09 Jan 2026

EDITED BY JK TAN PHOTOGRAPHY MARCUS LIM ASSISTED BY Mc DOUGLAS LIM

WHAT GOT YOU STARTED IN GOLF?
I started golf when I was about seven years old. My father used to bring me along to the driving range when he practised, and that’s where I first picked up the game. From early on, I sort of had fun hitting balls at the range, but I only truly began to enjoy the sport when I started competing around the age of nine.

What hooked me was that golf is ultimately a competition against myself and the golf course – there’s no such thing as a perfect round. The pursuit of continuously improving kept me motivated.

WHAT WERE SOME OF YOUR EARLY SUCCESSES?
The highlights for me were definitely team events. Golf is usually an individual game, so representing Singapore in team events was always special.

The most memorable was winning the 2017 SEA Games Team Gold Medal alongside teammates Marc Ong, Gregory Foo, and Joshua Shou, under coaches Andrew Welsford and Jerome Ng. We had finished runners-up to Thailand in a few events prior, so it was a breakthrough moment.

What makes it even more meaningful is that all of us remain close friends today – and we’re all still involved in golf in one way or another, whether it is coaching or golf administration.

Another standout memory was the 2016 World Amateur Team Championships (WATC) in Cancun, Mexico. Was a long travel across the world but great memories with the team, including being in the same field as current major winners including Scottie Scheffler. Personally, I also shot a memorable 65 (-7) in round 2.

It was a full circle moment for me when SGA hosted the 2025 edition of the WATC recently, where I was on the organising side. Individually, playing in the Singapore Open as an amateur a few times was special as the tournament holds special significance as Singapore’s national men’s professional championship.

This event is also under SGA’s stewardship and pleased that it came back in 2025.

Another one would probably be winning the Saujana Amateur Open in 2018 managed to hold my nerve against Thailand’s top amateurs at the time, including Sadom Kaewkanjana who has now won multiple times on the Asian Tour including the Singapore Open.

WHY DIDN’T YOU CHOOSE THE PROFESSIONAL ROUTE?
That was something I seriously considered leading up to graduation from Singapore Management University (SMU). But having played in several professional events as an amateur, I gained a good
sense of what life on tour would be like.

I realised that while I loved competing, I didn’t see myself enjoying the demands of a full-time tour career in the long run.

Instead, I joined the Singapore Golf Association as high-performance manager where I wanted to help create a better environment for the next generation of talented golfers to excel in golf and achieve their golfing ambitions.

I’ve always believed golf is a sport where Singaporeans can excel on a global stage. Around the time I graduated, SGA was making strides with its high performance programs and was looking to hire a High Performance Manager. The timing felt right, and I wanted to contribute to shaping the system that had shaped me.

HOW HAS THE SGA DEVELOPED SINCE YOU JOINED?
I would say the efforts for high performance and junior development have accelerated significantly. In 2022 when the Executive Board was appointed, we wanted to build on the solid foundations laid by previous boards and management, and continue enhancing golf development in Singapore.

The objectives were refined to three main pillars: developing the golf ecosystem; accelerating high performance; and strengthening our financial position. We’ve been intentional about making golf more accessible and inclusive. Our “Get Golfing!” sessions have introduced the sport to new audiences through activations at community centres and heartland malls, in partnership with NTUC Club and People’s Association. We’ve also worked closely with all local clubs to create more playing opportunities for public golfers.

An example was the “Golf For All” initiative in 2024, where clubs donated flight slots for public golfers to play at 50% green fees, with all proceeds going to the Singapore Disability Sports Council (SDSC).

In 2025, golf also made a meaningful return to the ActiveSG Pesta Sukan calendar, held at Keppel Club, the first time since Singapore’s independence that golf has been part of the national multi-sport festival.  We also renewed our Women in Golf Charter with the Singapore Ladies Golf Association to reaffirm our commitment to growing women’s participation, both at grassroots and elite levels.

Beyond that, we’ve launched pilot programs such as Golf in Schools (using beginner-friendly, child-safe equipment) and a Disability Golf Program in partnership with SDSC and Keppel Club, offering monthly sessions for persons with disabilities (PWDs). Our target is to introduce golf to about
200–250 PWDs each year — an area where Singapore can take a leadership role regionally.

Developing champions is essential to inspire the nation and the next generation. SGA now has two full-time national coaches leading our high-performance programs, with plans to expand further.

Our approach is holistic – we aim to develop good people before good golfers. Beyond technical training, our national players undergo strength and conditioning, mental skills coaching, nutrition, and recovery education, all within a competitive training environment. Each year, we send our athletes to around 30 overseas tournaments, ensuring consistent exposure to top- level competition.

Athletes also attend overseas training camps, including joint ones with Korea, Thailand, Chinese Taipei, where they have first-hand experience undergoing training with the top national programs in the region.

The success stories of Shannon Tan, Singapore’s first Olympic golfer, and Hiroshi Tai, the first Singaporean to qualify for The Masters and US Open, have inspired the younger generation of golfers.

What was once a dream for a Singaporean to compete in golf at the Olympics and at Augusta National is now a reality. Shannon’s multiple wins on the Ladies European Tour, including capturing their Order of Merit title this year, along with our women’s team matching our best SEA Games results since 1991, when they won the team silver medal in Thailand, will indeed be motivating narratives for the development of golf in Singapore.

We’ve also introduced a Professional Squad of touring professionals, continuing to support them technically and financially even after they turn professional. Our next step is a post-career program, which provides financial support for athletes who achieve major milestones and explores career pathways with our corporate partners.

Equally important is the pipeline development.

We now organise over 30 local junior events annually for players aged 14 and under, including a Junior Inter-Club League. The SGA Future Squad now includes over 50 talented juniors aged 12 and under, who are given competition opportunities, school-holiday training camps led by national coaches, and special golf clinics conducted by top professionals during events like LIV Golf Singapore and the HSBC Women’s World Championship.

SGA is also the appointed organiser for the MOE National School primary and secondary schools. Hosting international tournaments is also a key strategy, giving our players a chance to compete against the world’s best on home soil.

A recent highlight was the 2025 World Amateur Team Championships (WATC) at Tanah Merah Country Club, the first time Singapore hosted the event after SGA was awarded the bid by the International Golf Federation. The event was a successful one on and off the course. Both our women’s and men’s teams also achieved their best-ever finishes (Tied 15th and Tied 18th respectively).

To achieve these ambitions, robust financial support is essential. We’ve focused heavily on fundraising and partnerships, increasing our corporate sponsorships by more than fourfold since 2022.

Our fundraising golf days have been well received, with every dollar raised matched by the government, all reinvested into high-performance and junior development programs. At the same time, we continue to uphold strong governance standards. The SGA has been awarded the Charity Transparency Award for  two consecutive years, which recognises organisations with good governance practices.

HOW HEALTHY IS GOLF IN SINGAPORE RIGHT NOW?
Despite the challenges of golf course closures in Singapore, participation has actually grown stronger. According to the R&A Global Golf Participation Report, Singapore recorded 140,000 on-course golfers in 2024, up from 120,000 in 2023.

In addition, a Golf Barometer Study commissioned by SGA in 2024 estimated another 75,000 “alternative format” golfers, those who play at driving ranges, indoor golf facilities, or simulators.

Participation in SGA’s junior events have also been strong. A good example is the MOE National School Games (Primary) this year, where 128 students from 54 different primary schools participated. These numbers show that golf in Singapore is healthy. This has only been possible with the  collective effort of all stakeholders in the ecosystem including golf clubs, coaches, volunteers, sponsors, donors.

As we continue to introduce new pathways, formats, and facilities, our goal is to improve the accessibility for future generations.

THE NUMBER OF GOLF COURSES WILL REDUCE IN THE COMING YEARS. WHAT ARE THE ALTERNATIVES FOR GOLFERS?
We’re proactively embracing alternative golf formats such as short courses, simulator golf, and urban golf facilities to make the game more accessible. These formats of play allow more people, including youth and families, a lower barrier to entry to experience golf without needing access to a full 18-hole course.

At the same time, we’re maintaining strong partnerships with golf clubs to optimise existing course usage and continue hosting tournaments that keep the game vibrant and visible.

HOW DOES GOLF FIT INTO YOUR LIFE TODAY?
These days, most of my golf is work-related. Ironically, people assume that working in golf
means playing a lot of golf, but it’s quite the opposite!

I remember attending an R&A conference which ended with a golf game where I played with delegates from Spain, Finland, and Denmark — it was in April and it turned out to be the first round of the year for all of us. I guess that’s quite universal among those who work in the sport.

WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO YOU TO BE THE SGA’S FIRST CEO?
In addition to the three pillars mentioned, professionalising the Secretariat has been a key project. Having a CEO provides continuity, professional oversight, and long-term strategic focus.

Golf development requires sustained effort, from nurturing talent to working with many stakeholders to develop the golf ecosystem as a whole. A professional structure allows us to plan and execute across the Board and committee terms. I’m thankful for the opportunity and trust for me to take on the role.

My aim is to ensure the SGA remains forward-looking and focused: balancing high-performance excellence with inclusivity, strengthening partnerships, and positioning Singapore as a hub for golf development and events in the region. Ultimately, I hope to leave behind a stronger foundation for elite, every day and new golfers.

TELL US SOMETHING ABOUT YOURSELF THAT IS TOTALLY UNRELATED TO GOLF.
I’ve always loved sports, all kinds of sports. Even if I’m not playing them, I’m watching them. Football,
rugby, tennis, basketball are probably the favourites.

ANY ADVICE FOR THOSE LOOKING AT GOLF AS A CAREER?
Golf teaches us so much more than just how to hit a ball, it shapes our character. The values of honesty, discipline, patience, and respect are at the heart of the game, and these are qualities that are transferrable to every part of life.

From my own journey, I’ve seen how golf can open doors and build lasting relationships. As a young golfer, whether you go on to play professionally or not, the friendships built and lessons learnt from golf will always stay with you.

Surround yourself with a trusted support team — coaches, mentors, and peers — and make sure you’re comfortable with your own journey. There will always be different opinions on how you walk your journey, but what matters most is having clarity and belief in your own process.

And most importantly, have fun while doing it!