SINGAPORE — The public will be able to play at the Mandai Executive Golf Course for two additional years, after the operator was granted a tenancy extension until December 2026.

Senior Parliamentary Secretary for the Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth Eric Chua revealed this in parliament on Wednesday (April 3), and noted that it was one of the options made available to provide for public access to golfing.

"Golfing is a land intensive sport and there is a need to balance the allocation of land to the sport, vis-a-vis the competing demands for land in Singapore such as for public housing," said Mr Chua.

"We recognise that it is important for the public to have continued access to the sport. The government is looking at how we can ensure continued access to golf courses."

He was responding to a parliamentary question from Mr Louis Chua (WP-Sengkang), who had asked that if there are plans to convert any of the 14 private golf courses for public use.

Another question raised was whether there are plans to ensure that the sport remains accessible to the general public, especially schools and students, given the impending closure of Singapore's public golf courses.

Earlier this year, it was announced that the Mandai golf course will have to make way for a new outdoor adventure learning centre after its tenancy expires on Dec 31.

The Mandai golf course, located at Upper Seletar Reservoir, was opened in 1993.

Taking into consideration the impending closure of the 18-hole public course at Marina Bay Golf Course, Mr Chua said that the government had earlier worked with Keppel Club to set aside slots at the Sime Golf Course for public use at an "affordable price range", comparable to other public courses.

Currently, the majority of slots at the Keppel Sime Course — on both weekdays as well as weekends — are set aside for members of the public, he added.

"The government will also look into the feasibility of public golfing facilities for the longer-term, bearing in mind other needs of Singaporeans at the same time," Mr Chua said.

In a supplementary question, Mr Louis Chua asked if "a view to public accessibility" would be a feature in lease extension agreements with private golf clubs.

Mr Eric Chua replied that the ministry does take this into account both in the short and long-term.

He noted that it is working with Keppel Club to see if more slots could be made available and exploring the possibility of introducing night golfing at the Keppel Sime Course.

"In the longer term, we will explore all other various options to make sure that public accessibility is one of our key considerations in doing this," he added. CNA