The Singapore government has announced that four golf courses will permanently close by 2035 as part of its strategy to optimize land use for housing, infrastructure, and economic development.
The Ministry of Law (MinLaw) revealed that the leases for Mandai Executive Golf Course, Warren Golf & Country Club, Orchid Country Club, and the Garden course of Tanah Merah Country Club will not be renewed.
This decision follows the recent closure of Marina Bay Golf Course in June 2024, which will pave the way for the new Bay East Garden. MinLaw noted that lease renewal decisions are driven by Singapore's increasing land requirements.
Mandai Executive Golf Course, a public nine-hole facility, will be the first to close when its tenancy ends on December 31, 2026. The land will be repurposed for an Outdoor Adventure Learning Centre, one of three new campsites planned by 2032.
Warren Golf & Country Club and Orchid Country Club will close next in 2030, as their leases expire. These locations are designated for residential development under the Urban Redevelopment Authority’s Draft Master Plan 2025.
The last of the closures will be the Garden course at Tanah Merah Country Club, which will cease operations on December 31, 2035. This course's proximity to Changi Airport makes it suitable for future developments that support economic growth.
Additionally, the leases for the Bukit course at the Singapore Island Country Club (SICC) and the Sime Course at Keppel Club will also expire on December 31, 2030. The land will be allocated for a new 18-hole public course and the National Trades Union Congress (NTUC), which currently manages Orchid Country Club. Further details regarding land allocation and lease terms are under examination.
After these closures, 12 golf courses will remain operational, including the Bukit and Sime courses. Two of these courses — the Kranji course at the National Service Resort & Country Club (NSRCC) and the Serapong course at Sentosa Golf Club — will have their leases extended to December 31, 2040.
Seven additional courses already have leases that extend until 2040, including:
Sembawang Country Club, operated by the Ministry of Defence, is situated on state land under a licensing agreement with Mindef.
To further support local golfing talent, MinLaw announced the launch of a second Centre of Excellence by the Singapore Golf Association (SGA) and NSRCC, aimed at expanding training opportunities for national and youth teams. This will complement the existing centre at Keppel's Sime course.
For the original story please visit Malay Mail here
