The 2008 Asia Pacific Golf Development Summit has been able to attract not only the big ‘heavy metal’ companies but it has also been a magnet for top calibre speakers from these organizations. Some of the largest golf course equipment manufacturers will be present as well as a stellar line-up of the world’s leading golf course architects.
The Summit will be held at the world’s largest golf complex, Mission Hills, China on 2-4 December with the theme is “Golf Development – Making Asia World Class and Keeping It That Way!” Some three hundred senior executives drawn from Asian golf course owners, operators and developers are expected to attend.
The organizer, Mike Sebastian, managing director of Asia Pacific Golf Development Conferences Pte. Ltd, said, “We are delighted to inform the golf industry in Asia that our Summit will be graced by the presence of the biggest names in the golf industry.
“The corporations that will be showcased at the event are The Toro Company; John Deere; Jacobsen; Club Car; Rain Bird and E-Z-Go. Each and every one of these corporations are major players in the golf industry worldwide.”
From these corporations the speakers include Dennis Himan, group vice president, The Toro Company; Dan Wilkinson, president, Jacobsen; and Gregg Breningmeyer, director of sales & marketing, commercial segment John Deere worldwide, commercial & consumer equipment division. Senior corporate level speakers are currently being lined up for Club Car, Rain Bird and E-Z-Go.
Commenting on The Toro Company’s participation at the Summit, Dennis Himan said, “We will be launching Asia’s first ever industry award for the region’s most eco-friendly golf course and we believe that this is award comes at a very important moment in the evolution of the golf industry in this part of the world.
“The primary objective of this award is to recognize excellence in golf course operations which improve and protect the environment and support local communities and heritage.”
Dan Wilkinson of Jacobsen will discuss new age technology designed to address the increasingly growing importance of environmental protection and conservation. “Jacobsen is a leader in the use of battery technology in mowers and we use eco-friendly bio-degradable ‘greens care oil’ in all our hydraulic machines and with some of our machines, we also use LPG gas,” Wilkinson explained.
John Deere’s Gregg Breningmeyer will focus his address on what golf courses can do for the environment. “Golf courses provide wildlife sanctuaries, preserve natural areas, rehabilitate degraded landscapes and protect water sources – there are plenty of ways for architects, owners, managers and superintendents to reduce a course’s impact on the environment and using environmentally friendly mowing techniques and equipment, as well as smart irrigation practices are some of the simplest,” he said.
Also present will be a group of well-known golf course architects including Tim Kenny, executive vice-president, Nicklaus Design; Brian Curley, principal, Schmidt & Curley Golf Design; Bruce Charlton, president American Golf Architects Association; Ron Fream, executive director, Golfplan – Fream, Dale & Ramsey; Ross Perrett, managing director, Thomson Perrett & Lobb; Harley Kruse, senior architect, Greg Norman Design; and Howard Swan, senior partner, Swan Golf Designs.
They will focus their expertise on how Asia should plan for its new generation of golf courses. They will share their thoughts on how golf communities should be planned and how these mega projects can be operated successfully. They will also counsel golf course owners and operators on how they can embark on programmes to renovate their existing courses and to bring these courses up to current day standards.
The Asia Pacific Golf Development Summit is the single largest golf event of its kind in the region and in total more than 50 world-class speakers and panelists have been confirmed to speak at the conference. It has been designed to bring cutting edge know-how and technology in golf course operation and is now open for delegate registration.
Full Summit details are available at www.golfconference.org