Dear fellow golfers,
Happy new year!
As we tee off into 2023, I would like to firstly thank all golfers and stakeholders in the golf industry for your strong support in an eventful 2022.
The start of 2022 continued to be challenging as many activities were still constrained by the COVID-19 restrictions. SGA worked closely with Sport Singapore to develop Safe Management Measures which ensured the safety of golfers during this period, and we thank all golfers and operators for your co-operation in adhering to these measures.
As we entered the second half of the year, these restrictions were gradually eased and we experienced a surge in golf activities. Some of the highlights, based on the three key pillars my Executive Board members and I have identified, are as follows:
Pillar 1: Developing the golf ecosystem
Our vision is for SGA to play a leadership role in strengthening the golf ecosystem from the ground up.
SGA Ambassador Program
We have launched our inaugural SGA ambassador program where key opinion leaders of various backgrounds who are ready to support its vision of encouraging more Singaporeans to play the sport.
Headlined by Singapore’s global Mandopop superstar, JJ Lin, the ambassadors will work closely with SGA to help implement its shared vision of bringing golf closer to the wider population of Singapore and increase the awareness of golf’s many benefits, including social, health and mental well-being.
Other ambassadors who are ready to spread the message that golf is a sport for all include retired politician Lee Bee Wah, Vice-President of Singapore National Olympic Council (SNOC) Jessie Phua, Albert Chiu, Executive Chairman of EFG Bank Asia and Elffy Arifin, a father-of-two and business owner, who hails from a multi-generational family that plays golf.
SGA will continue to foster and maintain strong relationships with key stakeholders in the golf industry including our members, sponsors, donors, academies, equipment companies, as well as regional and international golf federations.
Golf Celebrates National Day
CSR is another area where SGA aims to develop to highlight golf’s ability as a force for good. Held in conjunction with the National Day, SGA organised an inaugural two-day event named “Golf Celebrates National Day” from 4-5 August 2022. This island-wide ground up activation was held with a strong purpose of continuing to reach out to a mass audience and to increase the accessibility of the game of golf.
All clubs in Singapore participated in this event and golfers with no club memberships were given the opportunity to play a round of 18-holes at a discounted rate. Dr Ng Eng Hen, Minister for Defence, graced the event as the Guest-of-Honour alongside sponsors, donors and beneficiaries. $50,000 was raised from this event and all proceeds were donated to the following five beneficiaries including APSN, Asian Women Welfare Association, Life Community Services, Food from the Heart and Clarity Singapore.
SGA Junior Inter-Club League
SGA introduced the inaugural Junior Inter-Club League in 2022 which featured junior golfers 14 years old or younger who proudly represented their clubs. The Junior Inter-Club League provided budding juniors with a platform not only to develop their skills in a competitive environment, but also to forge valuable friendships with fellow juniors along the way. Congratulations to Singapore Island Country Club who emerged victorious after finishing narrowly ahead of National Service Resort & Country Club.
Pillar 2: Accelerating and ensuring high-performance
SGA recognises the importance of developing talented young golfers and providing them with the support to achieve their golfing dreams. In 2022, we achieved new milestones which put Singapore golf on the international map.
31st SEA Games
SGA National Squad player Aloysa Atienza clinched the women’s individual silver medal at the 31st SEA Games held in Hanoi. Aloysa’s amazing final round of seven under-par 65 secured Singapore’s first women’s silver medal since 1991.
2022 Nomura Cup
Team Singapore, represented by James Leow, Ryan Ang and Brandon Han recorded Singapore’s best ever finish at the 29th edition of this biennial Asia-Pacific Amateur Golf Team Championship. The trio finished with a total of 17 under-par, seven shots behind winners Japan who finished with a total of 24 under-par. Korea finished in third place with a total of 16 under-par.
World Amateur Team Championships (WATC)
Singapore’s team consisting of James Leow, Hiroshi Tai and Ryan Ang recorded Singapore’s best ever finish at the 2022 Eisenhower trophy played in Paris. They finished in 21st position out of 71 countries and was the second-ranked Asian country behind Japan.
In addition, SGA was awarded the bid to host the 2025 World Amateur Team Championships (WATC) at the International Golf Federation’s Biennial Meeting. Held biennially, the prestigious WATC consists of two events – the Espirito Santo trophy (women) and the Eisenhower Trophy (men). We look forward to hosting this major international event in 2025.
SMBC Singapore Open
After being cancelled in 2021 due to COVID-19, the SMBC Singapore Open returned in January 2022 at the Sentosa Golf Club albeit being played under strict safe management measures. Jointly sanctioned by the Asian Tour and Japan Golf Tour Organisation, the 2022 edition of Singapore’s national open was won by Thailand’s Sadom Kaewkanjana.
Hana Financial Group Singapore Women’s Open
In December 2022, the inaugural Hana Financial Group Singapore Women’s Open was staged at Tanah Merah Country Club. This national women’s open was sanctioned by SGA and the Korea Ladies Professional Golf Association (KLPGA) and was part of the Ladies Asian Tour (LAT) Series. We would like to thank Mr Edwin Tong, Minister of Culture, Community and Youth, for gracing the opening Gala Dinner for this event. Congratulations to South Korea’s Park Ji-young for being crowned the champion and Shannon Tan for finishing as low amateur at this milestone event for women’s golf in Singapore.
SGA will continue to work with potential sponsors and international bodies to bring more international golf events to Singapore.
Centre of Excellence and Training Access
In November 2022, a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was signed between SGA, Keppel Club, Sentosa Golf Club and the Singapore Island Country Club to support junior golf development in Singapore. This MOU will provide valuable access for our juniors to the practice facilities and golf course. As part of this MOU, SGA has established a Centre of Excellence at Keppel Club. This will be the testbed for our SGA Home of Golf Version 1.0. We thank all clubs for their strong support for our junior programs.
Pillar 3: Strengthening SGA’s financial position
The last pillar is to improve SGA’s financial position to ensure sustainability of our existing and upcoming programs:
ONERHT Foundation Corporate Donation
In a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed in October, ONERHT Foundation has confirmed a three-year donation of $60,000 per year to support SGA’s high-performance and junior development programs. ONERHT Foundation has raised more than S$4 million to support more than 15 beneficiaries involved in education, the environment and sustainability, disadvantaged groups as well as the arts and sports.
EFG Bank Corporate Sponsorship
In December 2022, Swiss private bank EFG Bank pledged a three-year, $300,000 corporate sponsorship to SGA to support our junior development program. Through this partnership, the EFG-SGA Elite Golf Scholarship will also be launched in early 2023 where awardees will be provided with financial support for golf-related expenses as they chase their golfing dreams.
We thank our corporate partners for their immense support for Singapore golf.
SGA Fundraising Golf 2023
From 29-30 March 2023, SGA will be organising our two-day fundraising golf event at Sentosa Golf Club. The event, to be graced by Guest-of-Honour Emeritus Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong, will raise funds through Sport Singapore’s One Team Singapore Fund (OTSF) for SGA’s High-Performance and Junior Development programs which are designed to develop our future golfing champions. We look forward to welcoming you at the event.
My executive board and I have met to review the respective annual programs and are excited about the plans and the targeted outcomes. The months ahead will revolve around detailing the plans, execution and updating progress.
2022 was an exciting and defining year for golf in Singapore. I would like to thank my Executive Board colleagues, as well as the Governing Council, sub-committees and the secretariat team for their efforts throughout the year. I look forward to continue working closely with all stakeholders to strive for further improvements for Singapore golf in 2023. I would also like to record SGA’s appreciation to Mr Khoo Boon Hui, who has served as Chairman of the SGA Governing Council since 2016. Mr Khoo will be stepping down in January 2023 and we thank him for his valuable contributions to golf in Singapore.
Yours Sincerely,
Tan Chong Huat
President
Singapore Golf Association