Lap of luxury

Set to open its first phase in February, the eco-luxury golf and lifestyle estate Hann Reserve not only promises to bring a new level of luxury to the Philippines but reimagines Asia’s integrated resort offering.

If Hann Philippines Inc’s Chairman and CEO, Dae Sik Han, didn’t put Clark on the map with his impressive Hann Casino Resort development, his soon-to-launch Hann Reserve initiative is certain to grab the world’s attention.

Situated on 450 hectares of rolling greenery edging the Zambales mountain range, Hann Reserve is described as the Philippines’ first eco-luxury golf and lifestyle estate – combining luxury residences, high-end gaming and world-class dining and retail with an international school, multiple outdoor lifestyle experiences, fitness and wellness offerings and cultural spaces.

Bringing this master-planned community together, however, is golf. Envisioned as a first-of-its-kind golfing mecca – certainly in Asia at least – the development will boast three distinct golf courses designed by [Jack] Nicklaus Design, Korean golfer KJ Choi and [Nick] Faldo Design, respectively, plus a spectacular clubhouse and a PGA Performance Center aimed at becoming a training ground for the next generation of golfers.

The PGA-affiliated center will offer expert mentorship, world-class facilities and opportunities for emerging players to compete at championship levels, while the international school, built for 2,000 students, will also boast athlete programs designed to provide pathways for talent from around the world pursuing careers within the golf industry.

“We’re creating a new home of golf in Asia with an environment that is focused on education, excellence and entertainment,” explains Tim Neil, General Manager of Hann Reserve Golf and a former professional golfer in his own right.

“The PGA of America is the largest sports organization in the world with over 30,000 PGA members. Through its development programs, its award-winning coaching programs, and certainly with the PGA Academy, it allows us to bring a real quality of education to Hann Reserve and obviously to the Philippines.

“So, when we talk about the education component of what we call our ‘PGA Village’, we’re thinking about integration with the international school to create broader student athlete programs and through the PGA to deliver high school education that creates softer landings for students who want to pursue careers as players or within the golf industry itself. We can help create that pathway through our relationships, which makes this PGA Village a real melting pot for education – whether that’s educating the industry in the Philippines or maybe the broader region as well to utilize PGA Village as a real hub for learning.

“The excellence component will be down to player development and building relationships with coaching groups from around the region and domestically that want to utilize our world-class facilities. We’re engaging some of the biggest manufacturers globally to collaborate with us to create an incredible golfing experience. Hopefully that will create a legacy and help generate and develop the next generation of local golfers.

“Lastly, but probably at the heart of it, is the entertainment side, where we will be looking at an entertainment range with entertainment technology that will incorporate golf hotel properties with a short game area, Par 3 layout, virtual reality, indoor screen – just trying to create a real environment where there is everything for golfers.

“So, those are the three ‘Es’ that we’re focused on: education, excellence and entertainment.”

Hann Reserve will open in phases, with Phase 1 scheduled for a February 2026 launch and comprising the “Dragons Landing” course by Nicklaus Design, as well as The Clubhouse offering panoramic dining, rooftop gatherings, wellness facilities, a driving range and a pro shop.

Phase 2, which broke ground in November, is slated for a 2027 opening and will add KJ Choi’s “Six Moons” course, the PGA Performance Center and the hotels and entertainment facilities that will form the heart of the PGA Village concept.

Finally, Phase 3, targeted for a 2028 opening, will complete the golf course trio by way of Faldo Design’s “Caverns Deep”, the international school, as well as luxury real estate offerings.

“Golf is going to be the unique appeal of Hann Reserve,” Neil continues.

“The remit and the mandate, certainly from Mr Han in the early discussions, was ‘I want a top-100 golf course’, so I think the actual product itself will have a global impact, whether that is through the major golf championships we’re looking at negotiating to bring to Hann Reserve or the fact that this will be the first of its kind in the Philippines. It sends a global message.

“And then when guests get here it will be the quality of experience. The whole master plan is unique, but just taking the golf component on its own – there is no expense that has been spared, and it has been meticulously planned to make sure there is an exceptional sequence of service and a great experience.”

Paul Stringer, President of Nicklaus Design – founded by and named after legendary 18-time major winner Jack Nicklaus – says players can expect something special when the “Dragons Landing” course opens in February.

“Mr Han understood the quality and the value of our brand name – the Nicklaus Design name – and what that could mean to a developer, and because he has been very successful in the casino and hotel space, he wanted to match that type of quality with the golf course design,” Stringer tells Inside Asian Gaming. “The biggest thing for us was to understand what his vision was for the golf offering and how that ties in with the overall master plan.”

With the course located on elevated terrain with dramatic fairways and sweeping views of the Zambales mountain range, Stringer says the company has stuck with its philosophy of moving as little dirt as possible.

“We’re trying to work with what’s there in terms of the environment,” he explains. “This particular site has a lot of topography, lots of up and down with great views, great elevations, and while that is often a big plus for golfers and for developers, it can be tricky because you’ve got to make sure the golf can fit in that space.

“Plus, you don’t want to have something that’s so severe that golfers are hitting severe downhill shots or uphill shots where it’s going to be difficult for them to have an enjoyable experience. Oftentimes golfers will play something that has a lot of topography, and it’s just not very playable. So, we try to work with what’s given to us in terms of nature while also laying out a golf course that enhances the environment rather than fights it.”

The “Dragons Landing” course is, therefore, designed to be both challenging and rewarding, or as Stringer puts it, a “thinking man’s” course.

“Our philosophy is to give the golfer plenty of room off the tee, so they know what’s out there,” he says. “There’s not a lot of blind shots or trick shots – they see what’s out in front of them.

“Secondly, after they get to their ball in the fairway, that’s when the strategy really appears. There may be strategic bunkers placed, there may be elevation or slopes in the green where you want people to hit the ball to best score.

“One of the things our designers have been trained in through their work with Mr Nicklaus are courses that really involve a lot of strategical thinking for the golfer. It isn’t only about a beautiful golf course that’s a landscape marvel; it is actually very strategic. He wants golfers to think about their next shot, where they’re going, even places on a par five where you want to hit your second shot to give you a good opening for your third shot, and how the green is oriented to accept those shots.

“So, that’s the philosophy, generally speaking, but each course is so uniquely different because the landscape is so different and you’re working with what’s given to you. No two landscapes are exactly the same.

“Most importantly, we want people of all abilities to play the golf course and have fun with it. Nobody wants something that’s boring or not challenging, but you don’t want it to be so severe that they walk away not wanting to come back.”

One of the core tenants of Hann Reserve is its commitment to sustainability. As a self-described eco-community, its planning and development has been meticulously prepared with sustainability front and center – from the choice of materials used in construction and energy efficiency to the light tolerance and water usage requirements of plants chosen across the property.

Taking the region’s significant wet season into account, irrigation has been a major consideration, with Hann Reserve implementing a water conservation system that allows it to harvest and reuse rainwater effectively.

Likewise, the choice of Zoysia grass for the golf courses was based on the fact that it provides natural filtration and doesn’t require as much water or fertilizer as other varieties.

“From a sustainable perspective, it’s very environmentally friendly,” Stringer notes.

Adds Neil, “There is a real thirst among the newer luxury consumer for eco to be at the heart of their choices when it comes to travel. I think for the generation that we’re going to be catering for, it’s a key factor for them when making those choices, so they need to see that we are implementing best practices.

“That includes the low-hanging fruit too, so we won’t have any single-use plastic, for example.

“These are things that I think in the current environment are key for people – certainly at a luxury level.”

Keeping this eco-focus front of mind, Hann Reserve is also envisioned as a regional wellness hub, offering a community park with trails and fitness areas, outdoor experiences such as biking, ziplining and rainforest glamping, plus a high-end spa and various treatment options. Hot springs could also be on the menu given the area’s volcanic geology.

According to Neil, this combination of sustainability and wellness, integrated with Hann Reserve’s expansive golf facilities and community offerings, will provide broad appeal – although he says the domestic market remains a vital focus.

“That will be our priority, and of course we’ll focus around our casino members,” he says.

“The uniqueness of Hann Reserve as an integrated resort with these incredible golf courses is that it will provide a great opportunity if you’re a member of Hann Casino, if you’re a VIP or someone who utilizes the property here in Clark, to enjoy the benefit of playing at Hann Reserve. And I think that’s the ecosystem we want to try and create – an opportunity for those casino members.

“So, we will appeal to the domestic golfer but there is also the layer of international tourists. We’re probably looking at around 60% of our international guests being South Korean. We know that, and we’re certainly preparing for that in terms of our recruitment and trying to create soft landings for Korean guests.

“And there’s a broader regional strategy that we have, whether that’s Japan, Taiwan, Hong Kong or Singapore because of our accessibility.”

For Neil, Hann Reserve is being realized at the perfect time to capitalize on the global boom in golf tourism – an industry estimated to have generated around US$25 billion in 2024 and growing by anywhere from 5% to 10% each year.

“People are looking for a unique experience, something out of the ordinary, and Hann Reserve fits into that ecosystem,” explains Neil, previously CEO of PGA Golf Development Korea. “And with golf tourism growing, you’re seeing a lot more travelers coming to Southeast Asia, so we’re trying to create something that really isn’t here at the moment.

“Something we always talk about internally is that we’re not here to replicate. We’re here to reinvent. We’re trying to create quality golf at the highest level, with something for multiple groups of consumers – whether that is wellness or PGA Village or three courses of such high quality that really isn’t available, certainly in the Philippines but also in Southeast Asia.

“And when you’ve got certain markets like Korea, for example, where there’s no inbound tourism that goes into South Korea – it’s all outbound – there’s a huge opportunity for us to start to capture that market.”

Stringer observes, “It will be three different golf courses that people will have an opportunity to play, and with that you’ve created the destination.

“The Philippines has some good golf around Manila and particularly in Clark but nothing of this magnitude. And I think golfers are fairly sophisticated in terms of their travel requests, where they want to go and where they want to play. You’re going to get the domestic players at Hann Reserve for sure, but then you’re going to get a lot of international players, too.

“The people that like to travel to the Philippines tend to come from the cold countries like China and Korea and Japan. Their winters are cold, as you know, and they’re looking for a warmer place to go play. Well, why not play somewhere that is a great golf destination with a beautiful hotel, an integrated resort and a casino?

“From that aspect, I think Mr Han is offering those people something that is unmatched in terms of an experience that goes beyond golf and provides everything else that travelers are looking for.”