SINGAPORE, May 12 — Last year, when the Government announced the golf courses it would be phasing out in order to redevelop the land on which they sit, Jurong Country Club (JCC) had been one of six slated for other use.
But with one of the longest lease tenures left, due to expire in 2035, it escaped the cull, and had “exciting times” ahead, as JCC president Bobby Wee said in the latest issue of the club’s magazine to describe the rapid development of the Jurong Lake District.
Now, JCC will be the first of the golf courses to have to make way — for what will be one of the jewels of the district, the new high-speed rail terminus.
The Singapore Land Authority has already gazetted the site for acquisition by November next year.
No alternative site will be provided for the club, and compensation will be based on the land’s market value at the date of acquisition.
JCC members TODAY spoke to were unhappy with the suddenness of the announcement, one that was also particularly upsetting to them because they had spent thousands of dollars on remodelling the club’s golf course in 2012.
“Each member had to fork out S$4,000 (RM10,800.50).
“It costs over S$23 million. We dared to spend money because we thought we’d still have 20-over years,” said Andrew Cher, 36, who became a junior member at age 12 and has been playing golf regularly at the club for the past seven years.
New plans to renovate the clubhouse itself were approved by members less than two months ago.
With the way things have turned out, 70-year-old Wong, a member who declined to give his full name, said the situation has been dealt with in a “high-handed” manner.
“There was no discussion with the club. What do you expect us to do in one year?
“There’s not enough time to build a new club (even if they want to) ... We were looking forward to the club as our retirement nest,” he said.
TODAY understands that the club’s management held a meeting after receiving a letter at 10am informing them of the acquisition, with their top priority to inform members and get more information from the authorities. The management said a notice was put up at the main lobby at around 2pm.
Some members have doubts about the compensation that would be available to them, if any, and were not in favour of a substitute club without a golf course.
One member, who wanted to be known only as Xu, said that with memberships going at different prices, the compensation issue would be difficult. He bought his in November last year for more than S$120,000.
Another who has been with the club for five years, Desmond Tan, paid S$54,000 for his.
Membership at JCC also depends on the club’s golfing facilities, pointed out a Chan, who has been a member for 30-odd years.
“People who are members are mostly golfers here ... Anything without golf, you don’t have to think about it. They might as well close the club,” said the 65-year-old retiree.
JCC will join the ranks of Keppel Club and Marina Bay Golf Club as golf courses to be fully reacquired.
However, the latter two have until their leases expire in 2021.
Three others — Tanah Merah Country Club, National Service Resort and Country Club and Singapore Island Country Club — have had their leases extended, but will be giving up part of their land.
Meanwhile, Attractions, Resorts and Entertainment Union (AREU) executive secretary Cham Hui Fong said the union has already been in touch with JCC employees to understand and address their concerns.
“AREU is also working closely with the JCC management to ensure that the affected staff will receive a fair compensation package,” she said.
In addition, the union will work with the Devan Nair Employment and Employability Institute to redeploy workers to other jobs before the club closes down, added Cham. — TODAY
