Sports

Golfing Singapore

If it’s golfing you’re after, then Singapore is packed with plenty of great courses for you to play at. We sat down with Golf Vacations Magazine Editor, Benny Teo to find out the best course for visitors in Singapore. Sentosa Golf Club BENNY: “I rate the Sentosa Golf Club as the best in Singapore for a few reasons. Not only is it home to the Singapore Open, but it also has a policy of upgrading each of their two courses every ten years. There are two courses here – Serapong and Tanjong. Serapong was used for last year’s Singapore Open and the pros found it a really tough and challenging course to play. Not just that though, it’s also a beautiful course and it’s not uncommon to see peacocks wandering around. “Tanjong has just been upgraded and will be used for this year’s Singapore Open. What excites me about the upgrades is that it is the first course in Asia to make the course play like a typical championship US course. To do this they added a lot more bunkers and also used Sub Air technology to control the drainage and airflow on the greens. This makes the greens firmer and allows the green keepers to cut the grass shorter, making putting a real pleasure. “My favourite hole on Serapong is the 13. This par five doglegs right around a lake giving players of all handicaps a chance for a challenge. The safest option is to go around the lake to the right, but the long shot straight to the green, over the lake is very enticing for big hitters. On Tanjong, look out for the second hole. This beautiful par three tees from an elevated position and ends on the seafront.” Sembawang Country Club BENNY: “I find this course especially interesting as it is located next to an airbase. It’s a challenging course built on hilly terrain so there are a lot of elevation changes. It also has a lot of very lush foliage, as the course designers have left as much natural jungle as possible around it. “The best hole here, in my opinion is the third, a par four starting on an elevated tee. You drive down the slope towards a river that lies about 200 metres down the fairway. Lay up just in front of the river and you’ll climb another slope up to the green, which is protected by bunkers on both sides.” Changi Golf Club BENNY: “Although it’s only a nine hole course, I recommend this because it is one of Singapore’s most unique courses. “Like Sembawang, there are plenty of hills to climb, but the best part of the course is that you’re playing in Changi, which is one of the quaintest areas of yesteryear in Singapore. “The course is an interesting challenge for those that are looking for something more than a grip-it-and-rip-it game. You really need to think your way around this course. “My favourite hole here is the 6th. This par four tees off over a pond into a valley, but the tricky part is landing your approach on the green which is elevated about 60-feet above. Hit it short and the ball will roll back down the hill. Hit it long and you’ll lose your ball in the forest. Hit it right or left and you’re in the bunker, and of course, if you chip long out of the bunker then you’ll be rolling back down the hill.” Keppel Club BENNY: “This is Singapore’s oldest golf club, and it was upgraded in 2004 to celebrate its centenary. It is an especially tough challenge for those that haven’t played it before. It really does call for repeat play to fully appreciate its intricacies. “My favourite hole here is the hole 10, par five. You tee off up a hill and will need to carry a river about 180 yards up. It’s almost impossible to reach the green in two even for the longest hitters. “Another favourite of mine is the hole 11, par four. You tee off to a tight fairway dogleg to the right. The perfect landing area however is blind from the tee. Even tougher is the approach to the green which is flanked in front and to the right by water. Over hitting the green results in a lost ball in the jungle. Hitting left sends your ball sailing over to the 12th tee box.” The courses recommended by Benny... Changi Golf Club Address: 20 Netheravon Road, Singapore 508505. Tel: (65) 6545 5133. Course description: 9 holes, 1st nine 2432m, 2nd nine 2367, Total 4799m, Par 68. Keppel Club Address: 10 Bukit Chermin Road, Singapore 109918 Tel: (65) 6273 5522. Course description: 18 holes, 5441m, Par 72. Sembawang Country Club Address: 249 Sembawang Road, Singapore 758352. Tel: (65) 6257 0642. Course description: 18 holes, 6090m, Par 72. Sentosa Golf Club Address: 27 Bukit Manis Road, Sentosa. Tel: (65) 6275 0090. Course description: Serapong Course 18 holes, 6349m, Par 72; Tanjong Course 18 holes, 6251m, Par 72.

Singapore Slingers

Pro basketball hit town in September, when the newly formed Singapore Slingers took its place in the 12-team Australian National Basketball League (NBL). The entry into the NBL was a historic night not only for the Slingers, but also for world basketball, as it was the first time in FIBA history that a team crossed international zones to play in a week-to-week competition. Established in 1979, the NBL includes teams from Australia, New Zealand and now Singapore, making it one of the best leagues outside the USA’s NBA. Playing its home games at the Singapore Indoor Stadium, the Slingers opened the 2006/07 season with a 98-91 win over the Adelaide 36ers on September 20. Don’t worry if you missed that one however as there are plenty more games to go this season. Already the crowds are building up, so make sure you get in quick to take in a game while you’re in town. GO SLINGERS! Venue: Singapore Indoor Stadium Bookings: call (65) 6348 5555 Slingers upcoming home games 2006/07 12 October v Wollongong Hawks 18 October v South Dragons 26 October v Cairns Taipans 29 October v Sydney Kings 13 December v New Zealand Breakers 20 December v West Sydney Razorbacks 29 December v New Zealand Breakers *all games start at 7.40pm