Keppel Club, Singaore

Location

Singapore Island (Nearest MRT Telok Blangah)

Website

http://www.keppelclub.com.sg/

My Rating 

7/10

Review

Keppel Club is a private golf club and recreation club on the south west of the Singapore CBD.

It is possible for non-members to get access to the course, either by enquiring at the club or via getting the right local American Express Platinum card.

I went with the second option and booked via the Amex Concierge which went very smoothly.

The course is only 10mins from the centre of the city and is quite accessible from most areas on the Island via Taxi.

Being Singapore the course doesnt have a huge amount of land but makes the most of what it has, as a result expect tight fairways often only separated from other holes by one row of trees. This can come in handy when you hit one off target!

We hit off early on a weekday on the back 9 and whilst there were plenty of other golfers on the course, the marshall kept control of the field and we played the full 18 uninterrupted.

The course does receive allot of play and as a result there are allot of sand filled divots, but generally the fairways are in fantastic shape! The greens also were firm and fast with a very very good cover of grass. 

The course was brilliant, lots of changes in elevation and lots of strategy required off the tee - certainly not the course to play if you want to hit Driver 14 times! Many of the tee shots are blind so it is vital to understand where the trouble is and what yardages to the corner of the doglegs - I came unstuck hitting more club than I needed on a number of holes! 

The course isn't too long and I found it to be a great enjoyable course to play, not losing too many balls and not being punished to much for a mishit.

Best Holes

1st - a short par 4 with some great bunkering. An elevated green will require some serious precision to get it close to the hole for a shot at birdie. A hole that really shows how good a short par 4 can be!

1st Hole - Approach Shot

2nd - A longer Par 4 with a sharp dogleg left. OB runs down the right hand side making sure you take the right line off the tee if you are to avoid it. The second shot is down hill to a generous but well protected green, both bunkers and a pond guarding your approach. A cracking hole and number 1 index at Keppel.

2nd Hole - Approach

9th Green & Clubhouse

Summary

A short and extremely strategic course to play, some will love this style of course and some will find it infuriating trying to hit the same fairways and navigate the severe slopes around the course.  However, good shots will be rewarded with perfect lies on the fairways and greens that will give you confidence over those birdie putts.

Insider Tips

1. Keppel is a private course, but get your hands on the right AMEX card and you can use the concierge service to get you a round at Keppel Club - otherwise contact the club directly and try your luck.

2. Taxi Driver may just take you to the driving range which public may access - if you get dropped off here your in for a long walk to the bag drop. Make sure they drop you at the bag drop!!