GOLF COUNTRY AND SOCIAL CLUBS IN SINGAPORE
Ever dream of owning a prestigious social or golf country club membership and be a part of the well-heeled community?
Our business feature will give you all the information you need to help you acquire that club membership that you have been eyeing for as we take you on an A to Z guide on buying a club membership.
Club membership is fast becoming the extra "C" to the existing five Cs eyed by most aspiring Singaporeans: cash, career, car, condo and credit card.
Indeed, after a car and a private property, the next most sought after asset in Singapore now is social and country club membership. Club memberships have increasingly become more popular among Singaporeans due to the country's growing affluence and demand for new recreational pursuits.
Boom in social club memberships
No longer are club memberships exclusive to the Rich and Famous and those in the high society. Today, more middle-income Singaporeans are buying club memberships either as a form of status symbol or for investment. It is not uncommon for one to own a few club memberships, going by the car labels of clubs displayed prominently on the windscreens of many cars on the road these days.
Social clubs, in particular, are currently seeing an unprecedented boom which could be attributed to its more affordable entrance fees as compared to the golf country clubs, and its wide range of family-oriented facilities.
Consolidation in golf club prices
In contrast, the outlook for golf country clubs is less optimistic. Prices of certain memberships such as the Singapore Island and Country Club (SICC) have tapered off after hitting the $200,000-mark. Other clubs in neighbouring countries such as Indonesia and Malaysia are also giving local ones a run for its money. Overseas golf clubs such as Batam's Indah Puri and Palm Springs, and Johor's Palm Resort and Octville are of comparable standards but cost only a fraction of the local ones.
The lacklustre golf club market is also compounded by the softer stock market and slower economic growth as most people also prefer to invest their excess funds in the more volatile property market.
On the other hand, the popularity of the social clubs are evident from the unprecedented number of new entrants to the market recently. They include Fort Canning Country Club's second launch (at $30,000 up from $19,000 at its first launch) and new membership drives for the Republic of Singapore Yacht Club (RSYC) and Ponggol Marina.
Other possible candidates to offer new memberships in the near future include Singapore Polo Club (SPC) and Singapore's oldest club, the Singapore Cricket Club (SCC).
As an indication of its optimistic outlook for social clubs, pub owner and country club operator, Europa Holdings submitted a bid of $100 million for a 30-year-lease state site in March 1996 to develop a brand new social and country club. Europa's bid for the 132,590 sq ft site, located next at the junction of Dunearn and Whitley Road, is more than double the next highest bid from a subsidiary of City Developments.
Pessimists, on the other hand, point to the leveling in prices of social clubs as signs that the fad in club memberships may be diminishing.
Most industry players, however, believe that prices should hold in the medium term although they may not shoot up as in the case of Singapore Recreation Club (SRC).
SRC, they said was the exception rather than the rule. Its launch happened when the stock market was enjoying a super bull run in 1993. When applications for membership opened on Jan 18 1994, an overwhelming crowd of 6,000 applicants turned up for the 1,500 new memberships. SRC has since torn down its old clubhouse at the historic Padang and in its place a brand new $65m clubhouse will take shape in early 1997.
How To Buy:
You can buy a club membership either direct from the club if membership is still open or from the open market. You can also buy one from the official launch itself where you can view their plans, scale models and prospectus.
If you intend to buy from the secondary market, there are a number of brokers or agents operating in the market that help to buy and sell club memberships for a small commission which is borned by the seller.
Membership Fees:
This is the entrance fee you need to fork out to join as an exclusive member of the club.
Membership fees are used in the running and maintenance of the club and also for future expansion. For new clubs, the membership fees are the main source of funds for the developer to get their new clubhouse off the ground. Usually, the developers may offer a discount from listed price at the launch.
Subscription Fees:
Club members need to pay monthly subscription fees to make use of the club facilities. This could range anything from $20 for SRC to $140 for Tanah Merah Country Club.
Transfer Fee:
This is levied when you transfer or sell your membership to another party. The amount is decided by the club and transfer fee is another important source of funds for a country club. However, from the standpoint of the club member who sells his membership, a high transfer fee may "eat" into his profit..
Financing:
Banks often tied up with country clubs to provide attractive financing terms to new members. To be eligible for the loans, you must be a Singaporean or a Permanent Resident with an income of at least $30,000.
Depending on your financial means, you can borrow as much as 90% of the membership price for a period of up to five years.
Interest rates are usually pegged at one to two percentage points above the prevailing prime rate and charged on a monthly-rest basis. These personal loans allows you pay a fixed amount every month instead of forking out a lump sum at the outset.
In addition to the normal interest charges, there are other related expenses such as stamp and admin fees. Partial redemption of loan is not allowed and for full prepayment, there is a penalty charge of 1% of the outstanding loan amount.
- Illustration of a club membership financing for:
Republic of Singapore Yacht Club (RSYC)
Purchase price = $25,000 + $750 (3% GST)
= $25,750
Maximum loan quantum = $23,175 (90% of purchase price)
Assuming interest rate is 7.625% (6.375% Prime + 1.25% )
Loan Repayment Schedule:
Loan 1 year 2 years 3 years 4 years 5 years Period Loan $23,175 $23,175 $23,175 $23,175 $23,175 Amount Monthly $2,011.94 $1,044.18 $722.22 $561.70 $465.76 Installment
List of Club Memberships in Singapore:
GOLF AND COUNTRY CLUB MEMBERSHIPS
Golf and country club memberships can be classified into a few categories:
- TOP-OF-THE-RANGE: (COSTING ABOVE $100,000)
SINGAPORE ISLAND COUNTRY CLUB (SICC)
Price: $200,000 (Direct from Club)
$176,000 (Open Market)
Transfer Fee: $40,000
Location: 240 Sime Road
Monthly Subscription: $100
TANAH MERAH COUNTRY CLUB
Price: $200,000 (Direct from Club)
$170,000 (Open Market)
Transfer Fee: $40,000
Location: 25 Changi Coast Road
Monthly Subscription: $140
SENTOSA GOLF & COUNTRY CLUB
Price: $150,000 (Direct from Club)
$144,000 (Open Market)
Transfer Fee: $30,900
Location: Sentosa
Monthly Subscription: $82.40
LANGUNA NATIONAL GOLF & COUNTRY CLUB
Price: $185,000 (Direct from Club)
$124,000 (Open Market)
Transfer Fee: $30,000
Location: 11 Laguna Golf Green
Monthly Subscription: $120
JURONG COUNTRY CLUB
Price: $150,000 (Direct from Club)
$101,000 (Open Market)
Transfer Fee: $20,000
Location: 5 Science Centre Road
Monthly Subscription: $110
ORCHID COUNTRY CLUB
Price: $140,000 (Direct from Club)
$97,000 (Open Market)
Transfer Fee: $10,000
Location: 1 Orchid Club Road
Monthly Subscription: $75
- MEDIUM-RANGE: (COSTING BETWEEN $50K TO $100K)
RAFFLES COUNTRY CLUB
Price: $70,000 (Direct from Club)
$69,000 (Open Market)
Transfer Fee:
Location: 450 Jalan Ahmad Ibrahim
Monthly Subscription: $110
KEPPEL GOLF & COUNTRY CLUB
Price: $80,000 (Direct from Club)
$68,000 (Open Market)
Transfer Fee: $16,000
Location: Bukit Chermin Road
Monthly Subscription: $65
WARREN GOLF & COUNTRY CLUB
Price: $60,000 (Direct from Club)
$60,000 (Open Market)
Transfer Fee: $8,000
Location: Folkeston Road
Monthly Subscription: $85
SELETAR COUNTRY CLUB
Price: $90,000 (Direct from Club)
$79,000 (Open Market)
Transfer Fee: $20,000
Location: 101 Seletar Club Road
Monthly Subscription: $100
- LOWER-RANGE: (COSTING BELOW $$50K)
CHANGI GOLF CLUB
Price: $40,000 (Local - Direct from Club)
$28,000 (Open Market)
Transfer Fee: $8,000
Location: 20 Netheravon Road
Monthly Subscription: $60
FAIRWAY COUNTRY CLUB
Price: $12,000 (Direct from Club)
$8,000 (Open Market)
Transfer Fee: $2,000
Location: 11 Japanese Garden Road
Monthly Subscription: $50
SAFRA RESORT & COUNTRY CLUB
Price: $4,500 for 5-year term
$9,000 for 10-year term
Transfer Fee: Non-transferable
Location: 10 Changi Coast Walk
Monthly Subscription: $20
SOCIAL CLUB MEMBERSHIPS
SINGAPORE RECREATION CLUB (SRC)
Price: $44,000 - Ordinary (Open Market)
$38,000 - Ladies (Open Market)
Transfer Fee: $3,090 (Ordinary)
$1,545 (Ladies)
Location: B-Connaught Drive, Padang
Facilities: Indoor swimming pool, children's pool, jacuzzi, health spa, aerobics room, ten-lane bowling alley, gym, squash courts, fruit machine room, video games room, nursery, salon, self service food court, a lawn-tennis pitch and restaurants.
Monthly Subscription: $20 for ordinary
$7 for ladies
Other Remarks: The club's brand new $65m clubhouse will be ready in early 1997. Its temporary premise is located at River Valley, in the building formerly occupied by the Singapore Institute of Standard and Industrial Research (SISIR). The "blue chip" among social memberships, the SRC has seen its ordinary membership price jump from $15,000 at its first launch to $42,500 at its second launch in September 1995. Membership to the club is currently closed. On the secondary market, it is currently exchanging hands at about $45,000 for the ordinary membership.
SERANGOON GARDENS COUNTRY CLUB
Price: $55,000 (Direct from Club)
$25,000 (Open Market)
Transfer Fee: 15% of prevailing membership fee
Location: 22 Kensington Park Road
Facilities: Jackpot room, 10-lane bowling centre, Chinese restaurant, auditorium, Olympic-sized swimming pool and children's wading pool, gym, darts room, two tennis courts, four squash courts and lounge with KTV rooms.
Monthly Subscription: $50 (single) $60 (family)
Other Remarks: Located on a 999-year leasehold site, this family-oriented club has undergone some major face-lift and upgrading of facilities.
SUPERBOWL GOLF & COUNTRY CLUB
Price: $15,000 (Direct from Club)
$4,000 (Open Market)
Transfer Fee: $3,090
Location: 6 Marina Green
Facilities: Driving range, gym. swimming and children's wading pool, tennis courts, restaurants, coffee house, sauna and steam bath, massage rooms and library.
Monthly Subscription: $75 (family)
Other Remarks: Formerly known as Marina Bay Golf & Country Club, it has been renamed SuperBowl Golf & Country Club to reflect its change of ownership to SuperBowl Holdings, a leading operator of bowling centres and amusement centres in Singapore.
FORT CANNING COUNTRY CLUB
Price: $30,000 (Direct from Club)
$33,000 (Open Market)
Transfer Fee: 10% of selling price
Location: Fort Canning Hill
Facilities: Gym, health spa and sauna, swimming pool, bowling alley, beauty salon, aerobics studio, children's educational centre, tennis court, squash court, billiard and pool room, golf simulator, video and karaoke room, business centre, meeting rooms, nine food and beverage outlets, library, virtual-reality games room and a pleasure yacht.
Monthly Subscription Fee: $100 (family) - payable only when the club is ready
Other Remarks: To be completed by 1996, the club is located at the historic former Singapore Command and Staff College Building on Fort Canning Hill. The only exclusive club to be built in a heritage park, Fort Canning Country Club is owned and
operated by publicly-listed Alliance Technology and Development Ltd.
EUROPA COUNTRY CLUB
Price: $18,000 (Direct from Club)
$9,000 (Open Market)
Transfer Fee: 10% of official entrance fee plus $500 admin charge
Location: 418 Thomson Road
Facilities: Golf driving range, nine-hole chip and putt course, 23 hotel suites with different themes, spa and sauna, swimming pool with swim-up bar, gym, a range of food outlets, an in-house aromatherapist and two luxury boats berthed at Keppel Marina with a full-time skipper for charter.
Monthly Subscription: $50
Other Remarks: Membership is currently closed. Europa Holdings, better known for its success in running its chain of Europa nightspots all over the island, is getting into the competitive country club market through the Europa Country Club. In early 1996, it acquired the East Coast Sailing Centre with plans for extensive upgrading and expansion. Members of the Europa Country Club can make use of the facilities at the sailing centre.
PINETREE TOWN & COUNTRY CLUB
Price: $53,000 (Direct from Club)
$33,000 (Open Market)
Transfer Fee: 10% of prevailing market price
Location: 30, Stevens Road
Facilities: Restaurants, swimming pool, gym, health spa, four mahjong rooms, golf practice range, five tennis and three squash courts.
Monthly Subscription: $110
Other Remarks: Pinetree Club is known for its wide range of dining outlets serving food from Western, Chinese to Japanese. Members like to entertain their clients in these F&B outlets.
AMERICAN CLUB
Price: $61,800 (Direct from Club)
$73,000 (Open Market)
Transfer Fee: $30,900
Location: 21 Scotts Road
Facilities: Two restaurants, coffeehouse, bar, swimming pool, tennis and squash courts, eight-lane bowling alley, library room and slot machines room.
Monthly Subscription: $123.50 (single), $128.75 (family)
Other Remarks: Membership is currently closed and there is a long waiting list since 1993. This could be one reason why the price of the membership on the secondary market is higher than the club's official posted price.
BRITISH CLUB
Price: $21,000 (Direct from Club - open only to non-Singaporeans)
$13,000 (Open Market)
Transfer Fee: $3,150 (15% of membership price)
Location: 73 Bukit Tinggi Road
Facilities: 25-metre swimming pool, paddling pool, library, function rooms, reading lounge, billiards room, jackpot room, rooftop garden, gym, aerobics studio, four tennis courts, four squash courts, supervised children's playroom and a range of dining facilities.
Monthly Subscription: $93 (single) $112 (family)
Other Remarks: Located atop Singapore's second highest hill, this family-oriented club is surrounded by lush tropical greenery. Membership to Singaporeans is currently closed and is only available to non-Singaporeans.
HOLLANDSE CLUB
Price: $25,000 (Direct from Club)
$23,000 (Open Market)
Transfer Fee: $3,000
Location: 22 Camden Park
Facilities: Swimming pool, paddling pool, gym, tennis courts, squash courts, billiard room, library, jackpot room, aerobics room and sports pavilion with spectator gallery.
Monthly Subscription: $100 (single) $150 (family)
Other Remarks: Better known as the Dutch Club, this family club is popular for its wide range of children's activities such as swimming, ballet, judo and gymnastics. Despite its name, it is actually more an international club as membership is open to all nationalities.
RAFFLES TOWN CLUB
Price: $40,000 (Direct from Club - Current) $28,000 (Priority Launch ended 30 Nov 96)
NA (Open Market)
Transfer Fee: $6,000
Location: Bukit Timah Road
Facilities: 25m resort pool, funpool with water slides, gymnasium, aerobics studio, library, computer room, creche, Japanese restaurant, coffeehouse, lobby lounge, Chinese restaurant, executive suites and rooms, private spa rooms, Wellness centre, 10-lane bowling alley, squash courts, golf simulators, VR/Activity centre, theatrette, tennis courts and underground parking for 500 over cars.
Monthly Subscription: $80 plus GST
Other Remarks:
The Raffles Town Club is owned by the Europa Group which also runs the Europa Country Club at Thomson Road. Sitting on a 30-lease of 400,000 sq ft land, it is scheduled to open in late 1998.MARINA MEMBERSHIPS
PONGGOL MARINA
Price: $28,000 (Direct from Club)
Transfer Fee: $3,000
Location: near Ponggol Point
Facilities: Boating and water sports, gym, shopping arcade for boating and fishing needs, children games room, playground, two seafood restaurants, traditional food stalls along timber broad walk, sports bar, tropical cafes, live seafood, supermarket and a mega yacht.
Monthly Subscription Fee: $50 (single) $60 (family) - payable only when club is ready
Other Remarks: To be completed in end-1996, Ponggol Marina will have the world's largest multi-tier boathouse holding 722 vessels. It also has a charter fleet of 400 boats for hire.
REPUBLIC OF SINGAPORE YACHT CLUB
Price: $25,000 (Direct from Club)
Transfer Fee: 20% of prevailing membership fee
Location: near West Coast Park
Key Facilities: Boating and water sports, gym, swimming pool, whirlpool, sauna, two restaurants with sea view, bar, lounge, karaoke room, conference and banquet rooms, video room and theatrette, Internet room, jackpot room, library, children's play room, games room, jackpot room, billiard room and 40 deluxe guest rooms and suites.
Monthly Subscription Fee: $75 payable when club is ready, currently members pay only
half of the fee - $37.50
Other Remarks: To be completed in early 1998, the 162-year old club is now operating
out of its present clubhouse at 249 Jalan Buroh. This only remaining private member's
yacht club in Singapore will construct a $54m new marina and yacht club next to West
Coast Park
RAFFLES MARINA
Price: $70,000 payable over 20 years, interest-free (Direct from Club)
$25,000 (Open Market)
Transfer Fee: $12,000
Location: 10 Tuas West Drive
Facilities: Multi-tiered dry-stack for 300 boats, boat lagoon, eight-lane bowling alley, two restaurants, pub, ballroom, function room, board room, fitness centre, video games room, children's playroom, aerobics room, tennis and squash courts, swimming pool.with swim-up bar and hot spa.
Monthly Subscription: $85
Other Remarks:. Owned by publicly-listed NatSteel Limited, Raffles Marina is the first world-class marina to open in Singapore in July 1994.
EXECUTIVE CLUB MEMBERSHIPS
SINGAPORE TOWN CLUB
Price: $6,000
Transfer Fee: $1,200
Location: 42-44 Boat Quay
Facilities: Two restaurants, video room, library, pool area and jackpot machines.
Monthly Subscription: $120
Other Remarks: Established in 1861, this businessmen-club is located in the heart of the central business district and offers a nice view of the Singapore River.
WUTHELAM CLUB
Price: $3,000 (Direct from Club)
Transfer Fee: $400
Location: 26th storey, Liang Court, River Valley Road
Facilities: Restaurant, bar lounge, two karaoke rooms, three meeting and conference rooms, business centre. Members can also make use of the fitness centre and swimming pool at Club Excel in Royal Holiday Inn Crowne Plaza.
Monthly Subscription: $70 (member and spouse)
Other Remarks: Originally serving only staff of the Wuthelam Group and tenants of Regency Liang Court, the club sits on a 999-leasehold building. It opened its doors to the public in October 1995 offering to the first 100 members a special membership price of $2,000, 20% off its then listed price of $2,500.
WORLD TRADE CENTRE CLUB
Price: $3,000 (Direct from Club)
Transfer Fee: 10% of entrance fee
Location: 13th Floor, World Trade Centre
Facilities: Restaurant, bar lounge, jackpot machines, karaoke room, mahjong room, gym, steam and sauna rooms.
Monthly Subscription: $50
Other Remarks: The club also offers short-term memberships which are non-transferable: $400 (1-year term), $700 (2-year term) and $1,000 (3-year term). The normal monthly subscription fee also applies to all term memberships.
OCBC'S THE EXECUTIVE CLUB
Price: $4,500 (Direct from Club)
Transfer Fee: 50% of membership fee
Location: 33rd Floor, OCBC Centre, Chulia Street
Facilities: Restaurant, five function and meeting rooms, bar area.
Monthly Subscription: $100
Other Remarks: Currently the club has about 700 members and most of them are CEOs and senior executives of multinational companies. Membership is usually by invitation only.
COMING UP: MALAYSIAN GOLF & COUNTRY CLUBS