Sentosa Golf Club marks golden jubilee with public golf day
More than 200 lucky golfers grabbed the chance to play on its famous Serapong course for a green fee of only S$50
SAMSON Gimson, once Singapore’s top-ranked professional golfer, has fond memories of his stint at Sentosa Golf Club (SGC) – 50 years old this year – where he was a caddie, then a marshal and then, a player.
The 60-year-old, who played on the Japan Tour for four years in the 1990s, said it was his good fortune that SGC – not long after its establishment in 1974 – saw his potential and took him under its wing.
As a caddie in the late-1980s, he learned everything he needed to know about the game, and after countless hours on the course and dozens of competitions, he became Singapore’s best golfer, first as an amateur, and then a professional.
Gimson’s most notable accolades from his career were winning the Nikkei Cup in 1993, and the gold medal at the 1989 South-east Asian Games in Kuala Lumpur.
Now a teaching professional, he recalled how he enjoyed being at SGC so much that he was there every single day of the week. In the early years, visitors to the club had to get to Sentosa from Singapore’s mainland by sampan, a small boat typically made of wood. The ferry service from the harbour came only much later.
Memories such as these are what make SGC special for the thousands of members, staff and guests who have been part of the club’s rich history over the last 50 years. The current membership fee is around S$520,000.
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SGC general manager Andrew Johnston rattled off some of the high points of the club over the decades.
“Everyone will remember clearly American Paula Creamer’s iconic 75-foot downhill eagle putt on the second play-off hole at the 2014 HSBC Women’s World Championship,” he said. “That moment is etched in the club’s history as a display of world-class golf on one of the most challenging holes at Serapong – the par-five 18th.”
It was also at Serapong that Australian Adam Scott secured his hat-trick of Barclays Singapore Open victories, finishing top in 2005, 2006 and 2010.
Voted the world’s best course last year after a series of top-50 rankings, SGC has also been recognised as the world’s most eco-friendly golf club for the last three years in a row.
Built on reclaimed land, it was designed by American golf course architect Ronald Fream and opened for play in 1982.
The course, known for its views of the Central Business District and the Singapore Strait, is a favourite of many of the world’s top players past and present.
“It’s challenging, but fair. While the course often wins, you never get tired of trying to beat her,” said Johnston.
“As it has matured, it has only become more refined and elegant. Its transformation into one of the world’s best courses isn’t solely due to its design and playability.”
Two-time Major champion Bryson DeChambeau said of Serapong: “The course is exciting. It’s a good test of golf, and the greens are in immaculate shape. What I enjoy most are the pristine conditions, great fans and a good atmosphere.”
Its sister course Tanjong has its own unique features, including a mix of relatively easy and tough approaches to the long holes.
South Korean Ko Jin Young, the 2022 and 2023 HSBC Women’s world champion, said: “Golfers love playing at Sentosa Golf Club. Singapore is a favourite destination for players, and we always look forward to playing at Tanjong, with its beautiful sights and amazing atmosphere.”
On Monday (Oct 7), SGC – to mark its golden jubilee – offered golfers the chance to play on the Serapong course – rated the best in Singapore – for a green fee of just S$50. More than 200 people turned up for a public golf day, with 56 available flights.
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