As 2018 draws to a close, we would like to thank everyone for their unwavering support for Team SG Golf and all SGA initiatives. Working towards our mission and realising our vision, we aim to grow the game of golf in Singapore and increase participation. Golf is game that teaches us great life values and respect for one another. Our High Performance Program serves as an avenue to nurture local talent and groom athletes to realise their dreams. Our program emphasises on character development and striving for personal excellence.
Not forgetting our avid golfers in Singapore, SGA continues to promote camaraderie amongst our members through the Inter-Club League which consist of both men and women. The divisions are separated to ensure all demographics of golfers are represented. The massive drive for junior development has been an ongoing effort for the association. Two years ago, we started with 6 junior tournaments and ended the year with over 16 tournaments. Our Junior Squad has since then been exposed to more training and overseas tournament exposure. Our junior and development squad golfers have been steadily improving at international stages and flying our Singapore flag up high wherever they compete. For our more senior team members, Gregory Foo and Abdul Hadi kick started their professional career to join Marc Ong, Jesse Yap and Joshua Shou in our Rookie Professional Program. Our National Elite Team will be going through a transitional stage where our younger athletes will start to step up to the challenge to represent in major games. Both our Rookie Professionals and Elite Squad athletes also found themselves a national training base at Laguna National Golf and Country Club.
In 2018, SGA concluded our first Golf Industry Report and has since then started our 4-year strategic plans to curb with all the challenges ahead. The report also provided golfers and industry partners a better understanding of the golfing community as well as consumer preferences. The HSBC Women’s World Championship 2018 and our SMBC Singapore Open 2018 which were both held at Sentosa Golf Club’s Tanjong and Serapong course won Gold “Best Women’s Sports Event of the Year” and awarded Bronze “Best International Sporting Event of the Year” respectively at the Asia’s Sports Industry Awards. Apart from the two professional events mentioned, Sentosa Golf Club successfully crowned the 1st Women’s Amateur Asia-Pacific champion and 10th Asia-Pacific Amateur champion. Both top amateur tournaments were played on the Tanjong course. Sentosa Golf Club also graciously offered all our national representatives whether amateur or professionals special access and practice privilege to both Serapong and Tanjong course for preparation months before the events. All four events were telecasted internationally, showcasing the beauty of Singapore and welcoming tourist across the world to come visit.
Although we have lost two golf clubs (Jurong Country Club and Raffles Country Club) alongside partial land in some clubs, the future of golf in Singapore remains in all our hands. Collectively as one big family and as a united community, we can look forward to many more good golfing years to come.
SGA would like to use this opportunity to thank all our sponsors and donors for their generous support towards our golf development initiatives; parents and athletes for their unwavering dedication; and most importantly to our golf clubs and members for graciously supporting our events open-heartedly.
To more Birdies and Eagles,
Season’s Greetings and a Happy New Year!
From All of US
(Singapore Golf Association)