The Captain Answers is a regular column for Keppel members to ask questions relating to golf at Keppel Club. If you have any questions or suggestions for the Captain, email to: thecaptainanswers@keppelclub.com.sg.
Publication of the questions received is at the discretion of the Newsletter Sub-Committee.
Why are golfers not allowed to walk the course at Sime?
Question: Why is Sime course a buggy-only course?
Captain Anthony Maniam says:
From time to time, we hear members asking why Sime course is a buggy-only course. Many wish they could walk the course and in fact, this subject has been raised in our annual general meeting back in 2022.
When Keppel Club was mandated to operate and manage Sime course as a public course, it was stipulated by the authority that the course shall be a buggy-only course. This was to facilitate a faster traffic so as to accommodate more golfers. Allowing golfers to walk would slow down the pace of play at the expense of maximising the slots. Moreover, the Club could not discriminate against public golfers by allowing only members to walk the golf course. To be fair to all, the “buggy-only” requirement has to apply to both members and public golfers.
You can still walk and golf!
For members who are keen to walk, the 3-hole Sime Practice Facility (SPF) offers an excellent option. It has all the obstacles that golfers will encounter on the course and is ideal for improving their skills in short game. Members can walk and at the same time practise pitching, chipping and putting. Best of all, for a one-hour practice on a weekday, SPF is free for members. So, next time you feel like some walking exercise, head off to the SPF!
