Free up golf courses for other sports
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Apr 8, 2010 - ST Forum
LAND CRUNCHFree up golf courses for other sports
IN HIS letter, 'Land, not money, is the primary problem' (March 30), Mr Andrew Williams bemoaned the dearth of permanent spaces for recreational sports in Singapore.
In the light of increasing enthusiasm for these pursuits among the young, he reasoned that more land, rather than money, needs to be found to meet their needs.
We may not have to look far for such land.
In a report last year ('Plots of greenery for recreation and friendship'), 300 plots totalling 582ha of open spaces were made available for recreational use free of charge.
This is roughly the size of 892 football pitches. There is no indication that this area will be enlarged in tandem with the increasing popularity of sports.
Yet, in contrast, to date we have built 22 golf courses, most of which are 18-holed oases to cater to a sport whose following is a mere 2 per cent of all regular sports participants, according to the Singapore Sports Council's National Sports Participation Survey in 2005.
Discounting the driving ranges, these 22 courses occupy about 1,400ha of land, if one makes the conservative calculation of pegging each course at an average of 65ha each.
The 1,400ha of land is equivalent to 2,200 football pitches.
Given the disparity in space allocation for sports and recreation, it is easy to conclude that golf courses, especially in the context of land-scarce Singapore, are hogging far more state land than is necessary.
The old rationale that the land cannot be used for other developments strains credulity.
Regardless of the innumerable justifications, ranging from health to economic well-being, for turning vast stretches of premium land into golf courses for the pleasure of a small minority, the question that must be asked in the context of a land squeeze for sports is: Do we really need 22?
We must free up in stages some of our golf courses for the sake of the growing number of sports-loving children who need the space to play and grow into robust and health-conscious adults. The extent of benefits far outweighs those that golf can provide.
Lee Seck Kay
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They need more golf courses for the elites to relax.
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simi state land?
didn't the country clubs pay the gabrament for the land?
and if the gabrament sold it to them, all we can do is suck thumb and then take it out on the gabrament for their stupidity
the same way we should take it out on the gabrament for selling the markets to Sheng Siong then kpkb about it...
they think we what? Mabok izzit?
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The elites don't go wet markets but like to play golf.
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Apr 9, 2010 - ST Forum
Golf courses can be green and non-elitist
I REFER to Mr Lee Seck Kay's letter yesterday, 'Free up golf courses for other sports'.
I agree. The old excuse that golf courses were built only near reservoirs does not hold water any more.
Golf courses should not only be shared with other sports, but should also allow native biodiversity to return and thrive.
This can be done by creating tree links between golf courses - like park connectors - for native fauna to move freely and create a larger gene pool.
If these connectors are wide and dense enough, they can eventually be used by nature lovers.
Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong recently urged Singaporeans to make immigrants feel welcome. Isn't it time golf clubs shed their elitist image and made Singaporeans and visitors welcome?
Grant W. Pereira
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Open for FTs but not the ordinary Singaporeans.
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Apr 16, 2010 - ST Forum
Golf course sites have constraints, so less suited for community sports
WE THANK Mr Lee Seck Kay ('Free up golf courses for other sports'; April 8) and Mr Grant W. Pereira ('Golf courses can be green and non-elitist'; last Friday) for their feedback.
As part of the comprehensive land-use planning process, the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) works closely with government agencies to ensure that sufficient land is set aside for economic, social and recreational uses. For sports, the URA and the Singapore Sports Council (SSC) plan for a range of facilities to cater to the interests of different groups.
At present, the SSC promotes participation in sports through its comprehensive network of public sports facilities, such as some 20 stadiums, 24 swimming complexes and 16 multi-purpose sports halls, most of which are located within residential areas so they are easily accessible to the community.
In addition, through the collaboration with the Ministry of Education (MOE), there are 130 school fields and 30 school sports halls available for public use over the weekend under the Dual Use Scheme.
Most existing golf courses are located in areas with various constraints which mean development potential of the land is limited. Examples include areas with noise and height constraints, such as in the vicinity of airports.
Such sites are also generally farther from residential areas, and hence less suitable for community sports facilities.
Nonetheless, in reviewing land use plans, the URA will weigh competing land use needs and assess how much land should be set aside for golf courses in the long term.
Hwang Yu-Ning (Ms)
Group Director (Physical Planning)
Urban Redevelopment AuthorityJose Raymond
Deputy Director (Media Relations & Social Media)
Singapore Sports Council