The rising Philippines gaming and tourism destination of Clark could look very different in the next decade as Hann Philippines Inc Chairman and CEO Daesik Han follows his dream to turn it into a golfer’s paradise.
Not content to rest on his laurels following the December 2021 launch of Clark’s Hann Casino Resort – a US$600 million expansion of the former Widus Hotel and Casino – Hann Philippines Inc’s Chairman and CEO Daesik Han is embarking on a far more ambitious project nearby.
With ground broken only last month, Hann Reserve is envisioned as the largest ultra-luxe integrated golf resort in the Philippines, covering 450 hectares of land in New Clark City, Tarlac.
Designed to operate in partnership with Hann Casino Resort, with the two nearby locations creating a “synergy” of luxury and play, Hann Reserve will feature PGA-affiliated player development facilities alongside three 18-hole championship golf courses, an array of luxury hotels and resorts plus clubhouses, a mixed-use commercial center, premium villas and a 10-hectare public park.
At the heart of Mr Han’s concept is his vision of Clark becoming a global golfing destination, attracting attention by hosting world-class international events while providing high-spending VIPs with a unique location to pursue their favorite pastimes of golf and gambling.
“The thing about Clark is it has a lot of space,” Han told IAG in a recent interview. “There are three golf courses here now, and outside, nearby, there are quite a lot of them. Plus I’m building another three of them and there are a lot of known Korean companies coming here to build golf resorts. So in five years’ time there will be quite a lot more golf courses, and this is going to be a golfing destination.
“And the idea: if we are thinking about VIP players and if they are serious golfers, then 10% of them will look for [a destination like] this. They’re going to be very happy to look for an IR where they can enjoy themselves and play golf.”
Over the course of the next decade, Hann Philippines Inc will develop three world-class golf courses designed by some of the biggest names in the world of golf.
These will comprise a mountain course designed by Nicklaus Design, a valley course by South Korean professional golfer KJ Choi, and the Sir Nick Faldo Signature river course designed by legendary six-time Major winner and former World No.1 Sir Nick Faldo.
In early November Faldo’s course became the first of the three to break ground, with the man himself on site for the momentous occasion.
“The vision of Mr Han in creating Hann Reserve is very impressive, and I am very excited that my first Sir Nick Faldo Signature design in the Philippines will be in New Clark City,” Faldo said.
“The high-end quality of Hann Reserve aligns well with the goals and objectives we have at Faldo Design, and I look forward to working very closely with Mr Han to create one of the best golf courses and overall golf experiences in the Philippines and Southeast Asia.”
Among the hotel offerings at Hann Reserve will be Banyan Tree, boasting 50 high-end pool villas and a tropical garden spa, and the 200-key Angsana featuring contemporary accommodations and a range of recreational indoor and outdoor activities for families or groups of friends.
Hann Reserve will also be home to Sofitel Clark and Emblems Clark, which will offer guests access to luxe retail and fashion stores, French-inspired cafés and convention facilities. Sofitel Clark will comprise 300 guest rooms, while Emblems Clark will have 200 guest rooms, with both hotels featuring an array of dining, leisure and wellness offerings.
The Luxury Collection will comprise 50 world-class villas offering unique, authentic experiences from restaurants and spas to state-of-the-art meeting rooms.
Finally, the 200-key Westin will focus on signature wellness amenities and programs that empower the wellbeing of its guests.
But it’s not all about hotels. For those seeking something a little more permanent, the Hann Reserve project will also feature a residential element via two exclusive developments: River Course and Valley Township.
River Course Residences will house high-end villas, townhouses, retail space, a community center and an international school on an expansive 33,000 square meters of land on the north-east boundary of Hann Reserve.
The Valley Township Residences will include premium condominium units, a sports center and wellness and recreation facilities, serving as the main commercial center for the entire property for all residential owners.
Meanwhile the entire 450 hectares of Hann Reserve will be developed with sustainability in mind through green architecture and environmentally-friendly practices. The company says Hann Reserve has been “intuitively designed to incorporate the existing topology and characteristics of the site in its overall design masterplan. This includes maintenance of natural landscapes and watercourses, efficient planning and execution of land development, and integration of proper waste management and climate-related risks and mitigation measures into business decisions throughout the project life.”
The ultimate goal of Mr Han is to put Clark on the international tourism map by running PGA and European tour-level events on his championship golf courses – not only boosting the profile of his own assets but taking the beauty of the Philippines to the world.
Imagine, he told IAG recently, watching these world-class golf events from the other side of the world?
“I don’t need to talk about casino gambling, I’ll just show the beauty of the property and everybody is going to see the Hann brand and everybody will link this with our casino,” he smiled.
“That is a way to promote this entire property all over the world, so I think the marketing exposure is going to be very, very big.”
