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THE HIGHLANDS (An exclusive leisure destination)
Source: Manila Bulletin
Author: CORNELIO REYES DE GUZMAN
Date: 2006-11-12
 
Our recent tour of Tagaytay was capped by a visit to the city’s highest peak that overlooks three majestic masterpieces of nature: the grand Mount Makiling to the east; the tranquil Taal Volcano/Lake to its south; and the placid view of Laguna de Bay to its west.


To reach Tagaytay’s highest point, about 2,000 feet above sea level, you have to drive through a sharp zigzag road –- with blind corner at every turn — called "bitukang manok." The perilous experience is compensated by the cool breezes at the crest and the feeling of being on top of the world.

A 900-hectare leisure estate – Tagaytay Highlands and Tagaytay Midlands —has taken shape here exclusively for members only. Half of the property is sculpted at the Tagaytay Ridge.

A project of Belle Corporation, the leisure estate has two Country Clubhouses; two golf courses; first-class vacation homes; other world-class quality sports and more than 20 restaurants which is too many to list down here; the Equestrian Park, Camp Highlands; and Animal Farm. The 48-seater funicular system, the only one of its kind in the Philippines, takes members from Tagaytay Highlands to Tagaytay Midlands in no more than four minutes.

Five residential projects, each with its distinct theme, have already been sold out, only to Tagaytay Highlands members. These are:

l Pinecrest Village, a complex of condominium units much like the Swiss chalets;

l The Villas, a community of Spanish-Mediterranean-style individually designed detached homes.

l The Belle View, a hillside condominium development built on a ridge overlooking Taal Lake, and the Taal Volcano.

l Woodlands, site of luxury loghomes made of solid Western Red Cedar logs imported from the US;

l The Woodridge, rustic-themed condominium units made of timber and stone.

Its 18-hole golf course, designed by renowned American golf architect Richard Bigler, follows the natural contours of Tagaytay ridge.

The Sports Center houses all the indoor sports facilities like the indoor lap pool, squash court, basketball court, volleyball/badminton court, a fully-equipped gym and a computerized disco bowling alley, to name a few. Just a stone’s throw away from the Sports Center are outdoor facilities such as lawn tennis, skating rink, mini-golf links and the fishing pier. For those who enjoy communing with nature The Gardens or the nearby Camp Highlands, a one-hectare camping ground, would be a perfect hideaway. A special attraction of the Club, both for the young and the not so young, is the Animal Farm. The farm is home to a bevy of miniature animals imported from different parts of the world.

The Midlands’ East golf course, a 72-hectare walking course also designed by American golf architect Richard Bigler, offers a spectacular view of Taal Lake. Gentle terrains and rolling hills make up most of the course covered with Tifdwarf and 419 hybrid bermuda grass stolons from Tifton, Georgia. Over 2 million plants of different varieties and 37,000 trees are targeted to take root to enhance the landscaping throughout the course. Following international standards, all of the fairways were sandcapped making it an all-weather course. An 8.7-kilometer cartpath winds around the course for golfers who opt to ride the cart.

The Midlands Clubhouse houses the Golfer’s Lounge and Midlands Veranda, a restaurant offering a variety of food & beverage items as well as a magnificent view of Taal Lake. A special feature of the Veranda is the seafood counter and the regional Filipino buffet on weekends.

Four gated luxury residential communities, the Alta Mira with California Mission style home overlooking the East Course of Tagaytay Midlands, Lakeview Heights with contemporary Asian designed homes, the clustered American country homes of The Parks at Saratoga Hills, and the Plantation Hills, a residential farm development are currently being sold to members of Tagaytay Highlands and Tagaytay Midlands.




[ Tagaytay Highlands Wiki ]


 

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