Singapore: A major revamp of the Singapore Island Country Club’s (SICC) historic Island Course is underway.

Scheduled to open in the third quarter of 2025, the refurbished layout will be one of the most technically advanced and high-quality courses constructed in recent times.

It was in October 2021 that the SICC formed a Golf Redevelopment Task Force led by Committee Chairman Ivan Chua to explore options for the layout, also known as the ‘Old Course’.

Chua said: “The objective was to ensure that the Club will continue to meet the golfing needs of our members into the future, with an important goal being to provide all-weather playing conditions, and an improved walking experience.

“At the same time, we wanted to retain much of the heritage of the original design by maintaining the existing tree-lined hole corridors and water views that make the Island Course unique.”

Situated within Singapore’s Central Catchment Nature Reserve, sitting on the edge of the Lower Peirce Reservoir, the Island Course was built in the 1930s, the original par-72 layout designed by Peter Robertson from Braid Hill, Edinburgh.

In the early 2000s, Australian Peter Thomson, a five-time Open Championship winner, was engaged to re-bunker the course.

For the third iteration of the course, the firm of Nelson & Haworth Golf Course Architects has been engaged for the design while construction services are being undertaken by TEHC International.

After extensive research, and proven performance on SICC’s New Course greens, Primo Zoysia grass will be planted on the Island Course’s putting surfaces.

“This new Ultradwarf Zoysia grass is the most sustainable and cost effective turfgrass to manage in the tropical Singapore climate, which can provide championship level putting surfaces for members to enjoy throughout the year,” said Chua.

To assist in managing the greens is a SubAir ventilation system. First used at Augusta National Golf Club, the SubAir system connects to the sub-surface drainage network beneath the greens.

A Toro irrigation system is being installed which utilises the latest irrigation control technology, supplemented by Soil Scout’s in-ground sensor technology that monitors areas of the course for moisture, salinity, and temperature which will assist in decision making to minimise water usage.

The bunkers will feature EcoBunker edging, providing lower maintenance requirements and producing a stunning revetted effect that simulates the classic United Kingdom-style bunker look.

“Environmental stewardship is emphasised to promote naturalised wildlife habitat areas on the golf course by enhancing nature corridors to provide connectivity through the landscape to link with the surrounding nature reserve forests,” said Chua.

*Singapore Island Country Club is a Facility Member of the Asian Golf Industry Federation.