A dinner with the British Ambassador
British Ambassador Peter Beckingham was in town last February 10, 2007 to take part in the celebration of the Iloilo Golf and Country Club centenary. In a simple dinner held at the Stammer's residence, H.M Peter Beckingham was warmly welcomed by IGCCI Centenary chair Dr. Noel Binayas, IGCCI vice president Mark Rivera and his better half Maggie Rivera, IGCCI corporate secretary Nonoy Braga, Tournament Director and Centenary co-chair Henry Go and IGCCI director Toti Querubin.
British nationals Geoff and Ophelia Stammers served as the host for the said evening. H.M Peter Beckingham was supposedly one of the special guests during the launching of the centenary that was held last January 24, 2007 but he was not able to come due to his tight schedule. Nevertheless, he was able to impart his time to visit the club and to see the marker on the golf club which was established by the British 100 years ago last February 11.
“We were very happy that he was able to come. His visit was a sort of a renewal of historical links with the British community in the Philippines in order to reintroduce the only British-founded golf course in the country,” says Dr. Binayas.
The said visit aims to remind us of the city's affluent history and a very strong British trading community back then.
At present, IGCCI is the only Asian golf club that has become a member of the United Kingdom-based Society of 1907 Golf Club. The 1907 Golf Club has 40 clubs all over the world. Most of these clubs are located in the British Isles.