Sentosa’s Serapong Course rated best by Asian Tour golfers

SINGAPORE — The accolades keep coming for Sentosa Golf Club (SGC), after its Serapong Course was voted the Best Golf Course in 2016 by players on the Asian Tour.

It is a timely award for Serapong Course ahead of its hosting of the SMBC Singapore Open next month from Jan 19 to 22.

“On behalf of my team, we are humbled and honoured to be selected by the Asian Tour as venue of the year,” said Andrew Johnston, SGC’s general manager and director of agronomy. “The SMBC Singapore Open is one of the first events of the season, with many other strong venues the players visit and compete at during the season. To stand out as the best is a tribute to the dedication of my team at Sentosa Golf Club.

“It’s an honour to be one of the flagship events of the Asian Tour. We are looking forward to January and bringing the SMBC Singapore Open to life just after the new year begins. I would like to thank, in advance, all those who are working to make it happen.”

The Asian Tour award is another feather in the cap for Sentosa. In 2015, Sentosa Golf Club was for the first time ranked in Golf Digest’s World’s Greatest Top-100 Golf Courses, earning the recognition that it has the region’s No 1 layout. It clinched the 58th spot globally, making it South-east Asia’s best golf course and the only Singapore golf course that has been ranked in the table’s history.

The Serapong Course has also been named Best Golf Course in Singapore by Golf Digest Singapore and Swing since 2009. The course was opened in 1982 and underwent a S$12 million upgrade in 2007.

Next month’s Singapore Open will mark the ninth occasion that SGC has hosted the Republic’s marquee golf event. It will feature Adam Scott, a three-time champion, Ernie Els and Sergio Garcia, who is playing in the tournament for the first time.

“This is tremendous validation for Sentosa Golf Club,” said Patrick Feizal Joyce, vice-president, golf (Asia), Lagardere Sports, the promoter of the Singapore Open. “There is no one better to measure the club’s quality than the region’s best players and we as promoter are truly thankful, and congratulate Sentosa Golf Club.”