Life in the buzzing metropolis is fast-paced, so it’s nice to have a social club or sporting club in Singapore to retreat to for relaxation. The following six great member clubs offer sports, dining and recreational activities, and are places where you can feel at home away from home, do a spot of work, and make new friends along the way. We asked happy members to tell us why they love their particular club!
The American Club Singapore
Monica and Timothy Pitrelli, American
Noelle (10), Layla (8) and Vivienne (6)
My husband and I moved to Singapore from Newport Beach, California, and were to stay for three months – six, if we were lucky. Last month, we celebrated our 15th anniversary here. Since then we’ve had three daughters: Noelle, Layla and Vivienne.
We wanted to be a member of a social club in Singapore, so we joined The American Club after our first daughter was born. In particular, we were sold on all the things the Club has for families – from parent-and-baby swimming classes to meeting “Santa” without having to stand in line at the mall.
We go to the Club several times a week, and Sundays are my family’s favourite day to visit. The kids attend tennis lessons, and sometimes my husband and I hit the courts too. Then we have breakfast before stopping by the library to borrow books and movies.
The beautiful thing about this members club is that everyone in my family enjoys going, though for different reasons. While I go to the spa or the Pilates studio, my husband may get a haircut, visit the gym or relax over a cup of coffee. The kids would play games in the multi-level children’s area called The Quad for hours, if we let them – and sometimes we do! During some of the toughest parts of the pandemic, we worked in the business centre to get a break from the house. While there, you meet other members and get to know the staff on a first-name basis. But the thing that draws us back time and again is the convenience. Where else can you grab a quick meal, pick up dry cleaning, buy stamps, order a case of wine and have several chats with friends?
I also enjoy the fact that my helper often joins us at the Club. We enjoy meals there and celebrate the kids’ birthdays together.
10 Claymore Hill
6737 3411 | amclub.org.sg
Laguna National Golf Resort Club
Rob Lerner, English
I moved to Singapore back in 2015. After setting into life here, I rediscovered my love of golf after a 15-year hiatus. For the first few years, I played on weekends in and around Southeast Asian golf destinations. There were a few games here and there in Singapore as a guest, but generally I felt that golf here was too expensive and too scarce to access, and a sports club membership felt even more out of reach.
With the pandemic, things changed – I needed to find a way to access golf more regularly within Singapore. I spoke to a friend who had recently joined Laguna National Golf Resort Club and he provided a strong recommendation. After enquiring and visiting the sporting club, I was provided different membership options to suit my lifestyle and found the right package for me. Over two years later, joining was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made during my time in Singapore.
Regular access to two great and diverse golf courses at Laguna National Golf Resort Club, plus excellent practice at Laguna Driving Range and coaching facilities through their partner, Leadbetter Golf Academy, has more than fulfilled my golfing needs.
But the real bonus has been the social side of the club, which has enabled me to meet and make lots of new friends and a network that extends outside of sport. Whether it’s through the regular competitions and social events run by the club, or private groups and charity events, it’s really easy to meet like-minded people, and the club has a great buzz. The Nest (restaurant and bar) is a hub of activity and the staff are very friendly too – and it’s great to have a place to go where people know your name. My wife has become a member too and I’m starting to get her into golf and the social scene. And we haven’t even taken advantage of the gym, the swimming pool and the tennis courts yet!
11 Laguna Golf Green
6841 8888 | dusit.com
The British Club
Nicola Roy and Edward David Roy, British
Children: Josie (6), Roseanna (4) and Elisabeth (2)
Edward and I moved to Singapore almost six years ago when our eldest, Josie, was still a babe in arms at three months. We did the classic thing – only here for “two years”, and here we are six years later with another two wee girls, Roseanna and Elisabeth.
When deciding which social clubs in Singapore we should join, it helped that we had visited The British Club as a guest a couple of times and loved the super friendly-family vibe and range of activities and eating options on offer. Having young children, the kids pool was a game changer – as was the playroom!
It’s so difficult to pick a favourite thing to do at the Club. Sunday afternoons are always a fun way to round up the weekend with a swim at the pool and indulge in some curry at the Verandah Café. The murg makhani chicken curry set is hands down the best dish at the Club, no contest!
My husband really enjoys playing tennis in the box league and C team as do I, particularly the ladies’ clinic on a Saturday afternoon. The girls also love their tennis on a Thursday afternoon. There are also tasting evenings at Mountbatten Bar and Grill; the champagne and gin-tasting nights being standouts!
We joined the British Club in July 2020 after the Circuit Breaker, when we realised that holidays were looking doubtful. It has offered the perfect “escape” on our doorstep and we have been enjoying the Club ever since!
73 Bukit Tinggi Road
6410 1100 | britishclub.org.sg
Serangoon Gardens Country Club
Jean and Marion Durand, French
Children: Xavier (14), Henri (10) and Marie (8)
My family and I have been members of Serangoon Gardens Country Club (SGCC) for more than a year now and it remains a source of joy and relaxation for us. We take full advantage of the facilities, including the Olympic-size swimming pool, tennis courts and gym. Ever since the second-floor gym opened in early December, we’ve been absolutely delighted with the panoramic view of the swimming pool while we work out. The personal trainers are attentive and knowledgeable; they’ve helped us create customised plans to reach our fitness goals.
I also invite my friends to eat at the different food and beverage outlets in the Club. My personal favourite is Garden Grill because the menu features international dishes and is changed every month. It’s like being on a gastronomic world tour! One of the special things about this members club is that the staff are always friendly and welcoming, making each dining experience pleasant. They even remember small details like our preferred table and how I like my coffee!
We appreciate that there are activities for kids as well. We’ve signed up our children for swimming lessons and they love it! They also like to attend arts and crafts workshops during school holidays. SGCC knows how to keep the whole family entertained. The bonus is that the Club is near the International French School. Since our kids go to school there, they can go directly to the Club after school for their activities. We live in Serangoon Garden and the Club is just a few minutes away, which is convenient for us.
As expats living in Singapore, being part of SGCC has helped us make more friends, and even become our second home. The social events are always enjoyable and provide great opportunities for networking. At first, we signed up for the one-year term membership to try it out. Now, the Club is an integral part of our family life and we’ve renewed our membership for another two years. We look forward to many more years as members at this great social club in Singapore!
22 Kensington Park Road
6286 8888 | sgcc.com.sg
Seletar Country Club
Luke and Penny Campbell, Scottish and Australian
Children: Eddie (3) and Max (1)
When we arrived in Singapore, we wanted to join a sporting club that was easily accessible and family friendly. Having golfing facilities available within the Club was also a must. We live in the area so it’s really easy to get to Seletar Country Club (SCC). We’d heard that SCC is a very family-orientated club, which was also a big draw for us.
We’ve been members at the Club for almost a year now. We love it all! The large pool and various children’s facilities have been enjoyed by our kids, and Sunday evening dinners overlooking the golf course with the family is always a highlight. We play golf most weeks and the sports facilities have been regularly visited. We also love sitting at the Tavern with a cold drink and soaking in some of the amazing views of the golf course and over to Seletar Reservoir. It’s a great place to unwind and spend quality time as a family together. We feel that the Club really encourages this.
Recently, we had old friends and family visiting, and we had a great day playing golf, and then booked a table for dinner. The sunset over dinner didn’t disappoint and our guests were blown away with the scenery (and the member rates of $6 per pint of beer!). We love the friendly and outgoing nature of the members and the staff – we think this is really a point of difference of SCC. We’re yet to make the most of the ten-pin bowling, but that’s on the cards!
101 Seletar Club Road
6486 0882 | seletarclub.com.sg
Hollandse Club
Nick Barger and Vanessa Yeo-Barger, British and Singaporean
Children: Sienna (6) and Isla (4)
Last year marked our fifth year in Singapore; we were previously based in Hong Kong for a decade. The Hollandse Club hosted a wonderful Helper Awards event when we first arrived. Our lovely helper had moved from Hong Kong with us, and I nominated her for Best Caregiver. (She won!) I was taken by the warmth of the club’s staff and their generosity and playfulness towards children and helpers. Not many sporting clubs show this much sincerity toward their youngest guests, caregivers and families.
We wanted a club that is friendly and welcoming, with facilities for each of us. The Hollandse Club met those expectations. We enjoy the classes held at the club – dance lessons at Tanglin Arts Studio have been a great joy for our oldest daughter. The sports programmes and summer camps have also been wonderful. We spend Saturday and Sunday mornings at the club, beginning with either dance or soccer for the girls, then pool time and lunch. Nick has personal training sessions at the gym. You’ll also find us here on weekdays at the co-working space – we’re here a lot! We also love the Thursday evening quiz nights.
We love that it is a social club in Singapore focused on families from around the world, with an emphasis on sports activities. We’ve made great friends through organised events and children’s classes. We’d definitely recommend the Hollandse Club – we’ve been secretly recruiting friends to join over the years! Our elevator pitch to them is always, “You’ll feel right at home here.”
22 Camden Park
6464 5225 | hollandseclub.org.sg
This article first appeared in the February 2023 edition of Expat Living. You can purchase a copy or subscribe so you never miss an issue!
Enjoyed discovering these social and sports clubs? If you’re moving here, read on to find out where to live in Singapore.
