Nizam to Address Philippine Golf Course Management Conference

Mohd Nizam Othman, Asia’s most decorated golf course superintendent, will headline a high-profile list of world-class speakers at next week’s Philippine Golf Course Management Conference.

Organised by the Federation of Golf Clubs Philippines in co-operation with the National Golf Association of the Philippines (NGAP) and supported by the Philippine Sports Commission, the two-day event (May 4-5) in Dasmarinas City is presented by the Asian Golf Industry Federation (AGIF).

More than 125 golf course superintendents, course maintenance managers, golf directors and club managers are expected to be present at The Orchard Golf and Country Club, a Golf Facility Member of the AGIF.

Eric Lynge, the AGIF’s Chief Executive Officer, said: “Once more the AGIF is delighted to return to The Orchard Golf and Country Club for what has historically proved a highly successful event.

“Our thanks and appreciation go to President Conrad Benitez and his team at The Orchard. Without their generous support and the backing of our sponsors it would not be possible to stage events such as these.

“Last year the Orchard gathering attracted a record attendance. The AGIF is hopeful the number of people joining for this year’s conference will surpass the 2016 turnout.”

In keeping with previous years, Lynge said a full day of seminars is scheduled for the opening day. The following day will feature field demonstrations and an equipment exhibition.

Underscoring the AGIF’s aim to support the entire industry, the field day is open to members and non-members of the Federation.

Over the two days there will be a total of 12 presentations. One of the most eagerly-anticipated will be by Nizam, the superintendent at TPC Kuala Lumpur who has acquired the highest qualification as a Certified Golf Course Superintendent (CGCS), making his mark as the first Malaysian to receive the professional certification.

The certificate awarded by Golf Course Superintendents Association of America (GCSAA) came less than a year after he attained his Class-A qualification with the same association. The CGCS qualification is the most widely recognised in the golf industry and the highest level of recognition that can be achieved by a greenkeeper.

At The Orchard, Nizam will address attendees on Golf Course Preparation for Major Tournaments. There is no-one more appropriate to tackle this subject since TPC Kuala Lumpur’s East Course hosts the Sime Darby LPGA Malaysia event, while the West Course stages the US PGA Tour’s CIMB Classic. The club also accommodates an average of 50,000 member rounds annually.

Also making presentations will be Bruce Williams, International Marketing Manager for Grigg Bros, Quality Golf Executive Director Tony Taylor, Dr Micah Woods, Chief Scientist at the Asian Turfgrass Centre, and Sam Thomas, Golf Development Manager, Golf Environment Organisation.

Other speakers include Bob Horan (Managing Director, Sports Turf Solutions); Antonio Ocampo (General Manager, Valley Golf); Roger Goettsch (Superintendent, Shanqin Bay Golf Club); Mike Singaran (Superintendent, Pradera Golf); James Prusa (Golf Course Management Head at Korea’s Sky 72); Dr Robert Wimmer (Chairman, Independent Research Association GrAT – Centre for Appropriate Technology) and Dr Noel Sedigo (Chair, Forestry and Environmental Science, Cavite State University).

The Philippine Golf Course Management Conference will be the fourth event in the AGIF series of Turfgrass Management Seminars and Field Days in 2017.

In January, the AGIF supported the Sentosa Agronomy Superintendent Volunteer Programme in Singapore while February saw the staging of the AGIF Turfgrass Management Exposition in Pattaya, Thailand.

The Vietnam Turfgrass Management will take place at BRG Legend Hill Golf Resort on April 27-28.

Further events are in the planning for the second half of 2017.

For more information and to book your exhibition space, please contact the AGIF Secretariat at pk.ong@agif.asia