Laguna National

Few courses in Southeast Asia carry the weight of expectation that Laguna National does. Opened in 1993 and designed by Peter Thomson and Michael Wolveridge, the club's 2 layouts — Classic and Masters — sit on reclaimed land in the eastern corridor of Singapore, a fact that makes the mature, sculpted landscape feel all the more deliberate. The Masters Course in particular earned genuine international credentials when it hosted the European Tour's Johnnie Walker Classic and later became a fixture on the Asian Tour as home of the Singapore Open, attracting fields that have included Rory McIlroy, Ernie Els, and a roster of the world's top-ranked players.

The design philosophy leans toward the American parkland tradition — generous fairways framed by water, strategic bunkering, and greens that reward precision over power. The tropical setting means the turf plays firm and fast in dry spells but demands respect after Singapore's heavy rains, and the heat and humidity are as much a factor as any hazard on the card.

Laguna National occupies an interesting space in Asian golf: a genuine tournament venue that also functions as an upscale members' club and resort destination, drawing visiting golfers who want more than a holiday round.