Penang Swimming Club

Penang Swimming Club (26 September 2009)


The Penang Swimming Club (GPS: 5.46497, 100.29695) is the oldest and wealthiest swimming club in Penang. It was founded by the Europeans who were keen on swimming. The early founders where young white men. The club was sited at Tanjong Bungah, which means the "cape of flowers", a name derived from the seaside gardens.

When the Penang Swimming Club was founded, on 5 June, 1903, Tanjung Bungah was a laid back fishing village served by a single meandering country road. There wasn't a single hotel in sight. At that time, membership was homogenously male and white. Ladies were allowed in on Thursdays.

Right through the 1930's the custom of segregation of race and gender was the norm. Hence the Clubhouse was exclusive male territory while the "Snake Temple," a dainty one-storey structure, is exclusive to the ladies.

The Japanese Occupation of Malaya beginning in 1941 was a break of sorts for the Penang Swimming Club. With the Japanese taking over the club, it was opened to the locals for the first time. However, the club suffered from general neglect through the war years, and when the war was over, the former members returned to a pick-me-up.

Membership was once again whites-only right up to the 1960's. It was only in the late 1960's that locals gain entry as a committee member. With independence and the withdrawal of Europeans from Penang, the club finally allowed locals free entry - that is, if they can afford the membership.

The character of the membership continued to transform, until it became predominantly locals. Meanwhile, the club continued to expand, both in membership as well as in its facilities. Although squarely focused on sea-related activities, by the 1990's it added land sports such as tennis and tai-chi sessions, along with a well-appointed gymnasium.

How to reach the Penang Swimming Club

Take Rapid Penang bus 101. Get down at the bus stop near Hill Side Tanjung Bungah.

What's good to eat at the Penang Swimming Club

Penang Swimming Club is on the Map of Jalan Tanjung Bungah and on the Map of Tanjung Bungah, Penang

Penang Swimming Club, as seen from One Tanjong. (2 November 2020)


Covered passageway between the old and new wing of Penang Swimming Club (22 November 2018)


The marina at Penang Swimming Club (22 November 2018)


View of the Penang Swimming Club coastline. (13 April 2016)


Penang Swimming Club, as seen from the Tanjung Bungah coast. (23 December 2020)


The 14th floor verandah at Penang Swimming Club (22 November 2018)


Lift lobby deco at Penang Swimming Club (22 November 2018)


Penang Swimming Club complex with multi-storey car park, multi purpose hall, sports facilities and restaurant. (13 April 2016)


Entrance to the Penang Swimming Club. (13 April 2016)


Entrance signboard of Penang Swimming Club (13 April 2016)


The Captain's Restaurant, Penang Swimming Club (22 November 2018)


Dining hall at The Captain's Restaurant (22 November 2018)


Penang Swimming Club (26 September 2009)

List of Swimming Pools in Penang and Swimming Pools in Malaysia

Private Guided Tours of Penang

If you are seeking private guided tours of Penang, message Penang Tour Guides at penangtourguides@gmail.com and enquire with them.

 Buy, rent or sell properties in Penang

Do you have a property for sale or to rent out? Are you looking to buy or rent a property? Get in touch with me. WhatsApp me (Timothy Tye) at 012 429 9844, and I will assign one of my property agents to serve you. I will choose the agent for you, according to your property needs. So when you message me, provide me some details of what you need, whether to sell, to buy, to rent or to rent out, and what type of property, is it condo, apartment, house, shop, office or land.

Adakah anda mempunyai hartanah untuk dijual atau disewakan? Adakah anda ingin membeli atau menyewa hartanah? Hubungi saya. WhatsApp saya (Timothy Tye) di 012 429 9844, dan saya akan menugaskan salah seorang ejen hartanah saya untuk berkhidmat kepada anda. Saya akan pilih ejen untuk anda, mengikut keperluan hartanah anda. Oleh itu, apabila anda menghantar mesej kepada saya, berikan saya beberapa butiran tentang apa yang anda perlukan, sama ada untuk menjual, untuk membeli, untuk disewakan atau untuk disewakan, dan jenis hartanah apakah itu kondo, pangsapuri, rumah, kedai, pejabat atau tanah.

您有待出售或出租的房产吗？ 您想购买或租赁房产吗？ 与我联系。 WhatsApp 我 (Timothy Tye) 012 429 9844，我将指派一名房地产经纪人为您服务。 我会根据您的房产需求，为您选择代理。 因此，当您给我发消息时，请向我提供一些您需要的详细信息，无论是出售、购买、出租还是出租，以及房产类型，是公寓、公寓、房屋、商店、办公室还是土地。

 New Properties in Penang

Looking to buy property in Penang? Get the e-brochures right here without having to visit or contact individual developers.

 Latest updates on Penang Travel Tips

 Share your travels and/or ask a travel-related question

Join the Penang Travel Tips Facebook Group to share photos, tips and anything related to your travels, or ask travel-related questions.

Map of Roads in Penang

Looking for information on Penang? Use this Map of Roads in Penang to zoom in on information about Penang, brought to you road by road.

Discover with Timothy

Let me take you to explore and discover Penang through my series of walking tours on YouTube. You may use these videos as your virtual tour guide. At the beginning of each video, I provide the starting point coordinates which you may key into your GPS, Google Maps or Waze, to be navigated to where I start the walk, and use the video as your virtual tour guide.

Disclaimer

Please use the information on this page as guidance only. The author endeavours to update the information on this page from time to time, but regrets any inaccuracies if there be any.

Songs about Penang

About this website

Hello and thanks for reading this page. My name is Timothy and my hobby is in describing places so that I can share the information with the general public. My website has become the go to site for a lot of people including students, teachers, journalists, etc. whenever they seek information on places, particularly those in Malaysia and Singapore. I have been doing this since 5 January 2003, for over twenty years already. You can read about me at Discover Timothy. By now I have compiled information on thousands of places, mostly in Peninsular Malaysia and Singapore, and I continue to add more almost every day. My goal is to describe every street in every town in Malaysia and Singapore.