As the world’s premier golfers begin their opening rounds at ARAMCO LIV Golf Singapore 2026, Sentosa Golf Club has unveiled a tournament-ready Serapong Course defined by a sophisticated blend of cutting-edge agronomy and elite professional training.
Central to this year's preparation is the USGA GS3 Ball, a smart golf ball developed over a decade to measure putting surface performance. Rolled across the greens like a standard ball, the GS3 captures more than 15,000 data points to provide precise metrics on speed, firmness, smoothness, and trueness. These metrics are stored in the cloud to allow for benchmarking against other championship venues worldwide.
“For a tournament like LIV Golf Singapore, precision matters,” said Andy Johnston, General Manager and Director of Agronomy at Sentosa Golf Club. “The GS3 allows us to measure our greens with incredible accuracy like never before. It removes any element of guesswork and gives us objective data so we can deliver consistent, championship-level surfaces for the best players in the world”.
The club’s agronomy team has used this data to fine-tune the Serapong Course in the days leading up to the March 12 start. Johnston added, “Our goal is always to present the course in the best possible condition. Tools like the GS3 allow us to benchmark performance across the greens and ensure they’re consistent throughout the course, which is exactly what players expect at this level”.
Beyond technology, Sentosa is showcasing the future of the industry through its Agronomy Superintendent Programme. Now in its 16th year, the initiative invites nearly 40 global volunteers to work alongside the club's award-winning team, providing a rare look at the precision required for elite competition.
Participants work with Johnston, Golf Course Superintendent Rodney McKeown, and the expert grounds crew to play an active role in course preparation. Volunteers assist with everything from precision mowing and bunker preparation to green speed management.
“This programme gives people a genuine insight into what it takes to prepare a golf ball course for the highest level of the game,” Johnston noted. “The attention to detail behind the scenes is extraordinary. From green speeds to mowing patterns and bunker presentation, every detail matters when preparing a course for the world’s best players”.
Nick Colombo, Assistant Superintendent at Carolina Golf Club and a program volunteer, described the experience as a "full-circle moment" after previously completing a seven-month placement at the club. "The course has always been world-class, but what stands out most is the people and the passion for excellence in course preparation," Colombo said.
The scale of the operation for ARAMCO LIV Golf Singapore 2026 includes:
McKeown, who has delivered 28 televised tournaments during his 14-year tenure at Sentosa, emphasized the intensity of the work: “You’re working in real tournament conditions and seeing first-hand the level of precision required to present surfaces for the best players in the world”.
Following the LIV Golf event, the club will immediately begin preparing for the Singapore Open (April 23–26), part of the International Series on the Asian Tour.
