Stepping Forward to Promote Golf Sustainability in Asia

POSTED ON March 11, 2016 @ 4:39 pm

Chonburi, Thailand: The R&A has staged the second in a series of six seminars geared to promoting sustainable golf course design, development and management in the region.

The free-to-attend seminar at the Amata Spring Country Club attracted more than 80 attendees, including local Thai and regional golf course operators.

The seminar was aimed at course developers, owners, architects, general managers and superintendents, covering a wide range of topics and exploring opportunities within the sport to create a new platform for sustainable golf in Asia.

Martin Slumbers, Chief Executive of The R&A, said: “For The R&A, sustainability is the financial, environmental, health and social viability of where golf is played.

“To achieve this, golf has to react to the challenges that it, and other businesses, face from economic, environmental, social and regulatory pressures. The end result is a sport that benefits everyone, bringing employment, protecting nature and providing healthy recreation.

“This seminar outlined how sustainability can be built into golf course designs, renovation and maintenance. The speakers provided a wealth of experience in delivering sustainable solutions through the implementation of well-founded practices.”

Topics at the seminar were presented by industry-leading international and local speakers. The keynote speakers were Steve Isaac, Director – Golf Course Management, The R&A; Pirapon Namatra, Owner, Golf East; Micah Woods, Chief Scientist at Asian Turfgrass Centre; Paul Jansen, Owner of Jansen Golf Course Design & Construction; and Sam Thomas, Golf Development Manager, Golf Environment Organisation. The seminar was chaired by Dominic Wall, Director – Asia Pacific at The R&A.

The Thailand leg of The R&A Seminar on Sustainable Golf Course Design, Renovation and Maintenance in Asia has the ultimate aim of promoting responsible and practical approaches to golf course design, renovation and maintenance – highlighting the on-going work of the industry in raising the standards of golf.