SINGAPORE — Over the past few years, Sentosa Golf Club’s (SGC) Serapong Course has not only witnessed many memorable moments from the HSBC Women’s Champions but has also been hailed by top women golfers like Lydia Ko and Park In-Bee as one of the world’s most challenging courses.

However, the par-72, 6,675-metre course may not continue as the venue for the 10th edition of the annual event, which is widely regarded as Asia’s Major. Instead, there are plans to host next year’s tournament at the Tanjong Course, the SGC’s other course, to mark and commemorate its rehaul and renovation.

This was revealed to TODAY by SGC president Low Teo Ping yesterday. Speaking on the sidelines of the HSBC Women’s Champions host country qualifying tournament press conference, Low said renovation works on the Tanjong Course started last November, and that the S$32 million project would be completed by this November. The new course, to be called the New Tanjong Course, could also possibly host next year’s HSBC Women’s Champions.

“The vision is for the HSBC Women’s Champions to be hosted at the New Tanjong Course (in future),” said Low. “Tournament organiser IMG and (title-sponsor) HSBC have looked at our plans, at our design, and they are very keen. We now have one of our golf courses in the world’s top 100 list, and our aim is to get the other course into the top 100 as well.”

Low was referring to the Serapong Course making it into Golf Digest’s decorated list of the World’s 100 Greatest Golf Courses for the first time earlier this week. It was ranked 58th, the highest among South-east Asia courses and the only Singapore course to make the list. The Tanjong Course — which was opened in 1972 — was last remodelled in 1993 for S$40 million.

Low said the new Tanjong Course will give the world’s top women golfers who come annually for the HSBC Women’s Champions a refreshing and top-class venue to play in.

“It will be very different from the previous golf course in terms of design,” he said. “The aim is to use technology and methods that have never ever been employed before. For example, we have incorporated robotic mowing that will eventually be used. We have incorporated a system called sub-air that will help preserve the greens in pristine conditions.

“The course has seen its years, and it is important that we have to rejuvenate it. It was very playable, but what people do not usually see is what matters, which is the underground drainage, the piping, and other things which were a concern as it would affect maintenance costs too.”

More significantly, said Low, the New Tanjong Course will be aesthetically appealing and just as challenging as the Serapong Course, if not more. “We take into consideration that it must be aesthetically appealing, and challenging,” he said.

“Serapong is always there to surprise any player. It really challenges anyone, and designed in such a way that it doesn’t penalise who play well — the New Tanjong Course must be the same, if not better.”