PRIVATE CLUBS LOOK FOR SILVER LINING
Golfers in affected private clubs expressed sadness at the leases ending, but also said they understood the requirements of land usage in Singapore.
For instance, homes will be built on the 107ha site of Orchid Country Club’s course in Yishun and 51ha site of Warren Golf & Country Club’s (WGCC) course in Choa Chu Kang when their leases expire in 2030.
“I think the government is doing the right thing to make sure they prioritise this for the masses and not a few people,” said WGCC member Robin Lee, 59.
However, if there are no immediate plans for the land, and if it is likely to sit idle for a few years, he said he hoped that the lease could be renewed for people to maximise use of the space.
Mr Lee, the CEO of a non-profit organisation, paid a lifetime membership fee of S$21,000 to join WGCC two years ago and plays golf there weekly.
Founded in 1962, it is a smaller club than others and “very much for the middle class”, with seniors and retirees who use the facilities to stay active and socialise, he added.
At SICC, annual memberships cost upwards of S$300,000. The club has about 17,000 principal and spouse members, with 40 per cent using its three golf courses.
“While we are naturally disappointed, we understand that this decision comes amid competing national interests and that land allocated for golf course use has been progressively reduced,” said SICC president Vincent Wee.
He said the club would “engage members transparently and work towards sustainable plans that align with national objectives while meeting members’ interests” as it approaches lease milestones.
SICC’s former president Andrew Low, 64, said his focus would be on how to make the best of the situation, with engaging the future operator of SICC’s reallocated Bukit course being a top priority.
Potential collaborations could take the form of preferential access to the greens for SICC members as a neighbouring club, or other partnership models, said the non-executive chairman of a Hong Kong-listed company.
The SICC also has a 27-hole New course. Its 18-hole Island course is set to reopen in September. Their lease expires in 2040.
“I believe we should position ourselves in a way that supports the next lease extension,” Mr Low said of these courses.
He added that this included being “forward-looking and inclusive” to ensure the club remains relevant in the years to come.
While there are some who welcome land being diverted away from country clubs, business management consultant and SICC member Michael Aw, 57, said that such clubs still have a role to play in Singapore.
For those who can afford it, a country club membership makes financial sense if one thinks of it as an investment in a resort home, similar to but even better than a timeshare, he said.
Such facilities are also needed to attract international talent and investors who do not just want a place to work, but to “enjoy living”, he said.
