BAGUIO CITY -- Gearing toward sustainability and championing a friendly environment to preserve the biggest and longest-running amateur golf tournament in the world, the Fil-Am Invitational introduced course improvements at the storied Baguio Country Club and the challenging Camp John Hay Golf Club for its 73rd edition that opens on Nov. 22 and will run until Dec. 10.

With a record number of 1,400 participants scattered across 250 plus teams in the two-week activity, the organizers, who are as eager as the players with the entry of title sponsor Januarius Holdings Inc., promised another golf tournament to remember with the narrow fairways adorned with age-old pine trees and the picturesque but steep hills of the iconic venues serving as major hurdles for the Asia-Pacific teams driving up north to the mountaintop city.

Worth watching are the men of Manila Southwoods, whose presence alone makes the Baguio tournament a destination for top golfers as they aim for their ninth consecutive title after splendid performances in the Fil and Am divisions.

"The dominance of Southwoods has been running for a decade. They really have an edge, but other teams will surely give them a challenge," said Camp John Hay Golf Club General Manager Jude Eustaquio, who serves as the tournament co-chairmen along with Baguio Country Club counterpart Anthony de Leon, and The Manor at Camp John Hay General Manager Ramon Cabrera sitting as tournament committee chief.

Aside from Southwoods, posing equal threats are teams from Eastridge, Valley Golf, and Luisita.

"We want it to be friendlier. We want our golfers to enjoy the game. The course is already difficult, but we made it more playable. We made adjustments because we want to foster camaraderie more than the tournament," said De Leon.

For the par-3 Hole 15 at Camp John Hay, Eustaquio said they have adjusted the bunkers positioned a few yards below the sloping green, while the par-3 Hole 12 at BCC was given a forgiving approach after making the green larger.

The posh and exclusive venues are also preparing for the barrage of mixed visitors of players and their families.

The organizers, meanwhile, have identified charitable institutions that will benefit from the proceeds of the tournament.