For the third year in succession, the Asian Golf Industry Federation’s (AGIF) Superintendent Volunteer Education Programme will be staged in conjunction with the HSBC Women’s Champions.
To be held at Singapore’s award-winning Sentosa Golf Club on March 3-4, more than 50 superintendents are expected to attend, including six superintendents from an R&A internship programme.
The overarching theme of the gathering will be renovation and several topics within that will be covered.
The seminar will take place on March 3 and the morning of March 4 with a field demonstration on the second afternoon showcasing equipment and products of the major sponsors.
Richard Walne, Chairman of the AGIF’s Education Committee, said: “Since there will be so many golf courses around the region up for renovation in the coming years we believe the topic is entirely appropriate.”
The following presentations will be made:
- Grass Selection in Renovation – John Holmes, President, Atlas Turf and Vice President, AGIF
- Design and Construction Best Practices in Renovation – Martin Moore, President, Flagstick GCCM
- Project Management in Renovation – Laurie Walsh, Design Associate/Project Manager, IMG Golf Course Services
- Examples from Around the World in Renovation – Adam Lawrence, Editor, Golf Course Architecture.
Syngenta’s Sowmya Mitra, one of the driving forces behind the event, said: “Last year we were delighted with the turnout and how the event was received. The responses from participants was exceptionally positive and some of the attendees wanted to make it bigger and better this year – and that is what we are attempting to achieve in 2015.
“In particular, the field demo day will give the volunteers an opportunity to be close to all the equipment that is being demonstrated.”
Andy Johnston, General Manager at Sentosa Golf Club, a Golf Facility member of the AGIF, said: “It’s going to be a great event and I am sure everyone will take a little bit of learning experience from both the education and on-course preparations.”
Among the AGIF members that supported the event in 2014 were Atlas Turf International, Centaur Asia Pacific, Jacobsen, Jebsen & Jessen Technology, Rain Bird, Syngenta Asia Pacific and The Toro Company.
The AGIF Education Committee is responsible for organising the Volunteer Education Programme. The Committee is headed by Walne, Toro’s Managing Director, Australia & Asia Pacific. Other committee members are Chuck Greif (Jacobsen), Steve Wilson (Bernhard) and Syngenta’s Mitra.
Last year was the first time the Volunteer Education Programme had been sponsored by the AGIF with certificates of appreciation handed out to all 71 volunteers who attended.
The volunteers were mainly golf course superintendents, assistant superintendents, representatives from distributors and manufacturers of inputs for golf course maintenance.
Tim Trinka, President of the AGIF, said: “This year once more we are sure that there will be something for all attendees to take home and to be able to implement in their own programmes ‘for the good of the game’.
“We greatly appreciate the support of Andy Johnston, Rodney McKeown and their outstanding team at Sentosa Golf Club. Without their backing and involvement this event would not be possible.
“With education being one of the core elements of the Federation in 2015, we are committed to raising the profile and standard of turfgrass maintenance in the Asian region through events such as this.”
Education sessions at the Sentosa event are open to all, regardless of their level of golf maintenance experience.
Those wishing to participate should contact the AGIF’s PK Ong by email at pk.ong@agif.asia or Sentosa’s Adeline Yan at adeline_yan@sentosa.com.sg
Asian Golf Industry Federation www.agif.asia
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