With UPlay at its core, NTUC Club is transforming leisure into a flexible, personalised experience, reflecting how Singaporeans live, work, and unwind.

There is a quiet but enduring force in Singapore’s social landscape - one that, for nearly four decades, has been bringing people together through play. NTUC Club, the social and engagement arm of the Labour Movement, was established in 1986 to meet the social needs of workers and their families through recreation, engagement, and community initiatives. Since then, it has grown from a single clubhouse at Shenton Way into one of the country’s largest leisure providers.

FOUNDATIONS OF A SOCIAL MOVEMENT

NTUC Club was born with a straightforward goal: to serve workers by making leisure accessible, affordable, and enriching. In its earliest days, the first Clubhouse at Shenton Way offered a much-needed sanctuary for union workers to unwind, connect, and recharge. That vision quickly grew. By 1988, the official opening of NTUC Pasir Ris Resort marked a new chapter in scale and ambition.

NTUC Club was born with a straightforward goal: to serve workers by making leisure accessible, affordable, and enriching. In its earliest days, the first Clubhouse at Shenton Way offered a much-needed sanctuary for union workers to unwind, connect, and recharge. That vision quickly grew. By 1988, the official opening of NTUC Pasir Ris Resort marked a new chapter in scale and ambition.

In 2007, NTUC Club shifted its focus from being just a facilities provider to building, engaging, and strengthening communities to foster a sense of belonging and purpose. This update was part of a broader effort to better serve the social and recreational needs of union members. Around the same time, the Club launched various groups - such as the youth-focused community nEbO - to further these goals. This was followed by the launch of D’Resort in 2015, which brought staycations into the heart of a bustling community hub.

NTUC Club reaffirmed its mission in 2018 as it celebrated the completion of the Refreshing Downtown East milestone project, featuring the nature-inspired D’Resort, an expanded water park (Wild Wild Wet), an enhanced mix of retail, dining, and entertainment at Market Square, and Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions (MICE) facilities for corporate and consumer events – all designed to meet the changing needs of union members, especially Professionals, Managers, and Executives (PMEs).

Wild Wild Wet, Downtown East

True to its Labour Movement roots and guided by values of care, passion, trust, and service, NTUC Club has never strayed far from its central ethos, delivering inclusive experiences that uplift Singaporeans. By partnering with unions, corporations, and government agencies, it built programmes from the ground up.

From youth-focused nEbO to family-centric My Family Kaki (MFK), active agers in U Live, and sports lovers in U Sports and My Golf Kaki (MGK) – NTUC Club has created communities that reflect the heartbeat of Singapore.

FROM PHYSICAL FACILITIES TO DIGITAL CONCIERGE

If the first chapter of NTUC Club’s history was defined by infrastructure, the second is a story of reinvention – shaped by how Singaporeans’ play and leisure needs have evolved alongside the nation’s progress. Singaporeans today seek more diverse, sophisticated, and meaningful experiences that promote active lifestyles, well-being, and community connection, while balancing work and family life.

In response, NTUC Club – one of the largest providers of play options to workers and individual consumers – has transformed from an asset-based model to a partnership model with the launch of UPlay in 2023. This evolution made it a natural pivot to offer UPlay’s services to organisations, broadening NTUC Club’s reach to workers and members through communities and corporate partnerships.

UPlay works with companies to structure a comprehensive employee engagement programme that encourage deeper employee engagement to enhance morale, mental health, and overall wellbeing. Companies can tap into a full suite of lifestyle and leisure services, ranging from team building activities, family days, dinner and dances, to other employee engagement activities including a variety of community activities, wellness programs, and social events tailored to their tastes and needs. These initiatives aim to build relationships, improve work-life balance, and create a sense of belonging.

UPlay also builds and engages communities such as My Golf Kaki and My Wine & Dine Kaki through their interests, and offers a curation of third-party local and overseas leisure experiences direct to consumers and members through its one-stop portal.

This shift has borne fruit - over 50 companies have engaged UPlay’s suite of services, with several signing long-term contracts. UPlay was also presented with the Silver Award for Best Innovation for HR at the HR Vendors of the Year 2024 Awards, a recognition of its human-centric design and impact on employee well-being. In addition, UPlay was recognised as a Company of Good – 2 Hearts, an honour given to organisations driving impact with purpose, in 2025.

UPlay clinched the Best Innovation for HR Silver award at the HR Vendors of the Year 2024 Awards

NTUC Club’s reimagining of recreation did not end there. In 2024, it launched weekly one-day shopping trips to Batam, which have quickly gained popularity for their quality and value. Building on that momentum, NTUC Club has since expanded its offerings to also include golf getaways and flexible, self-guided packages with extended staycation options, catering to the diverse preferences of its growing community.

This vision extends to initiatives like MGK – an estate-less golf club established to provide union members with affordable golf experiences – which has redefined how golf is played and perceived. Once seen as an elite sport, golf has been democratised through MGK’s thoughtful innovations. Its signature MGK Golf 6 format at Orchid Country Club allows new-comers to play a concise six-hole round, designed to be completed within 90 minutes – perfect for busy workers or beginners who may find an 18-hole course daunting.

GreenBox by My Golf Kaki, Orchid Country Club

Meanwhile, the evolution of MGK reflects how even tradition-bound pastimes can be reimagined for a new generation. In 2025, MGK launched GreenBox, an indoor golf simulator concept featuring state-of-the-art technology from Korea’s Golfzon. With public bays, private rooms, and pro coaching, GreenBox delivers a fast, immersive experience, opening up access to over 200 virtual courses globally and bringing world-class golf experiences within easy reach.

MGK has also broadened access through partnerships with the Singapore Golf Association and the Singapore Professional Golfers’ Association, offering affordable coaching and community outreach programmes. Today, MGK is Singapore’s most vibrant estate-less golf community, with membership doubling from 6,000 to over 12,000 kakis and counting.

The reimagining of recreation also embraces digital platforms: esports entered the fold, with tournaments like ECHAMP engaging younger audiences through competitive gaming. Together, these initiatives underscore NTUC Club’s enduring commitment to reimagining play not as a luxury, but as a vital, inclusive tool for engagement and modern nation-building.

HEARTS ON THE GROUND

Beneath the fun lies a deeper purpose. NTUC Club’s heartbeat is in supporting workers and their families through affordable play, while creating meaningful opportunities for those who wish to give back to society. In 2023, My Volunteer Kaki (MVK) was launched as a dedicated community where members can connect with like-minded volunteers and sign up for causes across Singapore. The following year, MVK’s Empowering Dreams initiative supported children from low-income families through curated bonding activities and enrichment.

In addition, NTUC Club rallied over 150 participants from nEbO, U Live, and other community arms to plant 50 coastal and native trees at Pasir Ris Park to commemorate the late Mr Lee Kuan Yew’s 100th birth anniversary, while also contributing to Singapore’s OneMillionTrees movement. More than symbolic, this initiative underscored NTUC Club’s commitment to sustainability.

D’ Marquee 2.0

That same commitment runs deep throughout NTUC Club’s operations, where the Club has implemented eco-conscious practices such as automating water conservation systems, using soil moisture detectors and rainwater harvesting systems, retrofitting LED lighting, and optimising energy use through smart meters. D’Marquee 2.0, E!Hub, and D’Resort now also boast green roofs, thanks to partnerships with EDP Renewables APAC. A formal ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) Taskforce was also established in 2023, identifying six focus areas aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

D’ Resort

Internally, the organisation fosters a culture of empathy, innovation, and growth, with staff development programmes like Leadership 4.0 equipping team members with mentorship and communication skills. In addition, wellness is woven into the workplace with workshops, free health screenings, mental health counselling, and inclusive practices like multilingual training and lactation rooms.

NTUC Club’s Chinese New Year 2025 staff lohei

CREATING TOMORROW

Anticipating the future, NTUC Club has not merely adapted – it has led, most notably through the transformation of D’Marquee. Reopened in 2025, D’Marquee 2.0 is an architectural and experiential statement of the Club’s vision for shared spaces: flexible, inclusive, and future-proof. Its 2,400-square-metre, pillar-less interior, 8-metre high ceiling, and solar panelled roof make it ideal for the hybrid age.

From concerts and sporting events to weddings and conferences, the venue delivers immersive experiences through soundproofed interiors and cutting-edge audio-visual infrastructure, made possible through NTUC Club’s partnership with technical production experts, ExpoAV.

NTUC Club’s cultural collaborations further reflect its ongoing relevance and reach. Through MFK, it has partnered with the Singapore Repertory Theatre and supported national campaigns alongside the Ministry of Social and Family Development. One such highlight was the Baby & Junior Race held in 2025 as part of the National Family Festival.

Beyond these, NTUC Club continues to deepen its social impact. Initiatives like Eat With Your Family Day, mental wellness programmes in partnership with Limitless Singapore, and the operation of three migrant workers’ recreation centres underscore its enduring commitment to care, empathy, and inclusion.

And as community needs evolve, so too do its offerings. My Wine & Dine Kaki creates opportunities for connection through elevated gastronomic experiences that are curated in collaboration with partners and tailored to meet members’ growing appetite for premium lifestyle experiences.

From enticing discounts at popular and emerging food and beverage spots to thoughtfully designed wine-pairing dinners, NTUC Club continues to bring people together to bond, share, and build community, one memorable meal at a time.

PLAY AS A PILLAR OF NATION BUILDING

NTUC Club Communities Tree Planting to commemorate the late Mr Lee Kuan Yew’s 100th birth anniversary

More than just a leisure provider, NTUC Club is a nation-builder that believes play is not frivolous, but fundamental to mental health, to unity, and to a society where no one is left behind.

NTUC Club has remained steadfast in its mission: to foster joy, inclusion, and well-being through play. From community bonding to corporate engagement, it has created accessible spaces and programmes for all collars of workers – blue, white, and everything in between. More than just a leisure provider, NTUC Club is a nation-builder that believes play is not frivolous, but fundamental to mental health, to unity, and to a society where no one is left behind.

Downtown East

Indeed, that mission is rooted in a simple, powerful idea: that leisure and learning, bonding and belonging, are essential to a thriving nation. Whether through a round of virtual golf, a family day at Downtown East, or a heartfelt volunteer outing, NTUC Club continues to create avenues for rest, togetherness, and delight for all who work, live, and play in Singapore. In doing so, it helps build the soul of a nation through purposeful play.