{"id":58212,"date":"2022-08-19T17:26:38","date_gmt":"2022-08-19T09:26:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.99.co\/singapore\/insider\/?p=58212"},"modified":"2023-06-09T13:48:49","modified_gmt":"2023-06-09T05:48:49","slug":"golf-courses-redeveloped-housing","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.99.co\/singapore\/insider\/golf-courses-redeveloped-housing\/","title":{"rendered":"Will more golf courses get redeveloped for housing?"},"content":{"rendered":"
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When the news about Orto having to move out of its current premises to make way for housing came out, many people were not pleased<\/a>. A lot have highlighted that Singapore doesn\u2019t have many recreational places like Orto.<\/p>\n

Some have also questioned why golf courses do not get redeveloped for housing instead. Such as this Hardwarezone user.<\/p>\n

\"Orto<\/a>
Source: Hardwarezone<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

According to a Ministry of Law press release<\/a>, as of 2014, Singapore had 17 golf courses (14 were private, while three were public). In total, these golf courses had been occupying around 1,500 hectares of land.<\/p>\n

Given the lack of land supply and high demand for housing in Singapore, it makes sense to redevelop golf courses for residential use.<\/p>\n

The sport itself has seen decreased popularity over the past decade. It\u2019s also cheaper to golf in other countries such as Malaysia and Indonesia.<\/p>\n

Golf course leases are also expensive. For instance, the lease renewal premium for the period 2022 to 2024 for the Tampines course of Tanah Merah Country Club is S$30.1 million. For a shorter lease period from 2022 to 2035 for its Garden course, the cost is S$15 million. This has prompted the country club to ask each member<\/a> to pay S$19,000 to fund the lease renewal in 2017.<\/p>\n

Most golf courses here are located on land plots with a 30-year leasehold tenure. While some can have their leases renewed, others will have to return the land to the state at the end of the lease.<\/p>\n

As noted in the 2014 press release, given that golf courses are land intensive, the amount of land used for golf courses will be reduced over time. The returned plot of land will be redeveloped for other uses such as housing and public infrastructure.<\/p>\n

Since then, three golf courses have closed. Their sites have either been acquired by the government, or were not offered lease renewal.<\/p>\n

Golf courses that are making way for housing and other uses in the past 10 years<\/h2>\n

Keppel Club<\/h3>\n

The land lease for Keppel Club had initially expired on 31 December 2021, before Singapore Land Authority gave it a six-month extension to 30 June 2022 to move to the Singapore Island Country Club\u2019s Sime Course. The club was also given a nine-month extension to 31 March 2023 to demolish the clubhouse and reinstate the site.<\/p>\n

The site is part of the Greater Southern Waterfront (GSW)<\/a>, and will be used for housing. In April, National Development Minister Desmond Lee announced that the first HDB BTO<\/a> project will be launched at the site in three years<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\"Keppel<\/a>
View of the Keppel Club and Reflections at Keppel Bay<\/a>.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Around 6,000 units will be public housing, while the other 3,000 units will be private housing. These will be progressively launched in the next three to five years.<\/p>\n

Jurong Country Club<\/h3>\n

The lease of Jurong Country Club was supposed to expire in May 2035<\/a>. But it was acquired by the government in 2016 for the Kuala Lumpur-Singapore High-Speed Rail (HSR) project that was later terminated on 1 January 2021.<\/p>\n

The former site of Jurong Country Club is now a white zone. So the plot can be for commercial, hotel, residential or recreational purposes.<\/p>\n

Given that it\u2019s located in the heart of Jurong Lake District, we expect mixed-use developments to be built here.<\/p>\n

(We previously wrote about what the land can be used for here<\/a>.)<\/p>\n

As noted in the Long Term Plan<\/a> (unveiled in June), the area has been marked as a commercial and business park node.<\/p>\n

\"URA<\/a>
The Long Term Plan that was unveiled in June. Image credit: URA<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"long<\/a>
A closer look of the former site of Jurong Country Club on the Long Term Plan. The site is located in the heart of Jurong Lake District. Image credit: URA<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Raffles Country Club<\/h3>\n

Jurong Country Club wasn\u2019t the only golf course that had to make way for the HSR project. A year later in 2017, the government acquired Raffles Country Club. Its original lease expiry was November 2028.<\/p>\n

The Integrated Train Testing Centre is now currently being built<\/a> at this site. It\u2019s expected to be fully operational in 2024.<\/p>\n

Marina Bay Golf Course<\/h3>\n

The land lease for Marina Bay Golf Course is ending in July 2024, and was not given an option to renew its lease. As of writing, the plot is marked as a reserve site on the 2019 URA Master Plan<\/a>.<\/p>\n

At the same time, we note that next to the golf course site is the Bay East Garden of Gardens by the Bay. Here\u2019s also where the upcoming Founder\u2019s Memorial<\/a> and its MRT will open in 2027<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\"Artist's<\/a>
Artist’s impression of the view of the Promenade at Founder’s Memorial. Image Credit: Kengo Kuma & Associates and K2LD Architects<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

So it\u2019s possible that this area will have a park, museum or gallery in future.<\/p>\n

When we take a closer look at the Long Term Plan, this site is a future development area that\u2019s close to the Long Island<\/a> \u2013 a proposed reclaimed land stretching from Marina East to Changi. So another possibility is that we\u2019ll have coastal parks and recreational spaces at the Marina Bay Golf Course site.<\/p>\n

\"long<\/a>
A closer look of the Marina Bay Golf Course on the Long Term Plan. Image credit: URA<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Are there any more golf courses that may potentially make way for housing?<\/h2>\n

When we looked closer at the 2019 URA Master Plan and the recently unveiled Long Term Plan, we found a few more golf courses that could potentially be redeveloped for housing.<\/p>\n

Champions Golf Course<\/h3>\n

Champions Golf Course, previously known as Green Fairways, will be another golf course making way for housing. The golf course is currently located at Turf City, in which tenancies there have been extended till end-2023.<\/p>\n

The site has already been designated for residential use since 1998. Here\u2019s what it\u2019s like to live in the Turf City area<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Given that the site is located next to the Good Class Bungalow (GCB)<\/a> areas of Binjai Park, Swiss Club Road, Eng Neo Avenue and Raffles Park, we\u2019ll probably see a mix of luxury condos and landed homes here.<\/p>\n

Orchid Country Club<\/h3>\n

It looks like one of the golf courses near Orto will also make way for housing.<\/p>\n

According to the 2014 MinLaw press release<\/a>, Orchid Country Club was given an option to renew its lease till December 2030, after which there will be no more lease renewals.<\/p>\n

Currently, the plot is a reserve site on the 2019 URA Master Plan. And the Long Term Plan indicates that there are plans for it to be redeveloped for housing.<\/p>\n

\"Orchid<\/a>
A closer look of Orchid Country Club on the Long Term Plan, which marks the site as a residential area. Image credit: URA<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

We think redeveloping it for housing makes sense, especially given its proximity to HDB flats and condos.<\/p>\n

Warren Golf and Country Club<\/h3>\n

Warren Golf and Country Club may also be potentially making way for housing. Its current lease is set to expire in October 2030.<\/p>\n

Although the plot is currently marked as a reserve site, its accessibility makes it an ideal site for housing.<\/p>\n

Firstly, it\u2019s located along Kranji Expressway. Public transport is pretty accessible as well, with Choa Chu Kang MRT<\/a> and Lot One around a 10-minute drive away.<\/p>\n

More importantly, it\u2019s near a residential area. Across the expressway, you can find HDB blocks, as well as Bukit Panjang Government High School.<\/p>\n