Our History
The Club was founded in 1967 by the British Marines stationed at Dieppe Barracks. On 7 January the following year, Singapore’s first Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew was invited to officiate the opening of what he refers to in his memoirs as the ‘HMS Simbang’ golf course. At that time, it was just a 9-hole golf course. The course was located within a British air base which served as both a Royal Air Force station (RAF Sembawang) and a Royal Naval Air Station (HMS Simbang).
When the British forces withdrew from Singapore in 1971, the tripartite ANZUK Force was formed as a temporary means of defending the region. The New Zealand Southeast Asia Force took over the running of what was then called the Sembawang Golf Club. In late 1975, the NZ SEA Force explored the option to expand Sembawang’s 9-holes to an 18-hole golf course. However, these plans were shelved due to a lack of funds.
In 1977, the expansion of the 9-hole golf course to an 18-hole golf course was carried out by the SAF. And in the early 1980s, the SAF formally took over the running of Sembawang Country Club from the NZ forces. From there, the Club has gone on to serve as an extension to Singapore’s military diplomacy by providing a facility for key military personnel to build relations with their foreign counterparts.
But that’s just a snippet of our Club’s history. For a narrative of the early history of Sembawang Country Club, click here.
History Timeline
| 1967 | – | Sembawang Country Club was first founded by the British Marines stationed at Dieppe Barracks. |
| 1968 | – | Then-Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew opened the nine-hole golf course. (7 Jan). |
| 1977 | – | A full 18-hole golf course was unveiled by Dr Goh Keng Swee. |
| 1985 | – | The first local SAF Officer, then-Chief of General Staff (CGS) MG Winston Choo was elected as Club President. |
| 1990 | – | Sembawang Country Club went through a refurbishment, producing a two-storey Clubhouse, a 30-metre swimming pool and other facilities. |
| 1994 | – | Former Minister for Defense and Labour, Dr Lee Boon Yang opened the new Clubhouse. |
| 2002 | – | Then-Deputy Prime Minister Dr Tony Tan opened the new driving range and recreation centre and launched the inaugural Sembawang Open. |
| 2010 | – | Sembawang Country Club undergoes a major refurbishment. |
| 2011 | – | A brand new Clubhouse and first nine holes on the golf course is unveiled. |
| 2012 | – | Opening of our full 18-hole golf course. |
| 2013 | – | Inauguration of our full 18-hole golf course. |