Singapore Grounds
The Club
Location80 Mount Pleasant Road
298334
Singapore
Executive suites20
SurfaceDesso GrassMaster
Construction
Broke ground1914
Opened1941
Renovated1941
Tenants
Singapore Polo Club

The Singapore Grounds, or better known as Singapore Polo Club is a varied sports centre in Singapore. It is one of the oldest grounds in Singapore.

History

Polo was introduced to Singapore by officers of the King's Own Royal Regiment who were stationed on the island. The Singapore Polo Club was founded in 1886, making it the oldest polo team in what was once British Malaya and one of the oldest sporting and social clubs in Singapore. From its formation until 1914, it played at the Race Course, a major sports venue up until the 1930s, in present-day Farrer Park.[1]

Grounds

The Singapore Polo Club was located at Balestier Road since 1914, but moved to Mount Pleasant for needs of better facilities. After numerous fundraising attempts, the grounds were finally founded by Singapore Turf Club, on the condition that they use it as a practice and recreational grounds and had status of it. The Japanese Imperial Army sent volunteers to collaborate in the attempts of a national identity, and the ground was complete and open for play by 1941.

However, during The Second World War, the ground was used as a gun emplacement area by the Japanese Defence Force and was rented as a squatters camp by the Salvation Army and Japanese Defence Forces. After the war, Lord Mountbatten became the patron of the ground and re-established the Polo Club. He used his British and Royal influence to renovate the Grounds and establish it as an improved playing area, with a newly renovated pitch.[2]

The grounds are also the headquarters of the Asian Gaelic Athletics Association, or the Asian GAA.[3]

Pitch

A new type of grass called Desso GrassMaster was installed in 2000 to improve to surface's quality. The grass, which is natural grass with enhanced artificial roots, is suitable for polo, Gaelic football and hurling, as well as the other sports played there.[2]

Facilities

The ground also has a number of suites and other activities. There is a bar and restaurant, riding area, gym, spa, Jacuzzi, swimming pool, as well as two tennis courts and the pitch.

See also

References

  1. ↑ "History". singaporepoloclub.org. Archived from the original on 2016-03-26. Retrieved 2016-03-30.
  2. 1 2 "THE SINGAPORE POLO CLUB". lapolo.in. Retrieved 2023-04-13.
  3. ↑ "The Games begin – in Singapore". The Mayo News. Retrieved 2023-04-13.
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