The (B)ogey Runabout Vehicle: Budget Golfing with Honda PH’s best selling BR-V
In part 2 of our Golf drives adventure, we’re looking at something completely different from the EQE, something more normal, more practical, and a very popular model; the Honda BR-V. Why you may ask? because I think modern MPVs are great choices for golfers and the BR-V is at the top of that list.
The Honda Bogey Runabout Vehicle (BR-V)
Now before the traditionalist golfers who waft about in mile-long luxury sedans or SUVs get up in arms, there’s a lot going for modern MPVs. Gone are the days that MPV’s sole purpose was just space for the whole family, with styling, and other interesting features not being a priority at all.
I must say that the BR-V is the embodiment of what MPVs now look like and offer, it looks more like an SUV or crossover than it does a family vehicle, and it has modern design touches that a full of sharper shapes and edges giving it a dynamic overall look. Inside you get a very ergonomic and decently well-put-together interior, you get what you need in terms of connectivity with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, if you have the top variant VX like we did, it comes with the full suite of Honda’s ADAS Sensing system complete with adaptive cruise control, and many more.
Space though is where the BR-V excels, I was pleasantly surprised at how much space there is for passengers and cargo despite the fact that the BR-V feels compact to drive. Kelvin and I were able to fit our golf bags this time without any fuss or issue.
Lastly, I don’t know how Honda does it, but the BR-V despite its size and load can eek out very frugal fuel efficiency numbers, mixed highway and city driving netted us around 17 km/l from a naturally aspirated 1.5-liter engine that isn’t even a hybrid, it’s a gem of an engine when it comes to efficiency, perfect for our latest golf adventure.
Sunset Swing Subic Bay
If you’re an avid reader or viewer of our channel you know how Kelvin and I love Subic, every time we get a chance to go and shoot there we do, and our love is even more compounded by the fact that there’s a new establishment that caters to our love of (mindlessly) swinging golf clubs.
Sunset Swing is located near the lighthouse hotel around the boardwalk area of the Subic Bay Freeport, it sits on a picturesque plot of land that faces the sea. At first Sunset Swing opened as a driving range last year, but this year they added a new attraction, right next to the driving range is a Par 3 course, that features 3 holes.
Of course, we had to try it out, and we were so excited we even teed off at the skin-toasting hour of 1 pm in March. The Par 3 course costs PHP 1,000USD 18INR 1,498EUR 16CNY 128 pesos for 9 holes (meaning you play the course 3 times) during the day, and it even features a night golf aspect that costs PHP 1,200USD 21INR 1,797EUR 19CNY 153 from 5 pm onwards.
One of the things I loved about Sunset Swing is the fact that it’s “self-service” golf, there are no caddies to carry your bags, fix your divots, or look for your ball. Everything is down to you, which is actually enjoyable and character-building.
Now on to the course itself, as mentioned it has 3 Par 3 holes, the shortest being 105 yards and the longest at 120 yards. Since it was me and Kelvins first time, we were too excited to choose just 3 clubs for our game and ended up carrying our full bags in the summer heat. Our exhaustion and burning skin were quelled though by the sheer enjoyment we got from playing Sunset Swings Par 3 course.
On a budget, you wouldn’t expect much, but the tee boxes, the fairway, and the greens are very decent and not dry and hard. I also appreciated that the sand in the bunkers was fine and not hard making bunker shots better and easier (somewhat). Also, you’d be damned if you think this course is easy peasy as well because it sits beside the sea the wind is unpredictable, completely dead at some points, and then gusting the next second, it gave us a lot to ponder before hitting our shots.
Overall it was one of the most fun and learning-filled golfing experiences of my life, the chill, relaxed, and not strict vibe of Sunset Swing gave us the time to properly learn how to hit better iron and wedge shots, but also taught us the course etiquette or fixing divots, raking bunkers and appreciating how hard caddies jobs are.
MPVs are great golfer’s cars
This series was literally born out of me and Kelvins idea that the car used by the golfer is just as important as the golf clubs used. After spending a day with the Honda BR-V, I’m still compelled to conclude that MPVs are (also) great choices for golfers because of what makes them spacious, practical, and feature-packed.
