The Asian golf industry is on a roll. Last month saw the successful launch of the Inaugural PGA Conference of Asia and the launch of the PGA of Asia – the body that will cater to the needs of professional golf instructors and players alike.
Now, another highly neglected profession in the industry has come onto the radar – golf course superintendents. This very important group of professionals will now have their very own annual conference and a specially incorporated organisation to look after their needs.
The Inaugural Golf Course Superintendents Of Asia Summit will be staged at the sprawling Royal Gems Golf Resort in Bangkok, Thailand from October 15-17. This event is being organised by the Asia Pacific Golf Development Conferences (APGDC).
“We have been studying the need for an event of this sort for some time and felt that we needed to do something about it this year – hence, the launch of the Summit for Superintendents and the start up of an organisation to represent their needs,” revealed Mike Sebastian, managing director of APGDC.
He went on to add, “This will become an annual event home-based in Thailand and it is being supported by the Sports Authority of Thailand, the Thailand Golf Course Association, Tourism Authority of Thailand and the Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau.”
The three-day event will feature practising professionals in the industry from all over the region and experts will also be brought in from North America and Europe.
“It will be the biggest event of its kind for golf course superintendents in Asia – these are very important people and we want to make that universally known throughout the region,” Sebastian emphasised.
Reaction from industry leaders has been swift – Craig Holden, President and CEO of Sustane said, “I think that it is really great that you are organizing and providing a venue for this event as I don’t know of anyone else that has in the past attempted to draw together Asian golf course superintendents and staff specifically. I believe that they will really appreciate it and in time you may have been the impetus to start something really significant for Asian golf maintenance.”
The venue host, Michael Chen, Director of Royal Gems Golf Resort said, “I have always wanted to see an event like this specially organised for golf course superintendents and I am absolutely delighted that it has finally happened and we are glad to be part of this summit.”
All delegates registered for this event will be granted free passage to visit the 2010 Asia Pacific Golf Industry Exhibition which will be staged at the Bangkok International Convention Centre from October 18-20, 2010 in conjunction with the 2010 Asia Pacific Golf Summit.
Full registration details will be made available on the event’s web site by June 15 – www.asiangcsaa.com. For any enquiries, please contact Mike Sebastian – mike.sebastian@golfconference.org or Georgina Wong – georgina.wong@golfconference.org or call 65-63232800