Welcome to this celebration of 50 glorious years in the history of Sentosa Golf Club. From humble beginnings and driven by inspirational leadership, Sentosa has become one of the most iconic golf clubs in the world and the pride of Singapore. We hope you enjoy our journey of discovery and look forward to welcoming you here soon.
I have played golf in many top courses overseas, including those in the US, UK, Australia and Japan. I daresay Serapong ranks amongst the best in the world... Congratulations on your 50th anniversary!
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Emeritus Senior Minister, Former Prime Minister of Singapore 1990-2004
Sentosa Golf Club caters to Singaporeans but is required to set aside a small percentage of its membership for international investors and business leaders in Singapore. It is part of the Singapore ecosystem to promote relationships for Singapore’s economic good.
Sentosa Golf Club has raised Singapore’s international reputation. It has hosted many prestigious international golf tournaments, which include the Barclays Singapore Open, HSBC Women’s World Championship and, recently, the LIV Golf series. These tournaments are watched by millions globally.
The Club is very well managed. Frontline staff wear a warm smile and provide good service. But we must not overlook the many unseen backroom staff and field workers. All of them together with the management team deserve our appreciation. From its very beginning, Sentosa Golf Club has given me great joy, alongside the many moments of misery after errant shots or missed putts! I have played golf on many top courses overseas, including those in the US, UK, Australia and Japan. I daresay Serapong ranks amongst the best in the world.
Congratulations on your 50th anniversary!
Minister for Trade Relations, Republic of Singapore
Congratulations to Sentosa Golf Club on your 50th anniversary! Established in 1974, Sentosa Golf Club’s name has quickly become synonymous with excellence, setting the highest standards of service, facilities and course quality. It is no stranger to world-class events, with its reputation for hosting tournaments such as the Singapore Open, HSBC Women’s World Championship and LIV Golf Singapore. In fact, Singapore receives over 20,000 international visitors every year, just to experience golf tournaments that are held at Sentosa Golf Club! Beyond its sporting achievements, Sentosa Golf Club has played an integral role in the local community. It has served
our business community as an ideal networking venue and has hosted dignitaries such as former Presidents Barack Obama and George W Bush as well as other ASEAN heads of states and leaders over the years. The Club has not only excelled on the course, but also in its commitment to environmental sustainability. It is the first golf club in the world to sign the UN Sports for Climate Action initiative, and has been named World’s Best Eco-Friendly Golf Facility by the World Golf Awards for a record three consecutive years. Here’s to many more years of success and unforgettable memories on your pristine fairways, as you tee off into the next 50 years!
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Here’s to many more years of success and unforgettable memories on your pristine fairways, as you tee off into the next 50 years!
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Chairman, Sentosa Development Corporation
Many congratulations to Sentosa Golf Club on its 50th Anniversary.
The Club has come a long way since its inception in 1974. It was recently voted as the world’s most eco-friendly golf club, three years in succession (2020-2023) by World Golf Awards.
One of two golf courses, The Serapong, which was built in 1982, has risen to global prominence by being recognised by Golf Digest in 2022 and 2023 as one of the top 100 courses in the world.
This achievement is a reflection on the people who put their heart and soul into making all this possible. I am proud to be associated with this wonderful Club and very grateful to everyone, past and present, who have contributed to its success. In particular, I would like to commend Andy Johnston and his team for the many global accolades Sentosa Golf Club has received in recent years.
May I wish the Club continued success in the years ahead.
CEO, Sentosa Development Corporation
Congratulations on the remarkable milestone of your 50th anniversary!
Over the past five decades, Sentosa Golf Club has established itself as a world-class golfing institution, renowned for its exceptional courses and warm hospitality. This prestigious reputation is a testament to the team’s dedication, hard work and unwavering pursuit of excellence. Sentosa Golf Club is an icon and integral part of One Sentosa, elevating not only the standard of golfing in the
region but also Sentosa’s attractiveness as a leading lifestyle and leisure destination through world-class events such as LIV Golf.
My heartfelt thanks to all the staff, members, and supporters who have contributed to this transformation. I am proud to be part of this journey together with the team. The future holds much promise for the island and Sentosa Golf Club, and I look forward to celebrating many more successes in the years ahead.
in 1982
President, Sentosa Golf Club
It is with great pride and joy that we celebrate the 50th Anniversary of Sentosa Golf Club.
Since our founding half a century ago, Sentosa Golf Club has grown from its humble beginnings to become a worldrenowned institution, recognised by the global golf community as one of the top golf clubs in the world, and a part of Singapore’s rise as a major global city.
We celebrate our 50th year with a great sense of gratitude to all stakeholders who throughout our 50 years have contributed to make the Club what it is today – not just an outstanding golf facility with world-class championship courses, but an organisation which prides itself on the progressive way we look to the future, with a keen focus on excellence, and our environmental and sustainability initiatives.
Over the years, our Courses have been a sanctuary, and a challenge, to golfers of all skill levels; serving up joy and
frustration in equal measure without regard to the amateur or professional golfer. We have had the privilege of hosting the world’s finest men and lady golfers, many of whose photographs adorn the walls of our Clubhouse as Champions of the tournaments they have won; and we have witnessed some of the most iconic moments in tournament golf.
And yet, beyond the game of golf, the Courses and the many awards and accolades the Club has received, Sentosa Golf Club is about people: our members, our visitors and our staff. I thank each of you for your support and encouragement over the years. You have made Sentosa Golf Club better!
As we celebrate and reflect on the past, let us look ahead with excitement and anticipation to the next 50 years (and beyond) of golfing excellence, community and unforgettable experiences!
Happy 50th Anniversary Sentosa Golf Club!
It is my distinct honour and privilege to commemorate a truly remarkable milestone in our Club’s history – our 50th anniversary. This golden jubilee is not just a celebration of our past achievements but also a testament to the enduring spirit, camaraderie, and passion for golf that define our community. Since its inception in 1974, Sentosa Golf Club has grown from humble beginnings into one of the premier golf destinations in the world. Our lush fairways, challenging courses, and state-of-the-art facilities have hosted numerous prestigious tournaments, attracting golfers from all corners of the globe.
As Helen Keller once said, “Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much.” This quote resonates deeply with us as we reflect on our rich history and the collaborative spirit that has propelled us forward. Our collective efforts have turned Sentosa Golf Club into a premier golfing haven, and it is this unity that will continue to drive our success.
As we reflect on the past five decades, we are reminded of the visionaries who laid the foundation of this esteemed institution. Their dedication and foresight have paved the way for the exceptional Club we enjoy today. We also acknowledge the tireless efforts of our staff, whose commitment to excellence ensures that every visit to the Club is a memorable experience.
Looking ahead, we are excited about the future of Sentosa Golf Club. Our commitment to sustainability, and excellence will continue to guide us as we strive to enhance our facilities and services. We are dedicated to nurturing the next generation of golfers and fostering a golfing community where everyone feels welcome and valued. In closing, I extend my heartfelt gratitude to each and every one of you for your unwavering support and dedication to Sentosa Golf Club. It is your passion and enthusiasm that have made our Club what it is today. Here’s to the next 50 years of excellence, friendship, and unforgettable moments on the greens.
Chapter Page: Sentosa was an iconic landmark long before golf arrived
This was possible only because of vision, determinaton, grit and sheer hard work of countless people at all levels - from leadership and management right down to the army of workers on the ground.
Deputy Prime Minister of Singapore 2004 - 2009
For Sentosa Golf Club to have developed and evolved into two golf courses from its original humble and rustic nature to its current pristine conditons which have acquired international fame and recognition has been no easy feat.
This was possible only because of vision, determination, grit and sheer hard work of countless people at all levels – from leadership and
management right down to the army of workers on the ground. But golfing at Sentosa is not just about the physical golf course conditions. Rather, it is a unique golfing experience made pleasurable and enjoyable even if one did not play so well. This is due to the welcoming culture of the entire staff and the Club. I salute them all on this 50th Anniversary.
Centuries before Sentosa became the iconic global destination it is now, the island was called Blakang Mati, literally translated from Malay as ‘Death from the Back island’. A rather sinister title, thought to date back to the 14th century and referencing the piracy which was rife in the area.
Its importance as a strategic route between the Straits of Malacca and the South China Sea dates back to the early 17th century when Portuguese cartographers first put the island on the map.
It would assume greater strategic relevance in the 19th century when Britain formally made the island
a colony and began to use its highest points to fortify the position, defend the straits and Keppel Harbour.
Island life was simple, with settlements of Orang Laut and its specialist fishermen trading their local wares with passing vessels. But as the trade routes became more strategically significant and busy so did the need for increased trade and interaction.
Blakang Mati’s population grew more diverse with groups of Bugis, Chinese and Indians settling there by the time Singapore became a British colony in 1819. Permanent residences and extensive
The island’s population surged after World War II
agriculture soon developed, and by 1848, as many as 200 acres of pineapple plantations were documented on the island.
The British fortified the island extensively to protect its interests, and these defences were called into action when the Japanese invaded in 1942.
The British made full use of the forts scattered across the island in the build-up to the Japanese invasion and ultimate surrender of the city.
After the war, the island’s population surged as it became a temporary home for servicemen from the Royal Navy and soldiers from across Malaya.
On 9 July 1963, Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew signed the Malaysia Agreement in London which led to the release of military land in Singapore and a host of possibilities for its future development.
Sentosa Development Corporation (SDC) was established in 1972 with a mandate to oversee the development and management of the island.
When the island was named ‘Sentosa’, literally meaning tranquillity, as a result of a public naming competition in 1970, it gave a clear indication of the vision and intention of the Founding Fathers.
After a turbulent and violent recent history, the drive was clearly there to uplift the spirit of Sentosa.
With the withdrawal of the British military presence from 1967, the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) took over the barracks and other military facilities on the island, and the possibilities for developing Blakang Mati were numerous and from opposing outlooks.
Some suggested an industrial port, others a regional distribution depot for bulk cargo to capture the surging number of passing container ships, and
even a major petrochemical refinery. But thankfully the voice of the The Singapore Tourist Promotion Board proved the loudest, and crucially was given the support of Albert Winsemius, a Dutch economist advising the Singapore Government about its economic future.
The argument was lent weight by a visit from Singapore’s first Prime Minister Mr Lee Kuan Yew and in October 1969, an agency was engaged to do a comprehensive feasibility study of Blakang Mati to assess its suitability for tourism.
The study confirmed the island’s eminent qualification as a tourist hub, the name Sentosa was agreed and the rest, as they say, is history.
From its early establishment, Sentosa Development Corporation had legacy and sustainability at the heart of its thinking and strategy, and Sentosa Golf Club was to play an integral part in the island’s journey and message to the outside world.
Positioned as it is close to one of the world’s most bustling cities and beside the South China Sea, Sentosa is clearly a location in which the world’s
battle against climate change and global warming would be played out in plain sight.
From the very beginning, the Founding Fathers wanted to enhance the site’s natural beauty and exploit it in a way which benefitted local economies.
The original Tanjong Course was designed and curated with the local flora and fauna in mind and
when it was opened by Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew in 1974. And when The Tanjong was opened after redevelopment decades later in 2016, many of the original trees were saved for re-use to maintain its heritage and mystique.
Sentosa’s commitment to sustainability was cemented in 2021 when Sentosa Development Corporation announced plans for the island to
become carbon neutral by 2030, a feat Sentosa Golf Club achieved some seven years before the target.
The Sentosa Monorail was another clear sign of the island’s rise, opening in 1982 when previously only double-decker buses had been available for tourists to see the island. It closed in 2005 to be replaced by the Sentosa Express two years later.
In the mid to late 1960s, golf in Singapore was very much the preserve of the elite and those with a military affiliation. There were two clubs – Singapore Island Country Cub and Keppel Club – while the five other nine-hole courses belonged to the military.
So with the promise of a new course for the local golfers, much interest was generated and also the funds which allowed excavation on the site to start in 1972 on the old Tanjong Course at the very southern tip of the island.
English architect Frank Pennick had the task of carving a course from the island’s challenging layout, and in 1974 the course was opened by then Prime Minister, Mr Lee Kuan Yew.
Sentosa Golf Club was officially opened in 1974 by then-Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew, who enjoyed a round of golf during the occasion. Watching in the background is his playing partner, thenSpeaker of Parliament Dr Yeoh Ghim Seng.
Even then the keen local golfer was at the mercy of the tides, with the timetable being published in the weekly newsletter as bumboats and ferries were the only way of transporting golfers and their bags to and from the island.
Its breezy coastal location and lack of modern fairway contours meant the course quickly developed a reputation as a tough one, with some calling it the ‘golf-ball eater’.
And of course, The Tanjong Course had a unique feature – its second hole was located on a small reef off the main island, requiring a golfer to travel across the seashore to play the hole and make a return trip to continue the game.
SUNDAY 14TH JULY 1974
On Sentosa, the noise and bustle of Singapore seems remote and cut off. But for huge oil tankers riding an anchor, I can imagine myself to be on an island in the South Pacific. Sentosa golf course has several attractive features. There is the sea. There is no roar of motor traffic, no loudspeakers as at the Singapore Island Country Club, blaring forth messages to members out on the golf courses. Incidentally, this is something which should be forbidden by law.
It is important to keep Sentosa this way, free from motor traffic. There should be more trees and palms. Buildings should be kept low, hugging the profile of the island. Then Sentosa will remain an idyllic retreat, albeit a crowded one at weekends and holidays, with people seeking the swimming lagoons and tourist the picnic spots. However, the temptation is for Sentosa Development Corporation
to stick a high-rise building up, for maximum returns on their investments. Then the air of a remote retreat may be destroyed.
I hope Sentosa Development Corporation will try to keep this island as a retreat for those who seek a place where they can walk, without competing with cars, lorries and buses; a place where they can swim in the sea without bothering about tide-tables; and, most important, a place where they can get away from the noise of machines. The generator that serves the earth satellite station emits a small, but high-pitched hum. This, I hope, can be muted.
In declaring open this golf club and its clubhouse, I hope the Sentosa Golf Club will maintain its unique assets, all the comforts of proximity to a city, but all the quiet and seclusion of the wooded hillside, and a glorious view of a wide expanse of the sea.
The forts scattered around the site of Sentosa Golf Club have been key landmarks on the island since they were first built by the British at the end of the 19th century.
The first to be built and arguably most important strategically was Fort Siloso which was built by the British colonial government in 1878 to guard the narrow western entrance to Singapore’s Keppel Harbour.
In the Second World War its guns were turned to the mainland to support Singapore’s ground forces prior to Japan’s invasion and used to destroy key strategic assets such as oil refineries.
Today, it is a gun museum with a large collection of 19th-century and early 20th-century coastal guns. Its tunnel complexes and buildings have dioramas depicting soldiers’ lives in the 19th century and during World War II.
Two other forts on Sentosa built at about the same time have significant historical value.
Fort Connaught, sited at present day The Pyramid on Tanjong Hole 4 and originally called Fort Blakang Mati East, had its guns destroyed by the British in 1942 ahead of the Japanese invasion.
Fort Serapong, the last fort, began as a small infantry redoubt with three muzzle-loading cannons. These were replaced by more powerful guns over time. This fort was decommissioned in the mid-1930s after it became obsolete due to the better guns at Fort Connaught and the Serapong Spur Battery.
Another key part of the island’s defence was the Imbiah Battery on Mount Imbiah, which started as an infantry redoubt in 1890, became a gun battery in 1912, and was decommissioned in the mid-1930s without ever seeing action.
Sentosa’s importance as a strategic route offering the shortest route between the Straits of Malacca and the South China Sea dates back to the early 17th century when Portuguese cartographers first put it on the map.
As the population of Sentosa Island grew, so did the infrastructure and facilities needed to support the military, support staff, workers and their families.
The military presence on the island was increasingly prominent and left its mark long after Sentosa’s strategic importance started to wane, with the forts still drawing admiration from golfers and tourists to this day.
The forts and battery placements scattered around Sentosa Island and more specifically Sentosa Golf Club provide an element of mystique and history to the already awe-inspiring feel.
Although not on the course, Fort Siloso now has a 10-storey skywalk attraction which allows visitors a panoramic view of the island and golf course.
Perhaps the piece of the British colonial footprint which most golfers will be aware of would be the Berhala Reping artillery structure which had previously formed part of a standalone island not attached to Sentosa but was brought into the fold by the development of the course and its creation from the sealine. Berhala Reping lies to the left of the sixth green on the Serapong Course, as if guarding it against unwanted visitors.
A new guided heritage walk has recently opened for visitors to study Fort Connaught up close, while a number of former artillery and battery placements stand guard at various points on the Serapong and Tanjong Courses.
When the decision was taken to create a second course on Sentosa island, one major obstacle lay in the way of simply cracking on and starting to build –the South China Sea.
It takes people of genuine vision, passion and commitment to be able to picture a world-leading course where seawater lapped at their feet but that was what architect Ronald Fream set about doing when tasked with the development at the end of the 1970s.
“The future land was primarily sea water when I visited by ferry and small motor launch in early 1975,” said the esteemed architect.
“More than three million cubic metres of sand was pumped and dredged from shipping channels to raise golf from sea and swamp,” added Fream of the hugely ambitious project.
What followed was an eye-watering feat of engineering, not to just carve out a new area of
land but specifically the new holes, and allowing the majesty of the sea to encroach tantalisingly close to the new layout.
“The setting,” Fream added. ”Now with the world’s largest container ships passing by and spectacular downtown skyline alongside, is truly a unique visual effect,” Fream added.
Out of the chaos and mess of such a massive piece of civil engineering emerged The Dragon’s Tail.
The name given to the stretch of holes from the 4th to the 7th which emerged majestically from the seas.
They form the standout holes of the new course with the iconic 5th green offering an incredible layout of bunkers and view of the Singapore CBD skyline, with the 6th putting the harbour in what feels like touching distance. That juxtaposition of modernity and the gorgeous natural surroundings make Sentosa such an intoxicating cocktail.
Since Ronald Fream gave the world one of its most iconic courses when The Serapong opened in 1982, there has been one major redevelopment and a spirit of constant improvement which will see the course extend its legacy far into the future.
Hard graft and manual labour carved out the site and polished the rough diamond first contemplated by those visionary designers and architects.
No more striking transformation was that of the sixth hole, and to this day players can see the rock captured in the picture above.
The course was initially renovated in 2006 but has since undergone a further set of renovations in 2020 led by Andrew Johnston, the Club’s Director of Agronomy, Resident Architect and General Manager.
With Johnston’s initial developments to the course resulting in its fast and challenging greens, trademark contours, and extended stone-lined lakes, the latest renovations have seen the course given a complete refresh with new show-stopping bunkers introduced.
Renovations on The Serapong have included new serrated edging to each of the bunkers, pristine white sand, replacing the grass on the fairways with a fresh layer to improve drainage infrastructure.
The process of change is gradual and constant, and the reward is a constantly inspiring and challenging layout which stretches the imagination when pondering its extraordinary origins.
The Serapong is a course which befits hosting the greatest names the game has ever seen competing in the halcyon days of the Singapore Open to the modern day stars of the HSBC Women’s World Championship and LIV Golf Singapore.
Chapter Page: The Old Clubhouse stands serenely above the course
Sentosa Golf Club welcomes over 20,000 international visitors every year and has played an integral role in the local community, as well as the business community by being the ideal networking venue, hosting dignitaries such as then-President Barack Obama.
“It is important to keep Sentosa this way, free from motor traffic. There should be more trees and palms. Buildings should be kept low, hugging the profile of the island. Then Sentosa will remain an idyllic retreat.
Mr Lee Kuan Yew, thenPrime Minister at the official opening of Sentosa Golf Club Sunday, 14 July 1974
“This island should be a resort island… We will retain the natural beauty and yet plant in strategically, within a planned master plan, attractions that will complement, supplement, and augment the resort island into a place that will cater for all age groups, all income groups, both the locals and tourists. Mr Alan Choe on his initial vision for Sentosa
The original Clubhouse design was a classic of its time
There was an innate charm to everything about the early days of Sentosa Golf Club, nowhere more so than in the pitch-perfect design of the original Clubhouse.
These were the days when golfers from across Singapore used the ferry system and bumboats to get to the course, and then used a caddie from the team recruited from the island’s local fishermen.
In those days, golf on the island was mainly the preserve of the dignitaries, military and government officials, and while access to the island remained a challenge the number of players able to take in the delights of The Tanjong Course remained manageable.
With its classic colonial white pillars, and flat roof design, the original Clubhouse was an early indication of the spirit of Sentosa and how soon its development would speed up dramatically.
When Mr Lee Kuan Yew opened Sentosa Golf Club in 1974 it was heralded as a fantastic development for the island’s future, but it was a far cry from the iconic establishment it is now.
There was a wonderful innocence and mystique about the game, with many of the caddies having to be retrained after a life of working as fisherman, while access to the course was restricted by reliance on ferries and old bumboats.
A round of golf was as dependent on the timetable of tides as it was the weather! However the magnificent Tanjong Course proved so successful and popular that the second Serapong Course opened just eight years later, and the number of visitors with golf on their minds gradually increased.
That number accelerated yet further in 1992 with the opening of the Sentosa Gateway (bridge) and the whole nature and potential of the Club was transformed.
The exponential increase in the numbers of visitors soon showed some of the facilities to be unfit for the future and so it was decided to replace the original Clubhouse with a new one. The official groundbreaking for a new Clubhouse took place on 26 April 1993, and the journey of the magnificent Clubhouse we see today started.
Mr Dennis Lee, Chairman and later President in the founding days of Sentosa Golf Club, was
among a host of local dignitaries on hand to mark the occasion, which also saw staff enjoy a day of fun and games to celebrate the key landmark in the Club’s journey.
The stage was set for the original building to be replaced by the majestic Clubhouse which still serves members so brilliantly now.
The exploding popularity of Sentosa Golf Club and The Serapong’s emergence as a venue for international events meant a Clubhouse was needed that did justice to the magnificent courses.
The new Clubhouse was designed by James Ferrie Partners with close guidance from former SDC Chairman Mr Alan Choe, a trained architect himself. It took just over a year for Nakano Singapore to build it and golfers had to use a temporary set-up at the Apollo Hotel (present day EtonHouse School), while the building work was going on.
The rather quaint, colonial aura of the original Clubhouse was replaced by an equally evocative and crisply designed Clubhouse building, adorned by classical white pillars and rust-coloured roofing slates to give it its unmistakable look.
The new Clubhouse looks out onto immaculately manicured grounds, stunning tropical trees and welcomes visitors with a dramatic extended colonnade portico which leaves you in no doubt that you have arrived somewhere particularly special.
Its humble initial décor, facilities and appearance has been refined through the years. This initial $40m redevelopment was just the start but since then there have been upgrades throughout all its facilities from the golfing facilities to the dining and social areas.
However, despite all the modern finery and innovative changes, the building retains its mystique and romance. Close your eyes for a moment and listen to the birds outside, you still have a sense of its past.
1977
The Tanjong Course was selected as the Most Scenic Course with its famous Hole 2 named the ‘Most Beautiful Hole in Singapore’
1997
The Golf Malaysia Readers’ Poll picked The Tanjong Course as one of the Top 3 golf courses in Singapore.
1998
The Serapong Course took the third position in The Asian Golf Review Singapore’s Golf Rankings
The evolution of The Tanjong Course from its humble beginnings to the globally recognised course it is now is quite a journey. When it was first opened in 1974, the course was ‘set’ sympathetically with the local environment and offered a testing challenge to an admittedly less mature golfing scene.
The instructions to visiting golfers had an innocent feel, with the local newsletter urging players: “Think of hitting the shots from tee to green that will keep you in the middle of the fairway and safely out of the woods, the rough and the sand.”
As its popularity grew, so did the demands of an increasingly sophisticated golfing world, and an upgrade in 1992 saw significant improvements to the drainage of the course, which had long been an issue, as well as better pathways and access for buggies.
But the ethos of the Club has always been to keep its history alive, and a good example is the transition of the Old Pyramid Club to the state-ofthe art facility it is now. Hovering above the 4th green of the Tanjong, the Pyramid is an evocative throwback to the island’s former days.
The Serapong Course is named after a nearby hill
Weekday green fees were just $10 when the course opened
Above: A player chips onto the 6th green at The Serapong
Opposite Top: The Serapong hosted the Dunhill Cup in 1988
Opposite Bottom: A Staff Games Day was organised to mark the breaking of ground for the new Clubhouse
Left: Former Singapore PM Goh Chok Tong with former Japanese PM Ryutaro Hashimoto during his visit in 1997
The evolution of The Tanjong Course from the venue of competitive local tournaments to one which attracted players from all over the world was a gradual one.
When the Management Committee first convened in 1975, the idea of attracting major tournaments and the crowds and interest that came with it were first discussed.
During most weeks in the early years there would be a strong field of players contesting club events, but in 1988 it was the younger of the two course, The Serapong, which hosted the qualifying rounds of the Dunhill Cup.
It would host a number of increasingly prominent tournaments such as the BMW World final for amateur golfers in 2012 and even hosted the South East Asian Games in 2015.
However, as the reputation and quality of the two courses grew, it was in 2005 that Sentosa hosted the first of the 14 Singapore Opens. The arrival of this event put Sentosa firmly on the global map and attracted the first wave of global players who would grace its hallowed fairways and greens.
Adam Scott won his first Singapore Open in 2005 by seven strokes
With the growing profile and reputation of Sentosa Golf Club, the number of famous faces who tested out the island’s famed golfing layout increased too.
Megastars such as Rocky actor Sylvester Stallone increasingly ensured Singapore was an important stop-off on their world tours and never missed the chance to swing the clubs if they had the opportunity. With the increasingly cosmopolitan and international flavour of the Club’s clientele, the
membership offering and facilities needed to be equally impressive.
There are now around 1,600 members from around the world who enjoy the best-in-class facilities the Club has to offer including some of the best dining experiences in Singapore, a gym, an unrivalled selection of wedding and event options and an immaculate corporate golf offering.
I hope Sentosa Development Corporation will try to keep this island as a retreat for those who seek a place where they can walk, without competing with cars, lorries and buses; a place where they can swim in the sea without bothering about tide-tables; and, most important, a place where they can get away from the noise of machines.
Mr Lee Kuan Yew, the then Prime Minister, at the official opening of Sentosa Golf Club in 1974
Gloria Kuok, Ladies Captain, Member since 1984
I recall with great affection the first time I played at Sentosa Golf Club. The only way to access the course was by ferry, we had to carry our own golf bags and pull the trolleys. This left a lasting impression.
Sentosa stands out among the many great courses I’ve played worldwide. It’s exceptional layout, challenging terrain, breathtaking scenery, and the fact it has hosted numerous world-class tournaments and events really impresses. The course demands precision and strategy, making every round an unforgettable experience. Many of my golfing friends were so captivated that they became members of Sentosa Golf Club.
One of my fondest memories at the Club was participating in a members tournament when
I witnessed the true spirit of camaraderie and sportsmanship. Despite the competitive nature, players encouraged and supported one another, creating a memorable atmosphere.
I would highly recommend Sentosa Golf Club to my friends and family for its world-class facilities, impeccable course maintenance, and the unique opportunity to play on an island paradise.
Another thing which sets the Club apart is the exceptional service provided by our staff, the marshals and course workers. Their dedication to ensuring an enjoyable experience, combined with the strong sense of community among members and staff, creates a truly special golfing environment.
“ ”Many of my golfing friends were so captivated that they became members of Sentosa Golf Club.
Bengal Tiger Line hosted its first corporate golf event at Sentosa Golf Club back in September 1990 and has held its annual event at the Club for a record 35 consecutive years
Joachim Friedrich von der Heydt, Founder of Bengal Tiger Line
Hosting our golf tournament at Sentosa holds a special significance for me. I was first introduced to Sentosa Golf Club by my dear friend, the late Dermot Taylor, who was the boss of Benline Singapore back in September 1988. From the moment I set foot on the course, I was captivated by its unique layout, the charming wooden clubhouse, and the incredibly warm reception from the Golf Club team—a warmth that remains till this day. The decision to host our first tournament there, and every one since, was easy for me, especially with the added touch of taking a ferry to reach the Club, which added a special spice to the experience. To have Sentosa as a partner has had a profound impact on our events. When Bill Smart joined BTL Singapore in 1990, his talent for cricket and later golf, combined with the allure of Sentosa, made it a natural choice for our annual tournaments. The unique charm of Sentosa, the warm hospitality of the team, the delightful cuisine served after 9 and 18 holes, and the scenic beauty of the course with its stunning sea views—all of these factors contributed to making our tournaments a must-attend event for our hosts and happy golfing clients. The meticulous organization
by
Nicole Thew, who has been with us since the beginning, further enhanced the experience for our participants. Nicole’s patience and talent was evident, even when faced with my impossible requests, she handled them with a big smile. Upon my return from the round, everything was settled based on my unusual requests, which truly added to the overall satisfaction of our participants. The Club holds a special place in the hearts of my company and me. It has become synonymous with our annual golf tournaments, establishing them as truly exceptional events. The camaraderie among our golfing friends, with Singapore and Asian Golfing guests, from our shipping fraternity, the breathtaking views, impeccable service, and the personal touch of the team have elevated our events to extraordinary levels. Their attention to detail has ensured that every aspect of our tournaments is executed flawlessly. The lasting memories created on the course have become a cornerstone of our company’s golfing legacy. Sentosa Golf Club is not merely a partner; it’s an integral part of our journey, significantly contributing to the success of our events.
Initially, there was no Serapong Course and just the Tanjong, and when it rained it was difficult to find the ball and as a result we lost many. Also in those days the golfing population in Singapore was very small, and there were only a few players on weekdays, and even on weekends it was easy to secure a tee-time. What was difficult was the fact that we had to go back and forth by boat which took about five minutes, and a further 15 minutes to get from the jetty to the clubhouse in a small bus. The number of members was small too: 80% were Japanese, 10% were Singaporeans, and 10% were from elsewhere.
It was not a particularly special course when compared to the other six clubs that were in Singapore, but after renovating The Serapong, replacing the grass on the fairways and greens, and replacing the sand in the bunkers, the reputation of the course increased, and so did the number of visitors. Sentosa then became very popular. By laying down a type of grass not used on other courses we were able to drive on the fairway up to our ball and the drainage system was excellent.
Perfect harmony - the Golf Agronomy team ensures
greens and fairways are manicured to perfection
Having grown up on Pulau Blakang Mati, I started working at Sentosa Golf Club from the age of 23. Having lived on the island since birth, my connection with the golf course is deeply personal.
The area that is now Hole 16 of The Tanjong used to be a beach where I spent countless hours with my friends. We enjoyed swimming, playing, and making cherished memories by the sea. After work, my friends and I would often go fishing, enjoying the tranquil beauty of the island.
Seeing the transformation of this place into the prestigious Sentosa Golf Club has been incredible, blending nostalgia with pride in its development. I love the sense of community and camaraderie I share with my friends and colleagues. This place holds a special place in my heart. My father worked for the British Army, and I was born in the building adjacent to the current Sofitel Hotel. After my
father received his pension from the British Army, we moved to a kampung where the Sentosa Gantry now stands.
The island has undergone tremendous transformation, but the connection I feel with the people here and the rich history of Sentosa makes every day at work a rewarding experience. Outside of work, I find great satisfaction in doing housework. This interest stems from my younger days when I enjoyed helping my father at his shop, learning the value of hard work and meticulous attention to detail. Additionally, I have always been passionate about sports. I frequently play soccer with friends after work, relishing the camaraderie and excitement of the game. Running was another favorite pastime, providing both a physical challenge and a sense of freedom. These activities have not only kept me active but also enriched my life with many fond memories and new friendships.
The Serapong’s challenging 14th sits gracefully by the serene waters of Singapore port
Written by William L. Gibson, PhD
The formidable rock that protrudes from the sand trap at Hole 6 has become an iconic piece of The Serapong. Known today as Berhala Reping, the rock played an important part in Singapore’s pre-colonial history. The rock was originally located off an islet at the eastern tip of what was Blakang Mati, at the eastern entrance to the Selat Sinki, or the Sinki Straits. 19th century maps indicate it as a tanjong connected to the base of Bukit Serpong variously named ‘Beralla Keping’ (1849), ‘Berala Point’ (1851) and ‘Tanjong Berhala’ (1906), but aerial photographs from the 1950s show the site unambiguously as an island; the tidal isthmus connecting it may have eroded away. A notice in the Journal of the Straits Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society of 1889, names the pointed formation as ‘Berhala Keping’, a “curiously shaped rock at the entrance to Selat Sinki.”
Berhala means ‘idol’ in Malay. Its etymology is obscure but in colloquial pronunciation, that aspirated ‘h’ is dropped, so the word sounds like ber-allah, or a “man-made god.”
Keping was a nautical term that no longer appears in standard Malay dictionaries. John Crawfurd’s 1852 dictionary defines it as “to keep watch or look-out at sea; the side of a ship, larboard [port] or starboard”. This name suggests the idol was a sentinel who kept watch over the eastern entrance to the Sinki Strait. The name used today, ‘Berhala Reping’ only began to appear on maps in the 1920s. The word reping is not found in modern Malay or Indonesian dictionaries and was likely an error for the earlier keping.
When the land was reclaimed by The Serapong golf course in the 1980s, several natural and historical elements were preserved. A comparison of maps and satellite photographs show that this includes the berhala rock formation, which now protrudes out of a sand trap at Hole 6. The jagged little peak rises about 4 metres above the sand trap, but the landfill rises about 8 metres above the high tide water line, meaning a little less than half of the formation is now visible. The designer of the course playfully labelled this a replica of The Dragon’s Tooth, or Batu Berlayar, that once stood at the western entrance of Keppel Bay, near Fort Labrador.
The course designer may have inadvertently revealed a significant point. Given its location at the eastern entrance of the Selat Sinki, and given the name assigned to it as a guardian idol, and given its tooth-like shape, this rock was likely one of the “dragon’s teeth” that in 14th century Chinese navigational guides were said to guard the entrances to the Selat Sinki. Batu Berlayar, or sail rock in Malay, called Lot’s Wife by the British, was known as Varella del Cina in Portuguese navigational charts. Varella is a Portuguese adaptation of the Malay berhala, so they knew Batu Berlayar as the ‘Chinese idol’ or ‘pagoda rock,’ the matching mate of Berhala Keping, the pair making up the dragon’s teeth at either end of the Sinki Straits. Batu Berlayar was blown up in 1848 to widen the entrance to Keppel Bay, leaving the obstacle on Hole 6 as the sole remaining sentinel of the old Selat Sinki.
The ‘dragon’s tooth’ on Hole 6, was used as a navigation guide in the 14th century and guarded the entrance to the adjacent strait
Dennis Lee
Kim Yew 1973 – 1987
Dennis Lee
Kim Yew 1987 – 2003
Men’s
Cheong Thiam Siew 1974 – 1987
Women’s
Susan Frame 1986
Alan F C Choe 1987 – 2003
John Lim Kok Min 2003 – 2007
Seah Peng Kui 1987 – 1988
Dr Tony Ong 1991 – 1997
Cheong Thiam Siew 1988 – 1991
Laura Foxton 1986/1987 - 1990
Helen Tan 1990 - 1997
Lee Kuan Yew
Dr Goh Keng Swee
Justice Wee Chong Jin
Philip Ng 2003 – 2007
Lim Hock San 2007 – 2011
Dr Lim Cheng Hong 1997 – 2003
Dr Peter Tay 2003 – 2005
Dr Loo Choon Yong 2007 – 2013
Moses Lee 2013 – 2019
Lisa Ke 1997 - 2005
Yeoh Ghim Seng
Dr Toh Chin Chye
Lim Kim San
Low Teo
Ping 2011 – 2017
Ronny Tan 2017 – 2020
Dr Wong Yik Mun 2015 – 2017
Bob Tan
Beng Hai 2005 – 2015
Helen Tan 2005 - 2015
Howe Yoon Chong
Dr Phay Seng Whatt
Justice Chor Singh
Bob Tan Beng Hai 2019 - Present
Andrew Lim
Ming-Hui 2020 – Present
Vernon Khoo 2017 – 2023
Darryl Wee 2023 - Present
Yeo Lae Lyn 2015 - 2021
Gloria Kuok 2021 - Present
Alan Choe Fook Cheong
Dennis Lee Kim Yew
Philip Ng Chee Tat
ESM Goh Chok Tong
Dr Loo Choon Yong
Moses Lee
“This is a great course. It might be the finest conditioned golf course in Asia, certainly of the ones I’ve played. I have a bit of an affinity with it obviously, having played here successfully a few times. Sometimes you just go to a golf course and it really suits your eye. You can stand on every hole and just see your ball down on the fairway or on the green, and I have that feeling when I come here.
General Manager | Director of Agronomy | Resident Golf Course Designer
As I reflect on Sentosa Golf Club’s 50-year legacy, I am filled with pride—not just in our world-class courses and facilities, but in the community and spirit that set us apart. My journey began nearly two decades ago as the Club’s golf course designer, transforming our courses into two of the world’s best. This path later led me to the role of Director of Agronomy, where I fine-tuned our greens, fairways, and bunkers to blend seamlessly with nature, earning us numerous awards, including recognition as the World’s Most Eco-friendly Facility.
Now, as General Manager, I have the privilege of overseeing operations and nurturing a culture of excellence that fosters pride and ownership. Our success is not just defined by accolades, but by the dedication of our team, who have made the Club what it is today. Sentosa Golf Club’s evolution into a world-class destination has been remarkable. Our commitment to excellence goes beyond the greens, touching every aspect of operations and service. We continuously strive for new standards, inspired by the passion of our community. As we celebrate this milestone, I thank each of you for your hard work and dedication. The next 50 years hold great promise, and together we will continue to build on our strong foundation, maintaining our reputation as one of the world’s finest clubs. Here’s to the future and to continuing our tradition of excellence.
With gratitude and excitement for what lies ahead, Andrew H Johnston
This Par-72 masterpiece, that stretches 6,777 metres in length from the championship tees, is widely recognised as one of the world’s best. It’s currently ranked in the ‘100 World’s Greatest Golf Courses’ by Golf Digest and was a winner at the World Golf Awards in 2023, having been named ‘World’s Best Golf Course’, ‘Asia’s Best Golf Course’ and ‘Singapore’s Best Golf Course’.
The Serapong was originally designed by golf course designer Ronald Fream, and was opened in 1982. The course was initially renovated in 2006 but has since undergone a further set of renovations in 2020 led by the Club’s Director of Agronomy, Resident Architect and General Manager, Andrew Johnston. With Johnston’s initial developments
to the course resulting in its fast and challenging greens, trademark contours, and extended stonelined lakes, the latest renovations have seen the course given a complete refresh with new showstopping bunkers introduced.
The Serapong has hosted the Asian and European Tour co-sanctioned prestigious Singapore Open on numerous occasions, including most recently in 2022. The course has attracted some of the biggest names from both the professional and amateur ranks in recent years. In April 2023, The Serapong played host to the inaugural LIV Golf Singapore event.
The undisputed Signature Hole on The Serapong forms the belly of the Dragon’s body and is one of the toughest, with plenty of suspenseful challenges and mystery.
This breathtaking hole possesses unrivalled and picturesque views of the Singapore skyline. When you reach the green you are only metres away from the busiest shipping harbour in the world. The landing area off the tee is fairly wide with a speed slot giving any long and left tee shots an extra 50 metres.
Large bunkers guard either side of the fairway and the green is tucked behind a particularly colossal sandtrap, with the green requiring two solid shots to be reached. The large green complex falls away to the South China Sea. Anything coming hot or long will find your ball at the bottom of the harbour.
Turning back into the island of Sentosa, this redesigned hole ends with the head of the Dragon. Your drive will be tested by a wellbunkered fairway on the left and the right side lined by the Selat Sengkir Strait.
The landing area is nestled next to the water’s edge with the harbour on the right. Better players will hit a medium to short iron into the green that needs to carry the sand and a large rock formation known as the ‘Dragon’s Tooth,’ jutting out of the greenside bunker.
The green although narrow and deceptive is the largest green on the course with its access twisted perpendicular to the approach shot, which makes it very shallow. The newly added false front nicknamed the ‘Dragon’s Tongue’ hangs to the front right of the green. To the left of the green is Fort Berhala Reping, a historic World War Two artifice that keeps guard of the Dragon and watches over the green against unwanted visitors.
Speaker of Parliament
Sentosa - an island teeming with endless attractions and experiences. From staycations to sporting events, corporate gatherings to serene holidays, Sentosa has been a cherished destination for both locals and tourists alike. Among its many treasures, Sentosa Golf Club stands out as a true gem. Renowned not only for its world-class golf courses but also for its global recognition, it proudly places Singapore on the international stage. Over the years, Sentosa Golf Club has played host to countless prestigious events, showcasing not just excellence but a commitment to creating unforgettable experiences for players and spectators alike. The Club’s efforts to create a sustainable environment
was also recognised globally as one of the world’s most sustainable golf clubs.This achievement is a testament to the exceptional leadership of the Club, both past and present, and the dedication of its staff who prioritize the satisfaction of members, spectators and players alike. As we celebrate the 50th anniversary of Sentosa Golf Club, let us extend our heartfelt gratitude to all who have contributed to its success. From its members to its staff, each individual has played a part in shaping the club into the warm, professional, and thriving community it is today. Here’s to 50 years of excellence, camaraderie, and memories at Sentosa Golf Club.
Minister for Culture, Community and Youth and Second Minister for Law
My heartiest congratulations to Sentosa Golf Club on its golden jubilee. Sentosa Golf Club has played an active role in supporting Singapore’s High Performance Sports ecosystem, with our national golf athletes training at their top-tier facilities and courses.
The Club has also provided facilities for junior competitions and training as well as contributing towards Singapore Golf Association fundraisers, all testament to your commitment to growing the sport in Singapore.
Home to two world-class golf courses in The Serapong and The Tanjong, Sentosa Golf Club has brought in several international golf events such as the HSBC Women’s World Championship, one of Asia’s majors in women’s golf, and the prestigious SMBC Singapore Open, raising the profile of the sport significantly.
Congratulations to Sentosa Golf Club for hitting this important milestone and I hope that you will continue to trailblaze in the golf community, both locally and on the international stage.
Minister for Social and Family Development, Second Minister for Health and Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs
Congratulations to Sentosa Golf Club on your 50th anniversary! Sentosa Development Corporation and Singapore Golf Club have been steadfast partners of Community Chest and President’s Challenge. Your rallying of members and partners in giving their time, treasure and talent has been intrinsic to our whole of society approach in uplifting the lives of families and individuals in need.
Your support has been invaluable, and we look forward to continued collaborations in building a more inclusive and caring society.
Minister of State for Trade and Industry, Minister of State for Culture, Community and Youth and Board Member at the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS)
Congratulations Sentosa Golf Club on 50 years of excellence, dedication and passion. Sentosa Golf Club has represented world-class golfing standards. Through sport, the Club has enriched and enlivened communities. It has brought many of us together. Cherished memories and tender moments have also been created over the years, and the Club is now woven in not just the fabric of our sporting society, but also in our memories.
The Club’s commitment to sustainability is also commendable, and we hope you will continue to elevate the game through your environmental stewardship.
For half a century, Sentosa Golf Club has navigated every course with precision and grace. To more extraordinary moments in the years to come, driven by legacy that continues to drive the spirit of the game forward.
Former Sentosa Golf Club President, former SDC Board Member and Acting CEO
Sentosa Golf Club has come a long way since its humble beginnings in the 70’s. Not only has Sentosa Golf Club become the benchmark for other golf clubs in the region, the entire island of Sentosa has also achieved international acclaim as one of the most popular integrated resorts today.
I am very thankful for the privilege to be involved in the Sentosa Golf Club story. There have been
many people that have contributed to the Club’s transformation, but none more important that the Sentosa Golf Club staff who have created a culture of warmth and family like no other.
Happy 50th Anniversary Sentosa Golf Club. I look ahead with optimism and enthusiasm to your continued growth beyond Asia’s best.
Chairman, Surbana Jurong and former Chairman, Singapore Tourism Board
Congratulations Sentosa Golf Club on your 50th Anniversary. You have come a long way from a humble beginning to be recognised as the World’s Most Eco-Friendly Golf Facility and the Serapong Course to be recognised as the World’s Best Golf Course. Such prestigious recognition will not be possible without the strong leadership of your
Board, Committee members and Management and the hard work and commitment of all the staff of the Club. Well done and keep up the good work and I look forward to another 50 years of success!
Best wishes.
It is with great joy and admiration that we join in celebrating the 50th anniversary of Sentosa Golf Club. From its modest beginnings, the Club has flourished to deliver a world-class facility of exceptional quality, offering two magnificent courses in The Serapong and The Tanjong, capturing the hearts of golf enthusiasts near and far.
Sentosa Golf Club stands as a jewel within a jewel, boasting stunning views of the Singapore skyline, offering a picturesque setting for golf. Its presence has undoubtedly contributed to the allure and prestige of Sentosa, further solidifying
its position as Singapore’s premier island getaway.
As we commemorate this significant milestone, it is important to pay tribute to the many custodians who have tirelessly steered Sentosa Golf Club’s 50-year journey to the great success it enjoys today. Their dedication, foresight, and leadership have been instrumental in shaping the legacy of Sentosa Golf Club and ensuring its continued prosperity.
Here’s to 50 years of excellence and unforgettable experiences, and to the bright future that lies ahead for Sentosa.
Chief Executive, Singapore Tourism Board
On behalf of the Singapore Tourism Board, we extend our warmest congratulations to Sentosa Golf Club on reaching this remarkable 50-year milestone. This achievement is the outcome of the dedication, hard work, and leadership of the Club’s management and team.
Over the past five decades, Sentosa Golf Club has grown to become one of the world’s premier golf clubs with Championship golf courses. As the preferred host venue for numerous prestigious international golfing tournaments – from HSBC Women’s World Championship to LIV Golf Singapore
– the Club has demonstrated Singapore’s ability to host world-class events, attracting both leisure and business visitors while showcasing the city’s hospitality on a global stage.
Sentosa Golf Club’s commitment to sustainability and innovation has not only shaped its legacy, but has also contributed to profiling our vibrant city as a leading sporting and leisure destination.
We are honoured to have been part of your illustrious journey and we look forward to many more years of partnership and continued success.
In November 2016, The Tanjong redesign was completed by Andrew Johnston and Matt Swanson, who combined a unique golfing challenge with native areas, water features and the hardy ‘Zorro Zoysia’ grass on its fairways. These changes have ensured a test required for hosting international championship tournaments such as the HSBC Women’s World Championship and the Women’s Amateur Asia-Pacific Championship.
Environmental protection was integral to this renovation, again demonstrating the commitment through #KeepItGreen, a campaign that was launched at the 2018 SMBC Singapore Open designed to increase awareness of the game amongst youngsters in the local community, as well as drawing attention to sustainable practices within golf.
Through the installation of six interconnected lakes across the new course, the Club has become completely self-sufficient when it comes to irrigation. Among other impactful measures, Johnston and his design team also embarked on a tree-saving initiative, in which over 300 different species were extricated from the old Tanjong, kept in an on-site ‘tree nursery’ throughout the project and then replanted on The Tanjong.
The result is an 18-hole Par-72 course featuring an iconic experience set against the Singapore Straits with panoramic views of metropolitan Singapore. Moreover, its large bunkers, rarely seen in Asia, offer golfers the chance of playing on a course inspired by the style of renowned golf course architect Alister MacKenzie.
CEO, The R&A
The R&A has long held a valued relationship with Sentosa Golf Club and it has played a significant role in supporting our drive to grow and develop amateur golf throughout the Asia-Pacific region having hosted the Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship and the first ever Women’s Amateur Asia-Pacific Championship, won by Atthaya Thitikul.
The Serapong and Tanjong courses are fantastic tests of golf and worthy of staging the region’s foremost professional and elite amateur championships.
I wish to congratulate the Club and its members on reaching its 50th Anniversary and hope that it continues to flourish for many years to come.
Commissioner & CEO, Asian Tour
The Asian Tour is proud to call Sentosa our home and our association runs deep, especially with the island’s iconic golfing venue, Sentosa Golf Club.
So it is with great delight that we congratulate the Club on its 50th anniversary, which includes the past two decades of our exceptional partnership. The Serapong Course is synonymous with the Singapore Open, one of our flagship events, and now plays host to LIV Golf Singapore, which sees a spectacular cast of global stars on its pristine fairways. Adam Scott, Sergio Garcia, Ian Poulter and Matt Kuchar plus our very own Jeev Milkha Singh, Prayad Marksaeng, Jazz Janewattananond, and Sadom Kaewkanjana have
all tasted victory in Singapore’s National Open and provided us with lasting memories. The Club has always set trends rather than follow them, with its sustainability initiatives, service acumen and cuttingedge golf course management setting it apart from other clubs. Passionate leadership and a dedicated management team place Sentosa at the pinnacle of the industry. The Asian golf calendar is not complete without a visit to Sentosa. Having been voted by our members as the Venue of the Year on multiple occasions, the Club is woven into the fabric of Asian Tour history, and we trust you enjoy reaching another important milestone this year.
Commissioner,
LPGA Tour
On behalf of the LPGA team, please allow me to offer our heartfelt congratulations to everyone at Sentosa Golf Club on this milestone 50th Anniversary. As Commissioner of the LPGA, I am honored to see many fantastic courses, but none has been as consistently manicured, as authentically challenging, as visually pleasing, or as welcoming in spirit as Sentosa Golf Club, golf’s jewel of Asia. Even before I visited Singapore in my current role, I was a fan who watched the world’s best women golfers do battle in the HSBC Women’s Championship. Who could forget the mammoth eagle putt Paula Creamer made in 2014 to win, or the thrilling victory by Michelle Wie West in 2018?
No one could have known that Michelle’s final LPGA Tour victory would come at Sentosa Golf Club, but in hindsight it seems appropriate one of our most storied players had her capstone win at one of our most iconic venues. The mark of a great course is the quality of its winners. Sentosa has crowned a who’s who of Major Champions and living legends. That speaks to the quality of the course and the commitment of those who call it home. We at the LPGA are proud to be associated with Sentosa Golf Club, and we are honored to be invited to your incredible facility every year. Congratulations again on this anniversary. I hope you have a prosperous 50 more years in the future.
President, Singapore Golf Association
Sentosa Golf Club has been a long-standing partner of the Singapore Golf Association where it has played a pivotal role in enhancing the golf ecosystem in Singapore.
Sentosa Golf Club offers numerous training opportunities for our national squad members to sharpen their game at their award-winning Serapong Course. It has also played host to many high-profile international golf events which have further raised the popularity of golf in Singapore and boosted golf tourism in our country.
On your golden anniversary, I would like to congratulate Sentosa Golf Club for all your accolades achieved in the last 50 years. The golf carnival, which is part of your jubilee celebrations, welcomes all Singaporeans to take part in golf and is another excellent example of how Sentosa Golf is making golf an inclusive sport for all – an initiative that is also part of the Singapore Golf Association’s strategic plans to grow the sport in Singapore.
I wish you many more successes in the years ahead.
My heartiest congratulations to Sentosa Golf Club on its 50th Anniversary. We are proud of our more than decade-long partnership with the awardwinning Club, hosting the HSBC Women’s World Championship, Asia’s major in women’s golf.
stage at Sentosa Golf Club, the world’s first carbon neutral golf club, whose adoption of cutting-edge technology and sustainably, makes it an industry leader.
Congratulations to Sentosa Golf Club for reaching this landmark and may you continue to be a torch bearer in creating new milestones for clubs around the world to aspire to. CEO, HSBC
Against the backdrop of Singapore, which is recognised as one of the world’s most dynamic cities, our world-class tournament finds the perfect
Sentosa Golf Club’s Tanjong Course has seen many of the world’s greatest women players take part in the HSBC Women’s World Championships, but it has also an esteemed reputation as host to Asia’s best amateurs.
The Tanjong was granted the honour of hosting the 2018 Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship, the prestigious event which gives the chance for the region’s aspiring players to secure a place in the Majors.
Japan’s Takumi Kanaya mastered the new course with a famous victory by two strokes in a tournament aggregate record score of 267 for a triumph that secured him a place in the US Masters and the Open Championship the following year.
The Tanjong joined the hallowed ranks of the Royal Melbourne Golf Club and Mission Hills Golf Club in China as a host venue for the prestigious event to crown Asia’s best amateur.
PAR 3 | 176 METRES
A long, snaking tee box allows huge variety on any given day. From the back tees, both water and sand protect the green, especially when the pin is set on the left. Shorter hitters will have no problem with distance on this hole, but the green tends to look quite small in view of the water and bunker which must be challenged to reach the green.
PAR 4 | 464 METRES
Another signature hole on The Tanjong to wrap up the round, where players should aim towards the clock on the Clubhouse on this long uphill Par 4. As with many holes on the golf course, the challenge is in the approach shot, as a collection of spectacular Mackenzie-style bunkers covers the approach on the right. This hole has witnessed much drama over recent years at the HSBC Women’s World Championship, not least Michelle Wie West’s decisive putt from off the green which sealed victory in 2018.
Sentosa Golf Club has played host to some of the greatest men and women players and seen moments of the highest drama as one of the most storied venues in world golf.
From staging the qualifying rounds of the Dunhill Cup in 1988, to hosting the Singapore Open and HSBC Women’s World Championship as well as the mega-spectacle of the inaugural LIV Golf Singapore in November 2023, the iconic Serapong and Tanjong
Courses have been a theatre of extraordinary tension and quality.
Multiple Masters Champions have prevailed on its stunning fairways, the HSBC Women’s World Championship saw one of the most dramatic playoff victories in the history of the sport, while LIV Golf made its spectacular Singapore debut at Sentosa with the world’s golf fans watching in awe.
The event was first staged at Sentosa Golf Club in 2005 as part of the Asian Tour and the inaugural winner, Australia’s Adam Scott, would prove to be something of a permanent fixture in the coming years.
Scott had burst into the world’s top 10 earlier in the year and oozed with class as he recorded a seven-shot victory over England’s Lee Westwood. He retained the title the following year, this time it wasn’t so clearcut, edging out The Big Easy Ernie Els in a playoff. Scott would triumph again in 2010 for his third win in six editions, a year after the event was co-sanctioned by the European Tour.
The hat-trick was a prelude to Scott winning the ultimate prize in golf, the Green Jacket at Augusta’s Masters in 2013 and Argentina’s Angel Cabrera (2007) and Sergio Garcia (2018) of Spain are other Masters Champions who can also boast of winning the prized Singapore crown on The Serapong. Ian Poulter, a legend of Europe’s Ryder Cup team, scored one of his most memorable professional wins when he edged out China’s Liang Wenchong in a dramatic showdown in 2009. Thailand was the country which dominated the winner’s podium in the final few tournaments before Sentosa concluded its run as Singapore Open host in 2022. Prayad Marksaeng, Jazz Janewattananond and Sadom Kaewkanjana won three of the closing five events.
Record three-time winner of the Barclays Singapore Open
It is a delight for me to offer a few words about Sentosa Golf Club as it celebrates 50 years of golf.
My time at the Club coincided with its staging the Barclays Singapore Open, a tournament that was then viewed as “Asia’s Major”. It was clearly the premier event on the golfing calendar for the region, a large influence being the course conditions and overall quality offered by Sentosa Golf Club.
Happily I was successful at the tournament and fond memories of my times there have ensued. Memories of golfing success of course, but also of friendships formed, kindness from everyone from
the course maintenance personnel to management, and Singapore crowds cheering me on.
The incredible changing golf environment of today provides a prompt to remember and to cherish history. To celebrate all the times, people and facilities that have created what we share and love today. Being part of the history of Sentosa Golf Club will always fill me with pride. Thanks for having me and congratulations!
Since 2013 the cream of women’s golf has descended upon Sentosa for HSBC’s premier golf event, and with them has come some unforgettable moments.
None more so than in its second year when American Paula Creamer drained a miraculous 75foot putt for eagle in a playoff to defeat Mexico’s Azahara Munoz. A year after her compatriot Stacy Lewis won the opening edition at Sentosa, Creamer sank to her knees and slapped the grass in joy and disbelief as the magnitude of her achievement began to sink in. Since that iconic moment, the winning podium has had a distinctly South Korean flavour.
Players from the world’s mightiest women’s golfing nation have prevailed with seven of the nine victors coming from South Korea, starting with the first of Inbee Park’s two victories in 2015.
She would win again two years later, Ko Jin-young went back to back in 2022 and 2023 while Jang
Ha-na (2016), Park Sung-hyun (2019) and Kim Hyo-joo (2021) also adding the coveted title to their trophy cabinets.
The event marked the occasion in 2021 when the Club announced its intention to become the world’s first carbon-neutral golf club, a terrific achievement it confirmed at the same event two years later. Setting the bar high on and off the course.
It’s a fantastic tournament, a great golf club. It’s obviously a very special tournament for me and brings back many happy memories.
Inbee Park
HSBC Women’s World Champion 2015 and 2017
“ ”
When the awe-inspiring magnitude of the LIV Golf League project became apparent, it was clear Sentosa was a venue befitting such a gamechanging tournament. And so in April 2023, the course hosted the first edition of LIV Golf Singapore amid terrific fanfare.
The new engaging look and feel of the PIF-funded event took over Sentosa as well as a new format
and new sets of fans. And the players did not let excitement drop for a minute with American Talor Gooch grabbing the most dramatic of victories over former Singapore Open and US Masters Champion Sergio Garcia at the opening sudden death playoff hole.
In 2024, it was another American who triumphed, this time four-time Major winner Brooks Koepka,
the Smash GC captain, keeping his cool to record a two-shot victory over Australia’s Cam Smith, whose Ripper GC had the consolation of winning the team title.
A new generation of golfers thrived on the lush greens and fairways of Sentosa, which still offers some of the world’s most challenging and enjoyable golf holes.
All eyes on Koepka’s tee-shot at the 13th
It’s little wonder that being in a location of such startling environmental and geographical importance, that Sentosa has the desire for sustainability and future proofing deep within its DNA. Nestled against the stunning backdrop of Mount Serapong, with its colonial landmarks and beguiling tropical rainforest, and stunning views of the South China Sea wherever you look, the need to protect the environment and secure a viable legacy is obvious.
When Sentosa was declared the world’s first carbon neutral golf club, it came after years of focusing on key environmental issues, driving local economies and a keen awareness of the impact the Club has on its surroundings. The Club launched its first sustainability campaign, #KeepitGreen, at the 2018 Singapore Open, which was designed to raise awareness for golf participation in Singapore and also sustainable practices within the sport.
Sentosa Golf Club adopted practices now common place at other events. Banning single use plastics, saving over 150,000 plastic bottles a year, encouraging and providing habitats for local bees, slashing its water use by switching to a single-head control irrigation system, improving the efficiency of spraying equipment and installing waste food and horticultural waste digesters.
A second sustainability campaign – GAME ON – was introduced in 2020, which saw Sentosa become the first golf club in the world to join the United Nations Sports for Climate Action Initiative. The following year, at the HSBC Women’s World Championship, the Club also committed to becoming the world’s first carbon neutral golf club, achieving its aim in March 2023. The Club continues to set the pace in terms of its
progressive outlook for the decades to come. The considerations even extend to the construction and materials used on the course, namely the introduction of biochar into its soil profile. Using this charcoal-based material means a significant reduction in the frequency of using harmful fertilisers and almost completely eradicating the need for pesticides. Where Sentosa leads, others follow.
We are truly honoured to jointly chair Sentosa Golf Club’s 50th Anniversary Committee. To commemorate this milestone year, our celebrations have taken us down memory lane as we journey through the illustrious years from a humble golf club to become an iconic and world-renowned institution, and it is all captured in this book.
We can boast of two championship golf courses, widely recognised as among the best in the world, hosting major international golf events yearly and bringing pride to every Singaporean. We are proud to have Members who are all successful individuals, captains of their industries and golfers at heart,
each and everyone proud to be a Member and a part of our success.
All this would not have been possible without our highly motivated management team and staff who have dedicated all their energy, sweat and love for the Club.
In closing, we wish to thank our fellow committee members for all their contributions and a special mention to General Manager Andrew Johnston, whose leadership has brought the Club to where we are today. Cheers to another 50 illustrious years.
Cheers to another 50 illustrious years.
Credits:
Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship
Barclays Singapore Open
HSBC Women’s World Championship
LIV Golf
Sentosa Development Corporation
SMBC Singapore Open
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