The 5th hole is one of the most iconic holes on The Serapong
Sentosa Golf Club has continued to demonstrate its status as one of the World’s best golf clubs, after The Serapong collected three prestigious accolades at the annual World Golf Awards ceremony in Abu Dhabi.
Named ‘World’s Best Golf Course’ for the first time in its history, The Serapong has further cemented its reputation on the world stage, joining an illustrious list of venues to have won the award in recent years such as the Old Course at St Andrews, Carnoustie, Augusta National and Shinnecock Hills.
The Serapong was also ranked ‘Singapore’s Best Golf Course’, as well as ‘Asia’s Best Golf Course’ for the second consecutive year, following up on its initial triumph in 2022.
Under the careful guidance and expertise of General Manager, Director of Agronomy and Resident Golf Course Designer, Andrew Johnston, The Serapong is renowned for its unique personality, overall character, and consistent tournament-ready conditions. A dynamic playing strategy and iconic views of the Singapore cityscape have also made it one of the most renowned golf courses in the region.
Speaking at the awards ceremony in Abu Dhabi, GM Andrew Johnston, said, “It is a true honour and source of pride to see The Serapong and Sentosa Golf Club recognised as the best, not only in Singapore, but also in Asia and the world. It is testament to the dedication and hard work of our entire team and their relentless pursuit of excellence. This recognition reinforces our commitment to delivering an exceptional golfing experience and showcasing Singapore to an international community.
“Over the years, The Serapong has risen to global prominence, hosting prestigious events, and attracting golfers from around the world. It has demonstrated its ability to shine on the world stage and provide invaluable exposure to Sentosa Island and Singapore as a premier golf destination through events such as LIV Golf Singapore.”
Throughout the last two decades, The Serapong has received high praise from the world’s best players, including Major Champions Adam Scott, Brooks Koepka, and Phil Mickelson, having staged the Singapore Open from 2005-2022.
In April, the course hosted the inaugural LIV Golf Singapore presented by Resorts World Sentosa, with American Talor Gooch emerging victorious after a thrilling play-off against 2018 SMBC Singapore Open Champion Sergio Garcia.
These latest awards continue to showcase Sentosa Golf Club’s commitment to excellence and sustainability, re-affirming its position as one of the key players in world golf and Singapore. Earlier this year, the Club were unveiled as the world’s first carbon neutral golf club during their hosting of the HSBC Women’s World Championship, building upon the innovative approach taken across the venue since 2018.
With an unrivalled reputation for excellence, The Serapong often receives praise from top players who have graced its fairways. Thailand’s Prayad Marksaeng, who emerged victorious at the SMBC Singapore Open in 2017, shared his admiration for the course’s outstanding layout and conditioning, saying, “The Serapong is one of the best conditioned courses I have ever played. Players enjoy playing fair courses and this is something I found at Sentosa Golf Club. It was difficult and challenging, but also fair and I loved this during my victory there.”
This is a sentiment echoed by fellow Thai Asian Tour star and 2022 SMBC Singapore Open champion Sadom Kaewkanjana. He said, “It is not only one of the most favoured course amongst Asian Tour players but undoubtedly one of the most challenging as well for many golfers. With a perfect design and great conditioning, it has so many great holes, including the first three that work through the hillside before dropping down towards the lagoon and the coastline.”
Earlier this year, The Serapong, having staged the Singapore Open from 2005-22, welcomed the LIV Golf League for the first time as Talor Gooch landed the first back-to-back triumph on the circuit. The American came through a play-off with Spaniard Sergio Garcia, a former winner of the Singapore Open five years ago, with Brooks Koepka a shot back.
American Koepka, who would go on to lift the PGA Championship only a few weeks’ later, emphasised The Serapong’s allure as a ball striker’s paradise, “It’s a ball striker’s golf course. You’ve got to leave yourself some good opportunities from the fairway. These greens are just so pure that you can roll it in pretty easy if you just start it on line.”
For two days, Phil Mickelson was also in contention at Sentosa Golf Club and the six-time Major winner gave an interesting insight into his preparations to tackle The Serapong.
“You’re going to have a lot of shots from 160 to 210, a lot of full six-, seven-, eight-iron shots, and you need to hit those really well and you need to drive the ball well. If I want to play well here, those are the areas that I really need to focus on,” said the American.
The Serapong has always been a jewel in the Singapore golfing crown but the renovations in 2020 have now elevated it to a new level, after the fairways were replaced with fresh grass and new drainage infrastructures, tee boxes re-lasered to reinstate a tabletop flat finish, and bunkers given new liners with new white sand to improve consistency, texture, and playability for decades to come.
When Garcia played there in April, he made special mention of the ‘pure greens’, he said, “It’s a course that I enjoy. I feel like if my game is a little bit on, and I hit a lot of fairways, hit a lot of greens, give myself a lot of birdie opportunities, and then the greens are so pure that if you’re rolling it with a little bit of confidence, you can make some putts.”
These endorsements from the world’s best players, combined with its recent accolades, have firmly establish The Serapong as an icon of world golf and Singapore, inviting golfers from around the world to explore its magnificence.
