The Asian Golf Industry Federation’s (AGIF) second Turfgrass Management Exposition has received an overwhelming vote of approval.
More than 250 speakers and delegates from around the globe attended the gathering that was an integral part of the three-day Sustainable Turfgrass Management in Asia 2014 conference.
The event was organised by the Thai Golf Course Superintendents Association (TGCSA) and Asian Turfgrass Centre for the Thailand Golf Association (TGA), with support from The R&A.
Richard Walne, Managing Director of Toro for Australia and Asia-Pacific and Chairman of the AGIF’s Education Committee, said: “We are hugely encouraged by the widespread support for the AGIF Turfgrass Management Exposition.
“All the feedback we have received has been extremely positive and we look forward to helping to grow this event in the years ahead, in conjunction with the TGCSA, the TGA, the Asian Turfgrass Centre and The R&A.”
Pirapon Namatra, the TGA’s Director of Course Development and Maintenance, said: “For course superintendents, this is the only purely educational seminar in our region and we are very happy with how it has been conducted and the quality of its staging.”
Dominic Wall, Director Asia-Pacific for The R&A and a keynote speaker at the conference, said: “This gathering has again been a great success. We are glad to see so many golf course superintendents from around Asia come together in Thailand to learn about the latest tools and techniques for sustainable golf course and turfgrass management.
“The R&A defines sustainability as optimising the playing quality of the golf course, in harmony with the conservation of its natural environment, under economically sound and socially responsible management. That so many superintendents from around Asia attended who to learn about practical ways to accomplish these objectives is extremely positive for the industry.”
The conference programme included speakers and topics focused on practical information about effective management in East and Southeast Asia. In addition to two days of classroom seminars at Centara Grand Mirage Beach Resort Pattaya, there was a field day at Siam Country Club’s new Waterside Course with a hands-on look at grasses and management techniques.
The AGIF Turfgrass Management Exposition, featuring an array of equipment as well as product demonstration and education, took place at Laem Chabang Country Club.
Leading a strong delegation of AGIF members who were their showcasing products were Jacobsen, Foley United, Campey Turf Care, Syngenta, Toro and Toro Irrigation, Graden (JDS), True Surface, Bernhard, Hunter Industries, Atlas Turf, Rain Bird, Sports Turf Solutions, Shriro Equipment (Thailand), Jebsen & Jessen, Centaur Asia Pacific, Flowtronex and GCSAA.
In addition to The R&A’s Wall, conference speakers included John Sorochan, an Associate Professor at University of Tennessee, who talked about putting green speed and managing turf in shade.
Meanwhile, Muhammad Fahmy, a consultant to Dago Endah Golf Club, explained how to improve courses even with low budgets for the work and Julia Khin Swe Aye, Project Director at the Royal Myanmar Golf Club, spoke about golf course maintenance in Myanmar.
Milt Engelke, Professor Emeritus from TexasA&MUniversity, addressed the topic of Zoysia grasses and its management and Mohd Nizam Othman, Golf Course Superintendent at Kuala Lumpur Golf and Country Club, talked about tournament preparation for LPGA and PGA events.
Korapat Jayaphorn, a graduate student at Kasetsart University, told delegates about his research into native grasses for low maintenance rough and Micah Woods, Chief Scientist at the Asian Turfgrass Centre, focused on irrigation water quality and turfgrass nutrient requirements.
Asian Golf Industry Federation www.agif.asia