(Story contributions from Manong Douglas, Gary, Susan, and Warren O)
Not all golfers can teach, and not all golf teachers are good at playing golf. I think for the most part, you're either good at one or the other. To teach golf and how to play golf involves skills, talent, patience, and passion. I love playing golf but I don't have the patience and technical abilities to teach golf. I remember him talking about
pronation of the wrist and arm during the golf swing. All my goal then was to make sure I hit the ball so I can watch it fly instead of rolling on the ground off the tee.
Manong Fred was blessed. He was able to do both.
His form and game were great, backed by multiple wins and success as an amateur golfer. Despite that he didn't stop. Older or not, he continued to work on his game and hit balls at the driving range.
Working at the driving range at CJH gave him the chance to teach golf lessons early on.
It was back in the 80's for us girls in the family when Mng Longay introduced us to golf. From then on we occasionally got lessons from Manong Fred at the driving range. Along with Judy, Thel and I continued when we went back to Baguio to finish our last year in nursing school.
Susan and Mat, even Alfree and Mikee got their own instruction at other times. Susan got a lot more when she met up with Manong Fred for vacation in New Zealand in 2019.
Gary got his lessons way back while working as pulot-boy at the driving range, when he caddied for him during tournaments, and whenever they played golf together.
Laureez may be the youngest student-she was putting and hitting balls before she was 5 years old.
Nico Valencerina thinks he was his last student. "
Sayang lang ta very short nang isurwan na kanyak. Bka dagos ak linmaing if Uncle Fred didn't go immediately to the fairways in heaven".Warren Oppod, a CJH caddie also said other caddies got better at golf after learning from Mng Fred.
He was patient. Judy and Susan said he just watched and observed, then build from there- improve or correct the flaws.
Richard S. Valdez said,
"thank you for your untiring lessons...rain or shine".
In the beginning, golf in Baguio was for the elite and privileged. Our brothers who all worked as caddies when they were young saw it being in and around CJH.
Gary said, "
At that time malagip ko dagiyay lang local military officers like Gen. Martin, some local doctors, lawyers, and politicians played golf in Baguio. Some tourist celebrities were also the costumers diay driving range bago da agay ayam".
Then golf in Baguio flourished in the 90's. Manong Douglas said,
"On those years, 1991 going forward, some City Hall employees, Mayor Domogan as number one; local businessmen. PMAers, some doctors.
Then other establishment owners and companies followed:
Beneco, NBI, Lepanto engineers and management, La Trinidad politicians, police departments all over Cordillera. Mostly nga inmasinso nga Igorot, nagsuro da met nga agay ayam ti golf.
Karkaro nga inmadu da idi adu ti businesses nga nag sponsor ti players to promote their establishment during the annual FilAm tournament.
Idi nakita dan no kasano karagsak ti maki join ti tournaments especially during the FilAm, adu ti nainganyu nga ag golf.
Isu nga dagidyay agrugrugi, kinamang da ni Mang Fred.
Isun ti naging word-of-mouth nga no kayat da nga lumaing, agpasuro da kenni Mang Fred".
Gary added,
"Dagiyay baro nga golfers ti Baguio manginaan da ti golf lessons, isunga ti ikaskasta da ag pa suro da idiay kadwa da nga beginners or caddies. Nu marikna da nga awan progress da, ag damag da nu sino ti pag pasuruan. Daddy's name is always recommended. According to Daddy, umay dan to lang ag pa suro nu makita da nga narigat gayam ti golf, tapos ken na develop en ti bad habits in the swing. There are a few nga ti amu da nu na i-suruan ti 1 lesson session, ayos en. Jejeje...
Dagiyay daduma ag birbiruk lng ti libre- puros lang damag nu kasano ti ikasta ti swing. Karkaro nu ada isuna idiay driving range, nagadu ag pa diagnose ken agpa correct ti swing. Mabain lang ni Daddy nga ibaga nga P400 per hour. Isuro an na latta. Ngem adu dagiyay long time na nga student from Juniors like Janjan Dacawi. Tata ni Janjan kalaban min nga top scorer ti ka division mi nga team idiay FilAm. jejeje... Ken adu met dagiyay binmayag nga sinursuro an na. Tapos dagiyay nabayag nga am-ammu na, like the Valencerina brothers, madi na ag pa bayad. Dagiyay daduma ag pa lunch da lang, ayos en kanyana.
On the other hand, nu isuna met ag kasapulan, they do not hesitate to help Daddy. Especially ni Doc Pul-oc nga surgeon, long time nga student ken friend ni Daddy. Isuna nang i serek kenyak trabaho idiay Pines Hospital tapos inoperaan dak keni Alfree idiay private hospital, libre PF na.
Ni Mr. Park studyante na met. Um-umay diay balay ag pa suro ti putting. Gapo ta haan nga kayat ni Daddy nga ag pa bayad, agi umay ni Mr. Park ti 1 cavan nga jasmine rice ken groceries. Ni Park pay mang bagkat diay bagas nga ibaba idiay balay. Jejeje!!!"
Susan remembers how it was surreal watching adult men getting lessons in golf at the CJH driving range. It's not unusual, just that here, we see more of kids learning to play golf at an early age.
Nico and his uncle Dr. Charles Valencerina and his brothers echoed the same sentiment as above: "
He always gives instructions on how to improve your game for free. He never really charges for his golf lessons. I believe he is just so happy to teach golf."
I remember that a few years back, we were brainstorming on a golf instruction/club repair business model and proposal for him. Add to it an eatery that would cater to his customers, run by Manang Lau. His clientele was already established. He was the go-to golf instructor. He also had the infrastructure to repair golf clubs. Somehow, our plan didn't take off. True to Mommy's words from long ago, "running a business is not in our family". She said that bodes well for the other side- the Uncle Bagtang and Sinaking side. They were successful and did well in business, but not us.
He could have done more-Fred's Learning Center or something like that, made more money, but it wasn't meant to be. We don't regret it, I don't think he did either. He was content and rich inside with his passion to play and teach golf. Looking back, we appreciate how much he has given back to his community and how he influenced a lot of people .
Pinewoods GC opened in Dec. 2014. It helped popularize golf even more because it's a public course. More new golfers followed. He even taught the caddies crew of Pinewoods.
"At least lately before Covid kunana nga inmadu estudyante na nga contractors ken pulis." (Gary)
Atty Gregorio Jr Abalos summed it all, "he was part of every John Hay golfer's life."
"It is an honor and privilege to be taught by you even in a short time (Dr. Geranyl Laguardia).
Even a widow friend had a special request:
"May there be golfing in the next life. Try to teach my husband if there is" (Gatumay Sumebang Sudaypan).
"To the greatest golfer of Baguio of all times...I'll never forget your teachings Manong Fred (Rommel Frencillo).
They thanked him for the golf lessons and tips; for being their teacher, mentor, coach, adviser; "for everything you taught us during our junior golf days" (Macky Garcia), even "your tips on how to play BCC I will forever cherish" (Raymond Bunquin).
Unfortunately, others missed out.
Pigeon said,
"he was always telling me to start playing, never did..." However he got to see golf in action from Mng Fred as he was one of Baguio sports writers who regularly covered the golf events.
Maybe Aprille will be encouraged to pick up a club and give golf a shot.
And so I say he helped grow the game in Baguio and the Cordilleras. He gave back to the community by teaching golf, by teaching he influenced, and he greatly did.