Orchid Country Club

Orchid Country Club was opened in 1991 to make golf an equalitarian sport for people of walks of life. It was the brainchild of Mr Ong Teng Cheong, former President of Singapore and NTUC secretary-general. Located along the waterways of the Sungei Seletar Reservoir, the Club has a 27-hole golf course that matches the pocket and varying skills of golfers interested in the game. As such, membership at the Club is as diverse as the working class to the entrepreneurs. It was Mr Ong's desire that the golf will no longer be a game for executives only. Named after orchids, the three 9-hole courses, Aranda, Vanda, and Dendro, feature acres of immaculately manicured fairways and greens. In one year, the Business Times ranked it fourth among Singapore's Ton Ten golf courses. Designed by Chris Pitman, all three courses bear different levels of expertise. Some fairways are wide, others are narrowand exacting. There are numerous water hazards and sand traps demanding accuracy and power plays. Then there is also a 4-hole Beginner's course for those just starting out. Owned by the Singapore Labour Foundation and managed by NTUC Club, Orchid Country Club has a number of unique features such as a 36-bowling alley, a 69-suite hotel, a childcare centre and a kids giant play system. There is also a 160-bay driving range set on two tiers. With 80 of these bays having computerised tees, it became the largest computerised driving range in Southeast Asia. Golfing facilities are also available day or night.