Singapore has long been a preferred destination for premier golf tournaments, and it will once again take centre stage as the host of the World Amateur Team Championships (WATC) this October.
Antony Scanlon, Executive Director of the International Golf Federation (IGF), reaffirmed Singapore’s standing as a premier global sporting hub in his recent visit to the Lion City.
“Singapore was one of the best candidates. We were impressed by the quality of the course and the strength of the bid submitted by the Singapore Golf Association (SGA). The IGF membership recognised its merit during the bidding process,” said Scanlon.
The biennial event will be held at the award-winning Tanah Merah Country Club (Tampines Course). The women’s competition for the Espirito Santo Trophy will tee off from 1–4 October, followed by the men’s competition for the Eisenhower Trophy from 8–11 October 2025.
The WATC is expected to attract the world’s top amateur golfers, offering local fans the opportunity to witness future stars of the sport on home soil, where legendary players such as Tiger Woods and Annika Sorenstam made their early impressions at this very event.
“A significant number of top amateurs who play in this tournament eventually progress to the professional ranks, including participation in major championships. In fact, 70% to 80% of the Olympic golf field today previously competed in the WATC, back when golf was not part of the Olympic program,” said Scanlon.
The WATC has a rich legacy of bringing together elite amateurs from around the world to represent their countries in a team format.
“If you go back to the original WATC, the founding captain of the U.S. team was none other than the great Bobby Jones. That first tournament was hosted by The R&A at St Andrews, and the winning team was Australia. And I’m saying that not trying to be biased even as an Australian,” quipped Scanlon.
The list of past participants includes golfing greats such as Jack Nicklaus and current World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler, underlining the tournament’s importance.
“It remains a coveted opportunity for top amateurs to represent their countries and earn the honour of being called a WATC player.”