Sembawang Country Club was founded by British Marines in 1967 and one year later, the Prime Minister opened an official nine-hole golf course. In 1977, the full 18-hole golf course was opened by Dr Goh Keng Swee and developments have been ongoing ever since, with a new golf course, inaugurated in 2013 and brand new facilities to match.
Sembawang Country Club is located just 20 kilometres of north of Singapore centre and can be easily reached via a combination of the Central Expressway and the Seletar Expressway. The course is just under 6,500 yards in length and plays to a par-72, with woodland being the predominant feature, both around the outside of the golf course and along many of the fairways.
Known locally as the ‘commando course’ due to the fact it was first created by Royal Marines and New Zealand armed forces, visitors will need a buggy to make the most of their round, with hilly terrain throughout. A number of the holes are tight, framed by the jungle and monkeys can often be spotted watching on. Water comes into play on a number of holes at Sembawang Country Club and this becomes apparent from the first tee, with water present down the left and right side of the fairway.
The front nine holes are a good test but things really begin to pick up during the back nine. The undulating nature of the terrain increases and the 11th and 12th holes are perhaps the pick of the whole round. The 11th is a par-4 and features a large pond on the left of the fairway, stretching up to the front-left of the green. The 12th hole is also a par-4 but starts with a tee shot over a pond, followed by an uphill second shot to the green, protected by a bunker at the front-right. The 16th hole is also worthy of a mention, as it’s a testing par-5, with a blind fairway off the tee and water situated to the front-right of the green.
Off the course, there is a driving range, pro-shop, lounge, gym, an indoor playroom and an outdoor playground. Therefore, Sembawang Country Club is suitable for families, with plenty to do for those who do not wish to step onto the golf course.
The golf course at Sembawang Country Club is very well maintained and should be on the itinerary of every golfer who is staying in Singapore.