Industry Stalwarts Elected to AGIF Board

Illustrating its broad spectrum of members, stalwarts from some of golf’s most influential organisations have been elected to the Board of the Asian Golf Industry Federation (AGIF).

At the Annual General Meeting in Orlando during the Golf Industry Show, there were seven new appointments to the AGIF’s Board of Directors.

They include Bangkok-based David Townend, Founder and Managing Director of Azalea Consulting, as Vice President, Adam Calver (Director of Golf, Laguna Lang Co), Owen Hester (Managing Director, Green Dynasty), John Holmes (President, Atlas Turf International), Karen Proctor (Director of Sales – APAC, Textron Specialised Vehicles), James Shippey (Managing Director, Absolute Golf Services) and Sean Thornberry (Senior Account Executive, Global Development, PGA of America).

“We’re delighted to welcome such a talented group to the AGIF’s Board of Directors,” said Richard Walne, The Toro Company’s Managing Director, Australia & Asia Pacific, who is serving the final year of his second term in office as the Federation’s President.

“All of these individuals are widely respected within the golf industry in Asia and beyond. Individually and collectively, they will play an important role as the AGIF continues to expand and extend its influence on the game in this region,” added Walne, one of the original Board members when the Federation was inaugurated in 2009.

Eric Lynge, the AGIF’s Chief Executive Officer, said: “To be able to call on people with such broad knowledge, expertise and wisdom of the global golfing industry is a huge asset for the Federation.

“With the inaugural AGIF Expo scheduled to take place in Bangkok in November, this is a big year for the Federation. We look forward to all the new Board members making major contributions as we seek to establish this new trade show as one of Asia’s most important gatherings.”

The ‘new faces’ will join existing Board Members Henrik Friis (Regional Director, Turf & Irrigation with Jebsen & Jessen Technology), Chris Gray (Director of Golf Course Maintenance, Singapore Island Country Club), Andy Johnston (General Manager and Director of Agronomy, Sentosa Golf Club) and Bruce Williams (Brandt Consolidated and a Past President of the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America).

Friis, Gray, Johnston and Williams all have one more year in office.

Lynge praised the six Board members standing down – Rudy Anderson (President and CEO, Pacific Links International), Anchalica Boriraj (Business Development Manager – APAC, Ransomes Jacobsen), Paul Burley (Senior Vice President, IMG Golf Course Services), Mick McLaughlin (Commercial Head Turf, Landscape & Ornamentals Asia Pacific, Syngenta Asia-Pacific), Steven Thielke (Chief Executive, TPC Kuala Lumpur) and Wee Peng Siong (General Manager, Riverside Golf Club).

“Our thanks go to all of them for volunteering their time and expertise to serve the AGIF and the industry as a Board member for the last two years. We hope that we can continue to tap on their expertise while we prepare for the AGIF Expo 2020 and develop some task forces in this regard,” said Lynge.

Walne said that under the leadership of Lynge, the AGIF continues to evolve and become an ever-more important player in the Asian golfing industry. “With the launch of the AGIF Expo and the on-going success of our Certificate in Greenkeeping programme, I believe the AGIF’s influence as the umbrella organisation for the golf industry in this part of the world will grow stronger.”

A not-for-profit regional organisation, the AGIF has a distinguished member roster representing leaders in the Asian golf industry including golf course and club suppliers and professional support services, and golf course architects to golf real estate and development companies.