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This year’s Singapore Open, which concluded on 26 April, sparked fresh excitement around golf in the country
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Held at Sentosa Golf Club, the tournament drew strong crowds over four days and marked another sign that interest in the sport is making a comeback after years of uncertainty and pandemic disruptions.
But while more people are picking up golf again, actually getting access to the sport in Singapore is becoming increasingly difficult.
Over the past decade, several well-known golf courses have disappeared due to redevelopment and land use needs. Jurong Country Club, Marina Bay Golf Course, and Raffles Country Club are already gone, while more clubs are expected to shut down in the coming years.
By 2040, Singapore may be left with only around six golf clubs.
Golf saw a major resurgence in Singapore during the pandemic
The sports used to be considered largely an elite sport with a niche demand. Then came the pandemic in 2020. Almost overnight, hordes of people, seeking to avoid being cloistered in their homes, took to the fairways and ranges for relief and release. Today, many of them have become regular golfers.
However, securing a tee time in Singapore has become so competitive that some golfers reportedly wake up in the early hours of the morning just to book slots online.
Others travel to Johor or Indonesia just to get more affordable and accessible games.
At the same time, Singapore has also produced several promising golfers in recent years
Players like Shannon Tan, James Leow, Troy Storm, and Brayden Lee are helping put Singapore golf on the international map, following in the footsteps of legendary golfer Mardan Mamat.
Figuratively speaking, many young and talented Singapore golfers are just a few swings away from hitting the headlines.
The concern now is that rising costs and shrinking access could slowly turn golf back into a sport mainly enjoyed by wealthy private club members.
Singapore’s shrinking number of golf courses reflects the country’s broader challenge of balancing limited land space with growing housing and infrastructure needs
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However, golfing does not need to lose out completely.
Unlike many other sports, golf is one people can continue playing well into old age, while also offering a rare social aspect where players spend hours walking, talking, and interacting with one another outdoors, something worth considering for a fast-ageing society like Singapore.
While land policies need to remain practical, the piece suggests there are still ways to keep golf accessible to ordinary Singaporeans. This could include preserving affordable public courses, opening up private clubs to the public during off-peak periods, and expanding golf development programmes in schools through the Singapore Golf Association (SGA).
Source: The Business Times