Golf in Singapore doesn’t have to languish under patriarchal elitism. Private clubs can lead the fairway in improving the game’s appeal and accessibility, says writer Desiree Koh. A new outdoor adventure learning centre will be developed on the Mandai Executive Golf Course site. (Photo: Facebook/Mandai Executive Golf Course)SINGAPORE: Over the 12 years I lived in Chicago, I always noticed the bustle each time I went by one of the city’s 10 public golf courses.
Families were having fun on the greens; there were players of all skills, ages, genders and ethnicities. People wore whatever they wanted. Revelling in fresh air and sunshine seemed as crucial as sinking a putt at par. It shattered my perception of the sport, growing up in the country club heyday of 1980s and 1990s Singapore. One summer in America, I bought a cheap mismatched bag of second (or were they third?) hand clubs and took a gander, without any experience except self-taught driving range swing