Sime course officially opens to members and the public

Keppel Club officially opened the Sime course on March 18, 2023, under a hybrid model that serves both its members and members of the public, according to the club¹. The club states it becomes the first and only club in Singapore to operate a public golf course this way¹. The opening, themed "kai da loh" (meaning "Game on" in Mandarin), was graced by Emeritus Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong and Transport Minister S. Iswaran¹.

The renovation of the Sime course was completed on Oct 22, 2022, with renovation works having commenced on Jan 1, 2022¹. Under the agreement with Sport SG, Keppel Club will manage the public course as a hybrid, with 40% of flights set aside for its members, and the remaining 60% available for members of the public¹.

The club traces its origins to Keppel Golf Club, founded on 15 November 1904, which began as a three-hole course in a nutmeg plantation¹. It later merged with the old Singapore Harbour Board to form Keppel Club¹. In 1992 it signed a 30-year land lease agreement with SLA and paid $18 million upfront for the lease¹. The government later announced it would not extend the land lease, with plans to develop the 44-hectare site into housing¹.

The club's timeline also records that the Jackpot Lounge ceases operations on Dec 31, 2023 due to low visitorship¹. Members continued to enjoy golfing at Bukit Chermin up to June 30, 2022 and the clubhouse, indoor tennis and driving range up to Sep 30, 2022¹. The club was required to return the reinstated land to SLA by 31 March 2023¹.

What it means for players

For golfers in Singapore, the Sime course is run as a hybrid: 40% of flights are reserved for Keppel Club members and 60% are available to the public, under the club's agreement with Sport SG¹. That split is the practical detail for anyone who is not a member and wants to book a flight, since public access depends on the share of tee times set aside. The club describes itself as the first and only club in Singapore to operate a public golf course under a hybrid model¹. The closure of the Jackpot Lounge on Dec 31, 2023 due to low visitorship is also recorded by the club¹; no further detail on that closure is given in the club's account.

What happens next

The club's timeline states that the Jackpot Lounge ceases operations on Dec 31, 2023 due to low visitorship¹. No further dated steps for the Sime course or the club's other facilities have been reported¹.

For general background on gambling in the country, see Can I Gamble in Singapore?.