A century of memories: SICC’s Bukit golf course marks milestone in style
The 18-hole course has played host to dozens of international events over the past 100 years
NEARLY 30 years ago, I recall standing in a crowd and trying to peer through the gaps between many bobbing heads when I spotted the gutsy Madasamy Murugiah displaying the Singapore spirit of efficiency.
That was back in 1995, and we were at the pristine fairway towards the fringe of the final green of the 18th hole of Singapore Island Country Club’s (SICC) highly-acclaimed Bukit course.
Reminiscing about that day as he competed at the Singapore Open, Murugiah, who’s currently the president of The Singapore Professional Golfers’ Association, said: “I chipped brilliantly to near the hole and sank a birdie putt to secure fourth position.”
That feat remains the best finish by a Singaporean golfer since the Singapore Open was inaugurated in 1961, and it was fitting that the crowd roared with approval on that sunny day.
From an overnight 14th spot, Muru – as he is more affectionately known in the local golfing community – leapt 10 places with a final-round five-under 66 with six birdies and a bogey to earn a prize cheque of US$18,480.
Earlier, he just missed registering an ace when his three-wood on the 204-metre 12th hole was only a couple of rolls short of the pin.
That Murugiah thoroughly enjoyed the round – finishing five behind eventual winner Steven Conran of Australia – was evident in the way his supporters hugged and lifted him off the ground.
The multi-award winning Bukit course – which borders MacRitchie Reservoir and is famous for its challenging layout and scenic beauty – has played host to countless such scenes over the years.
On Aug 31, SICC will celebrate this heritage course’s centenary in style with a plaque that will be unveiled in a ceremony graced by Emeritus Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong.
As part of the festivities, a Heritage Gallery that traces Bukit’s history has been built with the help of long-time SICC member Jeanette Foo, who contributed all her memorabilia, pictures and newspaper cuttings to the project.
World-class course
The foundations of the course was laid in 1924 by John Middleton Sime.
Since then, it has played host to many international events including the 1969 World Cup, the 1993 Johnnie Walker Classic, Rolex Masters (1973 to 1998), at least 28 Singapore Opens (1962 to 1995) and the inaugural Caltex Singapore Masters in 2001.
Among the global stars that have set foot on the greens include Nick Faldo, Lee Trevino, Ian Woosnam and Vijay Singh.
The course was designed by golfing legend and architect James Braid, a five-time British Open Champion. He is known to have led the design and redesign of courses including Carnoustie, Troon, Prestwick and Ballybunion.
He’s also credited with popularising the dogleg hole, a feature that adds strategic depth to a golf course.
The Bukit course is Braid’s only golf course that he has designed in Asia. Interestingly, he designed this course using topographic maps of the area because the Scotsman disliked travelling.
Feats of brilliance
Besides Mugu’s heroics, I’ve witnessed many other memorable triumphs on the Bukit course in the last 50-plus years.
There was the diminutive Singaporean Phua Thin Kiay’s individual win, coupled with the Republic’s team title, in the 1967 Putra Cup.
Phua, who was just 19 years old at the time, edged out hot favourite Luis Silverio of the Philippines – who competed in the US Masters – by a single shot to claim the prestigious trophy.
When I reported on my first Singapore Open in 1973, that was the year when “Mighty Mouse” Ben Arda, also from the Philippines, regained the crown after another play-off victory.
Arda, the 1967 winner who edged out Japan’s Hideyi Sugimoto in a playoff, beat Britain’s Norman Wood on the third extra hole six years later.
Arda admitted later that “I did not have a good round”, but the manner in which he executed his second shot with a four-iron on the par-four 368-mettre hole was sheer magic.
His marvellous shot landed beautifully to just 12 feet from the pin. And when Wood missed an eight-foot putt for a bogey, Arda just had to two-putt to take home the S$10,000 prize.
The Bukit course was also where Singaporean Samson Gimson won the SICC Invitational Amateur Open in 1989.
Many remember Samson for his towering 1.87-metre presence and for how he tamed the difficult course with four sub-par rounds of 69-70-68-68 for a nine-under 275 total.
It was simply immaculate golf by the talented Samson (who’s now 60 years old) as he beat the runner-up by a massive 20-odd shots.
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