Philippine collegiate sports gets boost as NCAA introduces golf to sporting calendar

The National Collegiate Athletic Association (Philippines), the country’s oldest collegiate athletic organization composed of ten private colleges and universities in Metro Manila, continues to strengthen its role as a breeding ground for emerging Filipino sports talent with the expansion of its sports program.

In a significant development for collegiate sports, the NCAA has officially added golf to its sporting calendar, further broadening a lineup that already includes disciplines such as gymnastics, weightlifting, and boxing. The move has been widely praised by key stakeholders in Philippine sports, including Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) chairman Patrick Gregorio, who expressed strong support for the initiative and signaled plans to replicate the model across other academic institutions nationwide.

“This is not an easy process and not an easy exercise. Pero pinatunayan ng NCAA na gusto nila tulungan ang Philippine sports. This a new project of the PSC and the NCAA. So, let me thank the board of the NCAA. Bilib ako sa kanila by including gymnastics, boxing, weightlifting, and now golf. What the NCAA is doing is really commendable,” Gregorio said during a press conference.

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He further emphasized the long-term vision of expanding sports development programs beyond Metro Manila, particularly into Visayas and Mindanao, as part of a broader grassroots strategy aimed at strengthening the country’s athletic pipeline.

“Mahirap lang ‘yung simula but the PSC is very happy and we are supporting the efforts of the NCAA for sports to grow. Tuloy tuloy po ito. Talagang we will encourage them. Mga state schools and colleges – sports development. Yan po ang ginagawa namin,” he added.

Golf makes its inaugural appearance in the history of NCAA Philippines as it holds a one-day tournament on May 20 at the Wack Wack Golf and Country Club… | #NCAASeason101 @manilabulletin https://t.co/gbKCSAFH5B

— Manila Bulletin Sports (@mbsportsonline) April 14, 2026

The announcement comes after the NCAA Management Committee (Mancom) formally revealed on Tuesday, April 14, the staging of a special collegiate golf tournament scheduled for May 20 at the historic Wack Wack Golf and Country Club. The event will feature participation from six to seven member schools, serving as a pilot competition ahead of golf’s expected full integration into the league’s official calendar in the coming years.

According to NCAA Mancom chairman Melchor Divina of Mapúa University, the introduction of golf marks an important step in diversifying the league’s sports offerings and nurturing talent in non-traditional collegiate disciplines.

“Magandang simula ito na with collegiate golf, gaganda pa lalo ang golf in the country. We can encourage more. Everything that we do here is for the good of the sport,” Divina said.

He also confirmed that the league is targeting the full inclusion of golf as a regular sport within the NCAA program within the next two to three years, depending on the success of the initial tournaments and continued support from member institutions.

To ensure the smooth launch and development of the sport at the collegiate level, the NCAA has partnered with the Pilipinas College Golf Series, an independent organization that has been instrumental in organizing golf competitions across the country. The collaboration is expected to provide technical expertise, tournament management support, and a structured pathway for student-athletes interested in pursuing golf competitively.

With this expansion, the NCAA reinforces its commitment not only to traditional powerhouse sports but also to emerging disciplines, strengthening its position as a key driver of grassroots athletic development in Philippine sports.

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