Lexus Golf Invitational: A tough act to follow

Overall champion Mickey Tan with Toyota Motor Philippines Corp. president Satoru Suzuki, Lexus Manila, Inc. chairman Alfred V. Ty, LMI president Raymond T. Rodriguez, LMI Executive Vice President Masabumi Hisamatsu and the event ladies.

The e-invite comes at least four months prior and it’s not easy turning it down.

The Lexus Golf Invitational is one of the best perks of owning a brand new Lexus anyway and you’d be missing a lot if you pass it up.

Those non-golfing buyers are smart enough to turn it over to no one else but the nearest of kin, knowing the kind of meticulous preparation the Lexus people put into the once-a-year, new unit buyers-only event played at the Sta. Elena Golf Club in Cabuyao, Laguna.

Division 1 top finishers, fourth from left, Regan King (champion), Dindo Litonjua (1st runner-up) and Jerry Miles Fregil (2nd runner-up) with TMPC and LMI officials and event ladies

The air of exclusivity pervades at the competition venue and you always get the feel of being among the chosen few.

In the league of premium golf tournaments, the Lexus

Invitational stands out, even emerging as the benchmark for organizers of corporate events.

There is no other brand being promoted on site but Lexus.

And for the sponsoring brand, the act of goodwill returns a hundred fold as no other entity gets a share of the special attention from the owners out on a golfing day off with their favorite cars.

From left, Alfred V. Ty, Noriyuki Moriyama, Raymond T. Rodriguez and Masabumi Hisamatsu

Pampering is a given starting with the many freebies that await. And most of them are all personalized or custom-made as any picky Lexus customer worth his salt would prefer.

On the course, there is that relaxed, steady pace that a special guest deserves to enjoy as organizers stick to the maximum number of 120 invitees, ensuring a seamless flow from tee to green.

Alfred V. Ty during the ceremonial tee-off

Guest Division champion Bryan Cockrell

And when the fun on the course is done, fellowship is continued over a sit-down dinner offering a gastronomic experience that only the best fine-dining restaurants can offer.

The hot topic for the evening is, of course, the next top model due for release.

Ten years of the full blast Lexus presence in the Philippines through its main hub at the Bonifacio Global City mean almost the same number of years of the Lexus Invitational.

Grand raffle winner Ariel Dela Cruz with TMPC and LMI officials and event ladies

Only once did it not happen over the past decade because of devastation caused by typhoon Ondoy in 2009.

From then on, the so-called band of Lexus golfers have been given their annual day in the February sun.

It’s that e-invite that starts the whole process.

Because only then can you start preparing for the Lexus Invitational.

From left, Josefina Bolzico, Alex Uson, Christina Dela Cruz, Henry Dee, and Clara Bolzico

Mitsui Manila GM and Country Chairman for the Philippines Noriyuki Moriyama

Ladies division champion Gretchen Recto and runner-up Glorime Faustino