Keppel Charity Golf raises record S$2.55m

Singapore

IT was a club that fell into the hands of the Japanese during World War II, and in the almost 4 years of their rule, they built their headquarters on Fairway 1.

The makeshift premises also had a sawmill workshop and jetty with a short railway line running to the eighth tee box.

A golf club that was founded in 1904 with just three holes received a new lease of life in 1948 when the British returned after the war and restored the club. And so, Keppel Golf Club became Keppel Club with a storied history and rich heritage.

The club lobby has a large plaque that screams about the iconic 99 steps.

It reads: "In the mid-1950s, golfing came with a hefty price. Members had to climb up a gruelling flight of 99 steps that connected the ground level of the club to Keppel Hill, all while shouldering the weight of the golf bags."

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Not surprisingly, nostalgia filled the air on Sunday (Oct 17) when Singapore's oldest golf club, which moves out of the Bukit Chermin harbour area to Sime Road in 2022, staged its final charity golf event and raised a record S$2.55 million.

Last year, the amount raised was S$1.57 million, with S$700,000 going to the President's Challenge.

When guest-of-honour President Halimah Yacob graced Sunday's afternoon tee-off, it was a prelude to bringing the curtain down on a significant event that, over the years, had underlined the generosity of the Keppel Club management, members and corporate partners.

What used to be a weekend event was stretched to two weekends because of the overwhelming response from 950 golfers which sees Keppel Club donating a record S$1.2 million to the President's Challenge in support of 93 charities with the remaining money divided among 18 other local beneficiaries.

President Halimah, who autographed a golf bag, said: "Despite the unprecedented challenges caused by Covid-19, Keppel Club has remained steadfast in your commitment to support the underprivileged in our community.

She added: "Your generosity will make a difference to the 93 President's Challenge benefiting agencies that span a wide range of sectors, including healthcare, eldercare, disability, children, families and youth, sports, arts and rehabilitation."

Keppel Club chairman Tan Chong Meng said: "This is a special occasion, our 51st and last Keppel Charity. By this time next year, the golf course may already be crowded with bulldozers. We leave Bukit Chermin after 118 years on an auspicious and high note. But this is not a swan song, but a grand finale to celebrate our faithful donors over the years."

At a separate fundraiser last week, RHT Rajan Menon Foundation raised over S$520,000 at its sixth annual charity golf event held at Sentosa Golf Club. The guest-of-honour for this year's event was Trade and Industry Minister Gan Kim Yong.

The funds raised from this year's charity golf event will support various beneficiaries and causes, including education, eldercare as well as the environment and sustainability.

These include the Singapore Management University Pro Bono Centre, PCF Sparkle Care Centres and Nature Society (Singapore).

Since its inception in 2015, the foundation has raised more than S$3 million for more than 15 charitable organisations in line with the foundation's philanthropic focus areas of education, the environment and sustainability, disadvantaged groups as well as the arts and sports.