Rediscovering Outdoor Dates in Singapore: Nature, Nostalgia, and a Little Bit of Adventure

If you’ve ever reminisced with friends about what Singaporeans used to do for fun, you’ll notice a common thread: our pastimes have changed a lot over the years. Recently, I was scrolling through an online forum where locals were swapping stories and laments about how sports and leisure activities have evolved (or, in some cases, disappeared) in Singapore. The conversation was a mix of nostalgia, light-hearted complaints, and a healthy dose of local humour—something all too familiar to anyone who’s grown up here.

These days, it seems like cycling, jogging, and other outdoor pursuits are dominating the scene. It’s not hard to see why—these activities are easy to pick up, require minimal equipment, and most importantly, don’t need you to fight for a slot on the ActiveSG app just to play. Whether it’s skating, skateboarding, or simply running along the Park Connector Network, many Singaporeans now prefer the freedom to just head out when the mood strikes. You don’t have to coordinate with a whole group or worry about facility bookings, which is a big relief given how quickly those slots get snapped up.

But as people in the forum pointed out, this wasn’t always the case. One recurring lament was the closure of beloved sports venues, like the old Grandstand—a place that used to buzz with a whole range of activities. The loss of such spaces has left a gap for those who remember the days when you could easily find courts and fields filled with friendly matches.

Some folks even cheekily suggested that our sprawling golf courses should be opened up to the public. “Shut down the golf courses and open them to the public lah!” someone exclaimed, echoing the frustration of many who feel that prime recreational land is locked away for the privileged few. Another commented on how golf, once seen as a somewhat exclusive pursuit, is now more visible on social media thanks to influencers, but remains out of reach for most “normies.”

The conversation quickly turned into a trip down memory lane. Volleyball, it seems, was a huge thing in the ’90s and early 2000s, but now? Hardly anyone talks about it, and it’s rare to even catch local volleyball news. That sense of collective nostalgia was strong—one person recalled how table tennis was all the rage in primary school after Singapore clinched an Olympic silver medal. Suddenly, every other kid was queuing up to play during recess.

Bowling also got a mention—back in the day, there seemed to be a Superbowl at every other neighbourhood. Now, most bowling alleys have vanished, and those that remain are often eerily quiet, even on weekends. It’s a far cry from the time when everyone knew how to throw a strike (or at least gave it a shot with friends). Bowling, squash, and even renting bikes to cycle around Pulau Ubin once drew large groups. Today, these activities feel more niche, or perhaps just less accessible.

Other “lost” pastimes cropped up too—carrom, frisbee in public parks, prawning, and even paintball. Each had its moment in the sun before quietly fading away. There’s a bittersweetness to it: some shrugged, saying “all sports decline in popularity” as people become more glued to their phones. Others felt the pinch of rising costs, like how prawning, once a cheap thrill, is now “too ex for the thrill.” With paintball, the hassle of cleaning up (and the potential to ruin a good outfit) is enough to put many off.

It’s not just about the sports themselves, but the communal spirit that seems to have waned. The forum captured that sense of loss—how many activities used to bring people together, but are now replaced by solo pursuits or, more often, scrolling through social media feeds. There was even a tongue-in-cheek comment about how, these days, the only record-breaking “sport” might be making babies during a Dragon year!

It’s easy to get nostalgic for the good old days, but perhaps this is just the natural cycle of things. Trends come and go, and Singapore’s ever-evolving cityscape means our recreational habits will keep changing too. Still, there’s value in remembering what we’ve lost—not just to reminisce, but to spark ideas on how we might bring back that kampung spirit in new ways.

Whether you’re cycling along East Coast Park or dusting off an old frisbee, maybe the most important thing is to keep moving, keep connecting, and keep making space—both in our city and our lives—for a little bit of play.

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**Reflective Takeaway:** Our favourite activities may shift with time, but the spirit of coming together and having fun is something worth holding on to. Perhaps it’s time to explore those forgotten pastimes—or create new ones that bring us together, one skate, sprint, or strike at a time.

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