Credit Lavished on Philippine Golf Course Management Conference

Manila, Philippines: Ten learning sessions, four field demonstrations and a turf maintenance equipment exhibition highlighted the 2016 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 in Dasmarinas City was presented by the Asian Golf Industry Federation [AGIF].

More than 110 golf course superintendents, course maintenance managers, golf directors, club managers and golf industry partners attended the two-day gathering 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 Philippine Golf Course Management Conference proved a resounding success.

“Given the quality of the speakers, the venue and the organisation this is undoubtedly one of the leading events of its kind in Asia.

“Our sincere thanks go to Orchard Golf and Country Club President Conrad Benitez and his team for their whole-hearted support.”

In keeping with previous years, the opening day saw a full schedule of seminars, while day two featured field demonstrations and an equipment exhibition in the morning. An extra half-day of seminars was added in the afternoon this year to deliver more education to an enthusiastic audience.

Adding a new dimension to the annual conference, a Golf Course Maintenance Sustainability Project of the Year was launched.

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

The programme teed-off with welcome remarks from Conrad Benitez, President of The Orchard and Vice-President of the Federation of Golf Clubs Philippines and the NGAP.

Among the notable course superintendents who made presentations were Royal Selangor Golf Club’s Jack Cheong, also President of the Golf Course Superintendents Association of Malaysia, and Andrew McDaniel, from Japan’s Keya Golf Club.

Also on the agenda were Jose Dagdagan, General Manager at Ayala South Links in the Philippines, Jack Imperial, Tournament Director of the Philippine Golf Tour, Michael Lu, President of the Wild Bird Club of Philippines, and The Orchard’s Golf Course Management Director Denis Nuevo and Mike Besa, Golf Editor of Business Mirror.

Book-ending the seminar was Bruce Williams, a former President of the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America.

Managing Change in Golf Course Operations was the title of Williams’ opening presentation while Communicating Maintenance Programmes with the Board and Membership was the closing topic he addressed.

Gold Sponsors were Shibaura and Toro while other sponsors were Atlas Turf, Bernhard, BGC Philbuilders, Foley United, Garia, Hunter Industries, Jacobsen, Quality Golf and Rain Bird.

The Philippine Golf Course Management Conference was the second event in the AGIF series of Turfgrass Management Seminars and Field Days in 2016.

March saw the staging of the AGIF Turfgrass Management Exposition in Pattaya, Thailand. Other events this year will be held in Indonesia, Malaysia, Taiwan and Vietnam.

The Philippine Golf Course Management Conference carried credit points with both the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America [GCSAA] and the Club Managers Association of America [CMAA].