Safeguarding Singapore's golf clubs

IT is no secret that a relatively high percentage of land in Singapore has been reserved for golf courses.

Before Jurong Country Club's closure last December, golf clubs occupied about 11 per cent of total land area. This island of only 720 sq km has, by a quick count, 14 golf clubs and 27 courses. This is certainly not par for the course.

Raffles Country Club is due to shut next June, and the land area of its two 18-hole courses will be freed up for the building of a high-speed rail line and housing and commercial properties linked by roads, as well as the setting up of green lungs.