I showed up in Moalboal, a beautiful beach town and tourist hotspot located on the western coast of Cebu island in the Philippines. Of course, I always make room for my tennis racquets in my luggage, and was hopeful there were courts and players to play with. Can you play tennis in Moalboal, Cebu, Philippines?
Yes, there are two tennis courts open to the public in Moalboal, Cebu. The first, Moalboal Parish Tennis Club, has one court located next to Parish church. It is the main tennis court and the most popular. The second tennis court, opened in 2022, called Bugho Tennis Court, is located in the adjacent town of Bugho and is covered with a roof.
Fortunately, I got to play on both the Moalboal Parish Tennis Court and the Bugho Covered Tennis Court. And I was quite surprised by how passionate the local tennis community was. They are extremely welcoming and many people speak English, making it easy to make new friends.
In addition to tennis, there is also a healthy pickleball community located in Moalboal, at the Beyond Island Resort. Players show up at all times of the day to play pickleball pickup games.
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Moalboal Parish Tennis Club
This clay tennis court is located between Parish church and the Municipality, the main government building in Moalboal. That makes it very accessible, with good parking for a motorbike, and everyone in town knows exactly where it is. If you don’t drive a motorbike, it is easy to catch a ride on the back of a motorbike or a trike, which will cost you around 50 pesos (1 US dollar).
Although it is only one court, the scenery is beautiful, with kids playing basketball in the next-door park, mountains in the background, and trees surrounding the court.
The court is made out of “clay”, which is not your European red clay, nor the American green clay. The clay is tan-colored and gathered from nearby resources. However, it plays very similar and you can slide on it just like other clay surfaces..
The people there are very friendly, as well, and you can just show up and join in one of the pickup games. People usually show up everyday at around 6 pm for the pickup games, just wait your turn. You can also play anytime before 6 pm, as long as other players have not reserved it for a lesson.
The price to play is only a 50 pesos per day guest fee (1 US dollar). If you pay that amount then you can play as much as you want for the rest of the day. In addition to your guest fee, you also need to pay the ball boy, if you decide to have one, 50 pesos per match. The winner pays, the loser pays nothing, and if it is doubles, you can split the 50 pesos with your partner.
Bugho Covered Tennis Court
I had an amazing experience at this club, which you can read my blog post here.
The Bugho Covered Tennis Court, which is covered with a roof, is a public court located in the town of Bugho, right next door to Moalboal. The court had a grand opening on 8/28/2022, which I was fortunate enough to attend.
The court is made up of the same tan-colored dirt as the Parish Tennis Court, with plenty of sitting area on the side of the court. The biggest benefit is the covered roof, which allows the community to play tennis when it rains.
Since the court is located in the rural area, up in the mountain a bit, you’ll have to drive a motorbike or just pay for a ride there. Don’t let that stop you because the drive through the rural province roads is beautiful and fun, and only about 10 minutes away from the Parish court.
Most of the same players from the Parish Tennis Club, visit the Bugho court, so you will probably recognize some of the people. It is the same tennis community that helped open it. And the price is the same as the Parish court, only about 50 pesos to play per match.
Also see: Tennis in Cebu City, Philippines: Guide To Best Courts and Equipment
Pickleball in Moalboal, Cebu
Yes, there is pickleball in Moalboal, Cebu at the Beyond Island Hotel, owned by Massimo, pronounced “Maximo”, an Italian expat. I stayed at his hotel and enjoyed my stay. Very close to restaurants, bars, snorkling, scuba diving, and the beach. You can also rent a motorbike at his hotel, which I did, and is very convenient.
The pickleball community in Moalboal is passionate. There are pickup games every day at Beyond Island, depending on the good weather. People play in the morning and every evening. You may not want to play in the middle of the day as it can be extremely hot.
They also have a very active Facebook Group if you have any questions – Pickleball Moalboal Cebu.
Where To Stay In Moalboal
As a tennis or pickleball player, you can’t go wrong with Beyond Island Resort. They have a pickleball court on site, which includes free pickleball rackets and balls to borrow. In addition, they have motorbikes to rent.
Beyond Island is just a short motorbike drive (5-10 minutes) to the Moalboal Parish Tennis Club. The owner, Massimo, is a former tennis player who converted to pickleball, but he has a deep knowledge of tennis and can help advise you on anything going on in Cebu.
My Favorite Things To Do In Moalboal:
Kawasan Falls Canyoneering:
I’ve done many tours worldwide, and possibly my favorite of all is Kawasan Falls Canyoneering (link to book on Viator.com). Essentially, canyoneering is a mix of ziplining, hiking trails, swimming caves, and jumping off waterfalls. Don’t worry; it is not too strenuous and only takes a moderate physique level to participate. If you book using the link above, a local expert from Viator will pick you up at your hotel and drop you off.
Swimming With Sardines: Snorkeling or Scuba Diving:
Moalboal is perhaps best known for its snorkeling and swimming with the sardines. I got certified in PADI Scuba Diving in the Philippines, home to world-class scuba diving. To book swimming with the sardines, walking near the beach, and negotiating with one of the local guides is best.