attention.
3. Market Trends and Dynamics
Renewed Focus on the Used Gear Market:
The sales rankings for used clubs continue to feature past popular and classic models, such as the putter used by Hinako Shibuno during her Women's British Open victory, indicating the vitality of the used market.
Recovery of the Golf Course Market:
A survey by Teikoku Databank reported that the golf course market size for fiscal year 2024 reached 810 billion yen, marking the fourth consecutive annual increase and recovering to the 800 billion yen level for the first time in six years (Survey results dated December 2nd).
This recovery is analyzed as being driven by the "revival of golf popularity," specifically the entry of younger generations and the retention of beginners.
Overall, the industry news leading into the end of the year was characterized by aggressive store expansion and the limited release of highly anticipated new products, supported by the continued popularity of golf.
Thank you very much for reading to the end.
(This text was checked and researched using Google Gemini.)
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