TMCC, NSRCC members first hit by reduction of golfing land

Members of Tanah Merah Country Club (TMCC) and the National Service Resort and Country Club Changi (NSRCC in Changi) will be the first to feel the impact of the Government's move to take back some land now occupied by golf clubs and courses to make room for more urgent needs, such as housing and infrastructure.

But members are unfazed, as they expect compensation. Furthermore, both clubs will have their leases renewed upon expiry, which could give membership prices a boost.

NSRCC in Changi will be offered a new lease until 2040 when its current one expires in 2023.

However, the Temporary Occupation Licence (TOL) that it holds for the land occupied by its nine-hole Air Force Course and part of its Par-3 nine-hole Executive Course will not be renewed upon expiry on Aug 31, the Ministry of Law said on Sunday.

Part of this land will be required for the Civil Aviation Authority Singapore's (CAAS) construction of new taxiways and realignment of the existing Changi Coast Road.

"Agencies are exploring uses for the remaining land left at the TOL plot," MinLaw added.

As for TMCC, whose lease will expire in 2021, its Garden course will be offered an extension until 2035 and its Tampines course until 2040.

But it will also be smaller soon, as the Government will cquire about 10ha of the Garden Course for Changi Airport's new taxiways, to accommodate long-term air traffic growth.

This is likely to affect six holes of TMCC's 18-hole Garden Course, three tennis courts and two storage sheds.

According to government officials who attended four closed-door meetings with various clubs on Sunday, TMCC president Ho Beng Huat welcomed the news of the lease extension for his club and said hoped that membership prices would benefit from it.

Members asked about how compensation for the acquired land would be determined and the Government representatives replied that this would be pegged to the market value of the acquired land as at the date of gazette, on Feb 17.

The Government will also consider the impact of the acquisition on TMCC's remaining land in determining the compensation. This was welcomed by the members.

TMCC was also informed that the process of determining the compensation was open and if TMCC disagreed with the compensation amount, there was recourse to an independent tribunal.

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