Shades of Green, Fields of Gold: Representations, discourse and the politics of golf in Singapore

The issue of golf course provision in the land-scarce city-state of Singapore has always been a contentious one. Using various methodologies, including face-to-face interviews with golfers, non-golfers, golf club managers and planners, the multiple meanings of golf courses and golfing in Singapore are explored, and it is illustrated how differing images of golf are appropriated to suit the particular agendas of its proponents and opponents. These include representing golf courses as expansive spaces, parks, gardens and open spaces, viewing golf as an elitist leisure activity, and asserting that golf is a 'healthy' sport. It is also shown how such representations of golf are shaped by the wider socio-political context of Singapore, and it is argued that understanding how landscapes of golf are 'read' and how discourses of golfing are articulated is important in resolving the issue of golf course provision.