With the enormous wealth generated by Singapore’s profound presence in Global finance, it is no surprise that this relatively small island nation is host to some of the best courses anywhere. As you might expect from such a bustling metropolis, however, tranquillity is inevitably compromised in most locations.
Close to Changi Airport, the Laguna National Golf & Country Club Is home to the 7,112 yard Masters and the 7,155 yard World Classic courses, both of which were designed by Andy Dye and have hosted numerous major international tournaments. The adjacent Tanah Merah country Club is likewise home to two championship courses.
On the western side of Singapore, the Raffles Country Club is home to the 6,600 yard Lake and the 6,640 yard Palm championship courses, both designed by Robert Trent Jones Jr. Other notable courses on Singapore Island are Chris Pitman’s courses at the Keppel Club and Orchid Country Club, the Ted Parslow course at Jurong Country Club, Warren Golf and Country Club, Marina Bay Golf Course and Sembawang Country Club.
Just offshore, on Sentosa Island, with commanding views of the city’s waterfront, Sentosa Golf club has two championship courses, the 7299 yard Serapong course originally designed by Robert Fream and re-worked by Andrew Johnston, and the 6,800 yard Tanjong course, designed by Max Wexler.
The Serapong course, which has been voted the best in Asia, sits on the city facing side of the island with its seafront holes overlooking Singapore docks to the skyscrapers beyond, while the Tanjong course faces out to the South China Sea. As this small islet also manages to squeeze in some other top attractions such as Universal Studios, Marine Life Park, Butterfly Park, Underwater World as well as a couple of Singapore’s beaches, there is plenty to occupy any non-golfers in your party.
Singapore’s close proximity to Malaysia, over the 1km Johor-Singapore Causeway, also provides the Singapore visitor with easy access to the splendid courses in and around Johor on the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula (See our page on
Malaysia Golfing).
Another popular getaway for golfers is the nearby Indonesian islands of Pulau Batam and Pulau Bintan, both of which feature courses designed by the top golfing luminaries and reachable by a short ferry trip.
The best destinations are the championship courses of Pulau Bintan, which include the excellent Gary Player course at Ria Bintan Golf Club, Greg Norman’s course at Laguna Bintan, and the two beautiful courses at Bintan Lagoon Golf Club which host the Jack Nicklaus designed Seaview course and the Ian Baker-Finch Woodlands Course.