SICC, Singapore Island Country Club, must be the most exclusive club in the island. Among the members are the Who’s Who of Singapore. Anyone worth his salt will want to be a member of the Club and be seen there sipping tea. And membership is not cheap, at $220k current market price. There is a cheaper version of social membership that does not include golf for those who want to be there but not willing to pay for the hefty $220k.
It is reported in the ST that the Club had a big pow wow at last Friday’s EGM. It was the biggest turnout the Club ever had for an EGM, 700 attending and 300 viewing from the TV in the sideline. And the hot issues, upgrading of a golf course and to keep the club exclusive. The latter was pitted between two camps, one for more inclusiveness and to open the door a bit wider for more new members while the other half to keep it exclusive, to keep the door close.
The exclusive group won. The Club shall retain its exclusivity as the most elitist and high end Club in the island. In the earlier days the Club was more or less given to the elite at a token fee for the use of this choiced property. I think today they will have to pay a market rate to PUB for the continued occupancy of this prime land, and to use the exclusive name of SICC instead of PUBIC Club, an acronym for PUB Island Country Club.
It is good that the elitist members won the day and keep this rarity longer. Having such an elitist Club will be a good motivation for those who are striving to be recognized to work that bit harder to earn that $200k to cross the first hurdle. Subsequently, I am not sure what other procedures or regulations they will have to comply to be invited to be a member of the elite.
In any society, it is natural for a divide to be formed between the very successful and the losers. Trying to blend the two together, to be inclusive, is a defeated cause to begin with. It is like trying to make the MRT a gracious place to be in and expect people in suits and evening dresses to sit or stand side by side with the dirty overalls or sweaty singlets and slippers. Arrrrrrghhh….
Society must honour the ablest, let them have their own playground, let them enjoy their success and hardwork, let them be exclusive, as long as they can afford it, and not by seizing the use of public land and pay a token $1 for their exclusive entertainment and flattery. SICC shall keep the elitist flag flying high, as a testimony that it is not wrong to be rich and successful. Bravo SICC.
6 comments:
/// The latter was pitted between two camps, one for more inclusiveness and to open the door a bit wider for more new members while the other half to keep it exclusive, to keep the door close.
The exclusive group won.
...
I think today they will have to pay a market rate to PUB for the continued occupancy of this prime land, and to use the exclusive name of SICC instead of PUBIC Club, an acronym for PUB Island Country Club. ///
If the inclusive camp had won, SICC would become a PUBLIC Club.
However, since the exclusive camp had won, SICC shall henceforth be known as the PUBIC Club.
The land in which the Club occupies is State Land. In other words the land belongs to the country and the people. If I am not wrong, members who joined the Club in the Fifties paid only Two Hundred Dollars to be a member and the membership includes the spouse and offsprings. The thousands of elitists can make hundreds of thoudsands of dollars just by selling their membership and all this at the expense of the country. The State should tax Eighty per cent of the sales price and the money collected should go to help the poor and the under priviledged especially those those who are sick and cannot afford to seek medical treatment. In addition the government should tax eighty per cent of the Club annual operating net profits and the proceeds will likewise use to help the poor. Southernglory1
True, golf clubs do serve their purpose, as a place for recreation and for 'sikit atas' ones, such as SICC, for those who want to be at and be seen. Only thing, one sometimes wonder if there are one too many of these clubs around, taking up land which could be utilised for the use of a larger community.
@In any society, it is natural for a divide to be formed between the very successful and the losers. Trying to blend the two together, to be inclusive, is a defeated cause to begin with. It is like trying to make the MRT a gracious place to be in and expect people in suits and evening dresses to sit or stand side by side with the dirty overalls or sweaty singlets and slippers. Arrrrrrghhh…. @
Actually, in life, there are bigger(in status) losers and there are lesser losers.
Eventually, all loses. In fact, the more you acquire in life the more you stand to lose or the bigger a "loser" you will be when your time is up.
For branded clothes may set you apart from the others but it is in your nakedness we are in common and share a common destiny.
The thought that one day all will be taken from you should humble anyone except fools or rather, bigger fools.
They had it so good for so long, paying $1 token fee for prime state land and keeping the rest of the citizens out of it.
I think you misunderstood what the blogger said. SICC has to pay lots of $$$ to the state to lease the land. But if the state want to cancel and take back the land, state only has to pay $1.
Given that SICC already pays millions and millions to lease this land, and so does every golf club in Singapore, the clubs already contribute lots and lots of $$$ to the government.... The clubs do not operate for free....
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