The Singapore golf community is facing unprecedented changes as the Ministry of Law announced the closure of six major golf courses by 2035. This comprehensive guide covers everything you need to know about these closures and their impact on Singapore’s golf landscape.
1. Which Golf Courses Are Closing in Singapore? Singapore Golf Course Closure status
Immediate Closures (2026)
Mandai Executive Golf Course – Singapore’s only public golf course will close on December 31, 2026. The land will be repurposed by the Ministry of Education for an Outdoor Adventure Learning Centre.
Mid-Term Closures (2030)
Warren Golf & Country Club (Choa Chu Kang) – Lease expires October 31, 2030
Orchid Country Club (Yishun) – Lease expires December 31, 2030
Keppel Club’s Sime Course – Closing by 2030
Warren Golf & Country Club
Long-Term Closures (2035)
Singapore Island Country Club’s Bukit Course (Sime Road)
Tanah Merah Country Club’s Garden Course (Changi)
Singapore’s golf landscape has already seen significant changes over the years:
Raffles Country Club – Previously closed
Jurong Country Club – Previously closed
Mandai Executive Golf Course – Had already received extensions before final closure announcement
2. Why Are Singapore Golf Courses Closing?
The Ministry of Law cited long-term land use planning as the primary reason for these closures. Singapore needs to balance limited land resources between recreational facilities and critical national needs including:
Housing development
Economic activities
Security infrastructure
Educational facilities
The six golf courses span 338 hectares, representing one-third of all land currently occupied by golf courses in Singapore.
3. Impact on Singapore’s Golf Community
By the Numbers
140,000 active golfers regularly play on Singapore’s courses
75,000 additional golfers use indoor simulators and short courses
6 out of 16 golf courses will close within the next decade
Community Response
The Singapore Golf Association acknowledged that these closures will be “deeply felt across the golf fraternity,” particularly given the sport’s recent successes at national and international levels.
4. Golf Course Membership Prices and Impact
Singapore’s premium golf clubs have historically commanded high membership fees:
Singapore Island Country Club (SICC): S$350,000 – S$600,000 depending on membership type
Transfer fees: S$50,000 – S$155,555
Expected impact: Remaining club memberships likely to increase in value due to reduced supply
5. What This Means for Singapore Golfers
Immediate Concerns
Loss of public access: No dedicated public golf course after 2026 until after 2030
Reduced playing opportunities: Fewer courses available for the growing golf community
Increased competition: Higher demand for remaining courses
Government’s Commitment
The Ministry of Law stated it will “balance the access to golfing facilities by private golf club members and the general public so that there can be golf courses catering to different segments of the golfing community.”
6. Timeline of Singapore Golf Course Closures
7. Alternatives for Singapore Golfers once all listed golf course is finally closed
Indoor Golf Options
Golf simulators (75,000 current users)
Short courses and practice facilities
Driving ranges
Regional Options
Malaysian golf courses (Johor Bahru area)
Golf tourism to nearby countries: Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia…
Corporate golf packages
What is the future of Golf in Singapore
The government has indicated that new public golf facilities may be developed after 2030, though specific details remain unclear. The focus appears to be on creating facilities that serve different segments of the golfing community while maximizing land use efficiency.
Summary:
Six golf courses will close between 2026-2035
338 hectares of golf course land will be repurposed
No public golf course will be available from 2027-2030
Land use planning prioritizes housing and national infrastructure
Golf community of 215,000 people will be significantly impacted
The closure of these golf courses represents a major shift in Singapore’s recreational landscape, affecting thousands of golfers and reshaping the future of the sport in the city-state.
Last updated: July 2025. Information based on official announcements from Singapore’s Ministry of Law and golf industry sources.
