The Asian Golf Industry Federation’s [AGIF] inaugural Turfgrass Management Education Seminar in Taiwan proved a resounding success.
With the support of the Taiwan Golf Course Association and Miramar Golf Country Club, the two-day seminar attracted more than 80 delegates.
The educational gathering was open to golf course managers, golf course superintendents, club managers, greenkeepers and mechanics wishing to learn more about the latest in golf course development.
The topics, of high relevancy to the Taiwanese golf industry, included tournament course preparations, irrigation efficiency, soil wetting agents, new greenskeeping technology and golf course renovation.
Eric Lynge, the AGIF’s Chief Executive Officer, said: “We offer our thanks to the staff and management at Miramar Golf Country Club for their wonderful support and hospitality.
“The fact that we have had such strong support from delegates and sponsors is a clear indication of the importance of the Taiwanese golf market.”
In addition to Gold Sponsors Jacobsen and Toro, Rain Bird, Profile Products, Redexim and True Surface signed up as Silver Sponsors while Shibaura, Foley United and Sustane were Bronze Sponsors.
Golf maintenance consultant and long-time Taiwanese resident Eric Lynge, one of the driving forces behind the event, said the seminar was well received by the golf industry in Taiwan. He said: “The Asian Golf Industry Federation brought a unique understanding of our needs to Taiwan.”
Andy Johnston, General Manager and Director of Agronomy at Singapore’s award-winning Sentosa Golf Club, delivered the opening keynote presentation entitled ‘New Innovation in Greenkeeping Technology’.
Following a coffee break, John Pryor, Managing Director of Hydrogold, spoke about ‘Irrigation Audit and Efficiency’, while Michael He discussed ‘Tournament Preparation’.
The afternoon of day one was set aside for a field day that was staged in two components – an indoor seminar followed by outdoor product demonstrations.
Day two teed-off with Sam Bauer, Extension Educator Horticulture, Rgnl Ofc Andover UME, explaining how to ‘Get the Most out of Soil Wetting Agents’.
Following him onto the podium was Darry Koster, Course Superintendent at Hong Kong’s Clearwater Bay Golf and Country Club, venue for last month’s Asia Pacific Amateur Championship. The title of Koster’s presentation was ‘Golf Course Preparations for International Tournaments’.
Johnston then wrapped up the formal proceedings with a discussion on Sentosa Golf Club’s renovation of its Tanjong Course.
Less than an hour by car from Taipei, Miramar is the first Taiwanese golfing establishment to sign up as a Golf Facility Member of the AGIF.
Opened in 1994 and boasting two Jack Nicklaus Signature Courses, Miramar is widely regarded as being among the top-five golf clubs in the country.
Lynge said he was pleased to welcome Miramar as a Golf Facility Member of the AGIF. “Little over a year since launching the Golf Facility category, dozens of the region’s most prominent clubs have signed up as members. We are delighted that Miramar is the first in Taiwan.
“Golf facilities represent an enormous part of our industry and as we continue to run an increasing number of educational events for course superintendents, and offer more benefits to clubs, we are confident that this category of membership will grow,” said Lynge.
With the addition of Miramar to its list of members, the AGIF now has Golf Facility members in 11 countries or regions – Cambodia, China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Korea, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam.
Asian Golf Industry Federation www.agif.asia
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