Nguyen Thi Nga and Richard Walne, two long-standing stalwarts of the region’s golfing industry, have been honoured by the Asian Golf Industry Federation.
In recognition of their contributions to golf over the course of many decades, Nga and Walne were feted during the second AGIF Danang Conference.
Nga, founder of the BRG Group, was named as the first recipient of the ‘Contribution to Growing Golf in Asia Award’.
Walne, who is into his 44th year with The Toro Company, and has been a linchpin of the AGIF and a champion of education for greenkeepers, was presented with the Federation’s first ‘Lifetime Contribution to Golf Award’.
“Congratulations to both Nguyen Thi Nga and Richard Walne. We could not have come up with more worthy and deserving winners of these new accolades,” said Chris Gray, President of the AGIF. “They have both been immensely influential figures in the golf industry in this part of the world for many years. Between them, their efforts have not only had a hugely positive effect on the industry as a whole, but also a profound impact on many thousands of individuals.”
It was in 1993 that Nga founded BRG – an abbreviation of banking, real estate and golf, presenting the three strategic fields that the company focuses on. Today, the company employs a workforce of 22,000. After three decades of construction and development, BRG’s multi-field eco-system has reached a number of important milestones to position the company as one of the leading private multi-sector economic groups in Vietnam.
Among other things, BRG Group is a pioneer in the development of golf and golf tourism in Vietnam with the company’s continuous innovation and promotion of the sport being key to Vietnam’s rapid rise on the global golfing map. Currently, the BRG Group owns and operates eight international golf courses in Vietnam.
In addition to his responsibilities with Toro, for whom he has been Managing Director Asia-Pacific and Australia since the turn of the century, Walne was involved in the inception of the AGIF in 2009, serving as President for four years. Now President Emeritus and an honorary individual member of the Federation, he continues to be a driver of education as chairperson of the AGIF Certificate in Greenkeeping committee.
Walne said: “Everyone associated or connected with the AGIF – the Board, Members and staff – should be proud of the representation we have across the region. My thanks to everyone who has been involved in the AGIF since our inception. I’m proud that the Federation has developed and grown and look forward to seeing this trend continue in the coming years.”
Due to urgent commitments, Madam Nga was unable to be present to collect her award which was received on her behalf by Mark Reeves, who heads up the BRG Group’s Golf and Property sectors.
