SLA land acquisition The sure way to destroy the JCC community

SLA land acquisition The sure way to destroy the JCC community

SLA has announced that they will acquire the whole of Jurong Country Club (JCC) in 2016. The land is required for the building of the High Speed Train (HSR) station and also general development i.e shopping centres, hotels, offices and residential homes.

Singapore has transformed itself from just a port and backward country to one of the more famous cities in the world. This is the 50th year of independence. In these years one can see tremendous amount of changes to the landscape. Whole villages have disappear and many iconic buildings torn down. In the name of enbloc development fairly new apartments and to the extent of an entire housing estate (outram park) are torn down. In all these events the human cost has never been factored. This round of land acquisition is probably one of the most glaring in this new land development. In involves a whole community that literally makes up 2 percent of our population.

The Jurong Country Club Community.

Most people will associate a golf club with golfers. JCC is more than just a golf club.

The Club was set up 40 years ago to provide for a recreational area and a green lung for the then upcoming industrial Jurong area. It was to be the recreational home for all the residents and working people in this new region of Singapore. This area was then fairly isolated from the rest of Singapore. Thus it was built on a sizable amount of land. This was an area of swamps and thus useful for a recreational area.

As such the club boasts of 8 tennis courts, an Olympic size swimming complex, squash courts (at one time even a competition squash court which is mothballed) and a huge driving range.

After a $24 million revamp in 2010, the club can boast of probably as one of the best playing golf course in Singapore. Few will know that in an extremely urban built-up area, we can built such a high quality golf course. This can be said as a marvel to all cities in the world.

My second home

JCC has 2800 members with the vast majority being golfers. A survey of its membership high lights that more than 60 percent of its members are above 60 years old. To many of these members JCC is their second home. It has become a fact of life they can be seen at the club daily.  I am sure in these behaviour is the same in all golf clubs in Singapore.

Generally golfers can be divided into 2 groups.

The exercise crowd.

Walking on the golf course is a very good form of exercise more so for those above 60’s.The majority had been active in their lives. Walking on the golf course be it with your spouse or friends is a very different experience than walking in the park. The views are fantastic.  Everyday just as the sun rises you will see many golfers lining up to tee off, many with their spouses. The majority are pulling their trolleys. Some will play 9 holes while the rest will play 18 holes. All of them look forward to these daily routines. Everybody knows each other. Even for the solitary walk-in golfer, everyone is most welcome to join in the game.

In the parks, most walkers are strangers. At most one would smile to another. On a golf course one is never alone, its always among friends.

The serious golfer.

The serious golfer comes mainly in the afternoon. They would have done their chores either taking care of their family (marketing with the spouse or settling down the grand children) or completed their duties in their business. Most of these golfers take the game very seriously. In fact some of them train like professionals. Some even invest in the latest clubs so that they can play a better game. The majority of this group are also participants in the social activities after the game.

Both these groups enjoy great camaraderie.  There are always cheers for the great shot. No body remembers the bad shot. Even long after the game the stories of the good shots never end.

Golf is a game of friendship. One plays off his handicap, so there is no advantage for youth neither for those with brawn. For any individual the game that is ever changing. As they say one can never hit the same shot twice. It is also a game where the beginner can play with a season player. The handicap system takes care of the difference in skill level. A full game takes about 4 and half hours. This is the perfect setting for those retirees to whilst away their time. For those in business it also gives them an opportunity to size up their partners and also an opportunity for intimate discussions.

The golf committee.

JCC is a members club. Thus members volunteer to sit not only on the management committee but also various committees to ensure the smooth and successful running of the club. 40 years of club history can attest to this dedication to volunteerism in Singapore. A golf club is a good place to cultivate volunteerism.

The greens committee.

After the $24 million makeover of the course, JCC has been hailed as one of the best course in South East Asia. In fact for its location in the city, there no other golf courses that can claim this title. Kudos must be given to the group of dedicated members who were not only involved in the construction but also maintenance of the course. The constant problems arising and finding solutions to solve them rest solely on a group of dedicated people whose rewards are just a pat on their shoulders. These are also people who have learned very special knowledge about developing a city base golf course. It is such a shame such expertise is not acknowledge by our government who is so keen to promote life long learning.

Recently the course was voted the third best golf course in Singapore. In the words of our captain it is because the two better clubs had much more money, land and prestige. I am sure all golfers from other clubs having played in JCC will attest to it.  

The Driving Range.

JCC boast very big driving range. This is the only driving range on the west side of Singapore that is easily accessible to the public. As an indication to importance, it is always crowded especially on weekends and evenings. There are a lot of golfers who are not members of any golf courses coming to hone their skills. The driving range is really a sports hub, where friends can meet.

The Golf School.

There is a golf school in the driving range. This caters to people from all walks of life. Most important there is a very active junior programme that allows very young people to take up golf. This school uses the smaller course in JCC to conduct real instructions. Not too long ago our government was promoting golf as a important sports. It seems they must have changed their mind.  The junior sports programme will definitely disappear.

The Sports Facilities.

Tennis section.

There are 8 tennis courts in JCC. This is probably the largest concentration of tennis courts in any club in Singapore now. Just like the golf junior programme, there is also a very active tennis program. Just check with the large Japanese community who send their children there for training. Once these 8 courts disappear it would be very difficult to find another place to play tennis. It will also mean the end of opportunities for tennis coaching.

Japanese children having lunch after their tennis lessons

The Squash section.

Squash is a dying sport in Singapore. However in JCC there are about 25 very active squash players who will meet 3 times a week to work out their bodies. These range from teenagers to many above 60 years old, in fact the oldest is 73 years old. The keenness of this core group is remarkable. They have strongly encourage their children to take up this sport. Quite a few have gone on to represent Singapore. Regular friendly squash gatherings are held with other clubs or associations.

The Swimming section.

This is probably the only Olympic size pool with competition facilities accessible to public training in the western part of Singapore. The distinct advantage is half the pool can be blocked up for training lanes without complains from other users. The training programs are very active. Plans were also drawn up to improve the swimming facilities to offer resort style settings.

Sadly Singapore has lost many of its public swimming pools. No doubt there are many pools in condominiums, they are not mean for training purposes as they are not built to sports standards. Increasingly our population is finding it difficult to find a pool as a source of exercise ground.

Swimming training in progress

Obviously there are many more sports and social activities found in the club. In fact the problem holding up the club from more activities is the government strict interpretation of built up area and its accompanying charges in exceeding such permitted allowance.

Can you imagine the view from that apartment? What price would you pay for that view? The value of the surrounding buildings will be greatly enhanced with this view.

Paradise lost.

Recently the botanical gardens obtained its designation of a Heritage site from Unesco. The government must have spent a lot of effort, time and money to obtain this status. If you ask yourself when was, it the last time you visited the botanical gardens, I am sure it most would have a hard time remembering.

Just like the Marina Bay area development, many hotels and offices surround the water giving them a unique view and ambience. Obviously just like Central Park in New York, many important buildings and luxury apartments can be built around JCC. When that theme is fully developed it will be the talk of the world crowd. Recently when the famous EPL football players came to Singapore, the first thing they did was to play golf!.

Most Singaporeans travel very far and wide to visit places they were told are paradise. In such areas the views are a dream to behold. Most of our houses are so cluttered that standing in any wide expanse of land is a sight to behold. If one lives in an apartment, most of the time you have to walk downstairs out of the building before you can see the sky. Obviously they did not know there is a paradise in Singapore at JCC.

Yes our society has developed very successfully. In fact we have become one of the nations with the highest per capita income. Many people feel they are left behind.  They see the trappings of the wealthy with the fast cars and expensive houses. Isn’t it a familiar enquiry when one Singaporean meets another Singaporean when they have just met, is the question where ones stay so that they can estimate your wealth. In the last general elections the wealth differential was seriously highlighted. So now it is politically correct to take away such opportunities for the better off crowd as a means of equalising our society.

From time immemorial, our country has encouraged setting up communities to take care of themselves, to take up active volunteerism, encourage a sporting and healthy lifestyle and undertake lifelong learning skills. These ideals do not seem to apply to JCC. Alas with our paradise soon gone, we may still meet up for a drink at the pubs or coffeeshop, gather in CCs doing line dancing, or greet each other as we passed on the park connectors and finally wake each other up at the library when it is time to go home.

A favourite place for senior citizens is the Chinatown library, enjoying the aircon and having a nap. We can save a lot of space and  money by taking out the books.

Personally I cannot understand why we must always tear things down just for the sake of development. Does building a few more apartments, shopping centres bring us greater wealth and the resultant happiness? The world shops online, does business on computers, who will use all these buildings when they are ready?

Finally we will never hear “Good Shot” again.