Club Management, Greenkeeping and Groundskeeping will be thrust to the fore at the Asian Golf Industry Federation’s inaugural AGIF Expo next year.
To be staged at Thailand’s National Stadium in the Pathum Wan District of Bangkok on November 19-20, 2020, the AGIF Expo will bring together golf/sports turf and club managers from across Asia for education and networking in tandem with supplier access via exhibition and sponsorship.
Richard Walne, President of the AGIF, said: “A long-term objective of the Federation has been to create a must-attend regional turfgrass, club management and stadium management event in Asia-Pacific.
“Our vision is to establish the AGIF Expo as the go to event on the Asian schedule for golf/sport field professionals and their supplier partners.
“The AGIF Expo represents a great opportunity for the Federation to establish a truly Asia Pacific event – an event that has huge potential to grow into a large-scale annual industry conference and trade show.”
Eric Lynge, the AGIF’s Chief Executive Officer, said: “In addition to providing a truly regional platform for both trade professionals and industry players to meet for enrichment and networking, the AGIF Expo will provide a platform that allows the Asian Golf Industry Federation to further accelerate its commitment to the Asia-Pacific in the areas of turf grass and promoting golf development and awareness in this region.”
As well as golf turfgrass management and club management, the AGIF Expo will serve sports field and parkland turfgrass management.
The target audience includes golf course greenkeepers, sports stadium groundskeepers, golf course owners and developers, industry suppliers, club management and regional and international golf and football associations.
Lynge said: “Based on the feedback we’ve received from our members, there’s a consensus that it makes good sense to combine golf and sports turf management in one stadium venue.
“We’ll have an outdoor area with proper space to demonstrate products, tentage areas to conduct turf and club management education as well as a special area for commercial presentations.
“The idea is for the attendees, exhibitors and educators to have several areas within the stadium. We feel that a stadium has many advantages as a venue as compared to an indoor exhibition hall.
“We also plan to have main stage where a series of keynote interviews will be conducted with leading influencers in golf, sports and facility management.
“Additionally, the event will be used to celebrate the achievements of individuals who have achieved certification in the Certificate in Greenkeeping, which we run with the support of The R&A, as well as the Certified Club Manager degree, which we offer in Asia in partnership with the Club Management Association of America (CMAA).
“The AGIF Expo will be the perfect place to celebrate their milestones in practical education which builds the industry.”
With its excellent infrastructure (transport, hotel and amenities) nearby the Stadium, Bangkok is the ideal location to hold the inaugural AGIF Expo, said Lynge, adding that it is the intention to create a carnival-like atmosphere through a variety of entertaining and engaging activities within the stadium.
Founded in 1937 with the construction of Supachalasai Stadium, its main venue, the National Stadium of Thailand has since expanded and now consists of multiple stadia and sporting facilities.
It acted as the main stadium for the Asian Games in 1966, 1970 and 1978 and staged a group game at the 2007 Asian Football Confederation Asian Cup.
The stadium is easily accessible, served by the BTS Skytrain which stops at the ‘National Stadium BTS Station’, right next to the stadium.
Check out the AGIF Expo website at https://agifexpo.com