WANT to play badminton in Singapore? You had better make plans two weeks in advance, or better yet, switch to tennis.

The reason is simple - the demand for badminton courts far outstrips the supply in Singapore. And unless you're a student with access to school sports facilities, there is no such thing as a game of pick-up badminton.

Here's case in point: About a week ago, I came across two young girls in the basement carpark of a condominium in the east, playing a makeshift game of badminton in the empty spaces between cars.

It didn't take long for the condo's security officers to come along and break up the game. The girls - no older than ten - looked crushed.

Of course, there were plenty of legitimate reasons why they should not be playing there, not least of all safety.

What provoked my sympathy for the young shuttlers was that the same condominium had three tennis courts and two squash courts - but could find no space for badminton.

A quick check with my friends who were residents at other condos around the island confirmed my suspicions that badminton is the unwanted child of racket sports, at least in the eyes of Singapore private property developers.

What then of the majority of Singaporeans who are HDB dwellers?

Their only option is to book courts at public sports halls or community centres. But these are heavily utilised, not just for badminton, but for other activities as well.

Seasoned recreational shuttlers will tell you that you need to book at least two weeks in advance to have any hope of snagging that prime Saturday afternoon slot to try out your new cross-court backhand smash.

Little wonder then, that Singapore has had some trouble producing talented home-grown badminton players in recent years.

For a sport that is this popular amongst Singaporeans of all ages, surely we can do better?