Four golf courses to close by 2035, leaving Singapore with 12 courses
Singapore is set to lose four more golf courses by 2035, reducing the total number from 16 to 12, as land is reallocated for housing and other national priorities. The Ministry of Law (MinLaw) announced that the leases or tenancies for Mandai Executive Golf Course, Warren Golf and Country Club, Orchid Country Club, and Tanah Merah Country Club’s Garden Course will not be renewed.
This follows the closure of Marina Bay Golf Course in June 2024, whose land will partially house the upcoming Bay East Garden. The latest round of closures reflects Singapore’s ongoing shift in land use to meet growing needs for housing, education, and infrastructure.
The Mandai Executive Golf Course will be the first to go, with its lease ending in 2026. The Ministry of Education plans to redevelop the site into an Outdoor Adventure Learning Centre. In 2030, Warren Golf and Country Club (51ha) and Orchid Country Club (107ha) will close, with their sites already zoned for residential use. Tanah Merah’s Garden Course (50ha) will shut in 2035 to support uses related to Changi Airport.
Leases for two other courses – Singapore Island Country Club’s Bukit Course and Keppel Club’s Sime Course – will also expire in 2030, with portions potentially allocated for public golf or NTUC operations.
After 2035, Singapore will have 12 golf courses. Two, including the Kranji course at the National Service Resort and Country Club and Sentosa Golf Club’s Serapong Course, will have their leases renewed until 2040. Seven more courses, with a combined land area of 564 hectares, will see their leases expire in 2040.
These include:
- SICC’s Island location (45 holes)
- Changi Golf Club (9 holes)
- Laguna National Golf Resort Club (36 holes)
- Seletar Country Club (18 holes)
- NSRCC (Changi) (18 holes)
- Sentosa Golf Club’s Tanjong Course (18 holes)
- Tanah Merah’s Tampines Course (18 holes)
A final course, Sembawang Country Club (18 holes), is operated by Mindef under a licence agreement.
MinLaw stressed that lease renewals are determined by broader national priorities, and that no new land will be set aside for golf. Clubs losing their courses can explore transitioning into social clubs or renting state properties.
Membership brokers say long-term pricing may rise due to reduced supply. While the immediate market reaction has been muted, brokers note rising interest in clubs with longer lease terms. Prices for clubs like Seletar have already increased since the announcement.
Experts say the changes align with Singapore’s goal to create more accessible and inclusive recreational spaces, shifting away from large land-use activities like golf. The Singapore Golf Association and NSRCC will also establish a second centre of excellence to nurture national talent and promote youth participation in the sport.
