S Ramesh Channel NewsAsia 15 Nov 13;
SINGAPORE: Law Minister K Shanmugam has said his ministry will let golf clubs, whose leases will expire within the next 10 years, know whether their leases can be extended.
He added that the ministry plans to make an announcement early next year on the government's approach to lease extension for golf courses.
Writing on his Facebook, Mr Shanmugam explained that there is a place for golf courses in Singapore. "There are Singaporeans who golf, and those who gather at golf clubs for recreation and for business. Having golf facilities also makes us a better location for business investment as well," he wrote.
Mr Shanmugam noted that in the past, many golf courses were built on land which could not be developed for high-intensity use. But Singapore is now able to make better use of some of these land.
"In the coming years, some golf course land will be redeveloped, to put to higher intensity uses, to meet Singapore's land use needs," he wrote.
Mr Shanmugam explained that golf clubs are on leasehold land. Many of them are on 30-year leases that expire in 2021.
He said the government's approach is to let the leases expire if the land is needed for another purpose.
He noted that unlike in the past, Singapore will not be able to find large tracts of land for new golf courses. So over time, the land allocated to golf courses will be reduced.
- CNA/ms
