Giving back to the community

THE number of golf courses in Singapore may soon be decreasing; however, what is increasing each year is the sponsorship of and money raised during charity golf events. Golf has become a major tool and source of fund-raising for charitable causes in Singapore.

The Singapore Island Country Club (SICC) recently held its 44th May Day Charity tournament. This event has raised nearly S$18 million in total over the years (which includes almost S$900,000 in last month's competition) and has benefited a number of charities including the Alzheimer's Disease Association, Food from the Heart, Lion's Home for the Elders and the Bone Marrow Donor Programme.

Another club with an active charity drive is Raffles Country Club which has staged its Raffles Charity Day (RCD) event since 1990, and to date has raised around S$6.5 million. This year's RCD takes place on …