TPC Kuala Lumpur to Host Malaysian Turfgrass Management Seminar

POSTED ON September 23, 2016 @ 1:47 pm

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia: Award-winning TPC Kuala Lumpur will be the venue for the second Golf Course Superintendents Association of Malaysia (GCSAM) and Asian Golf Industry Federation (AGIF) Turfgrass Management Seminar.

Organised under the auspices of the Malaysian Golf Association, the two-day seminar (October 17-18) is expected to attract more than 70 golf course managers, course superintendents, club managers, greenkeepers and mechanics.

Later that week, TPC Kuala Lumpur will be the centre of world golfing attention when it stages the PGA Tour’s CIMB Classic. The following week, it will be the turn of the ladies to grace the club’s manicured fairways at the Sime Darby LPGA Malaysia.

Eric Lynge

Eric Lynge, the AGIF’s Chief Executive Officer, said: “October is an especially hectic period for TPC Kuala Lumpur with two major professional tournaments at the club. We thank them, therefore, for also fitting in the Turfgrass Management Seminar.

“The fact that there was such a fantastic turnout at our event in Malaysia last year clearly illustrates the desire of those in the industry to learn more about the latest in golf course development.

“We are grateful for the support and encouragement that has been received from the Golf Course Superintendents Association of Malaysia, the Malaysian Golf Association, the staff and management at KLGCC and all sponsors.”

Jack Cheong, the GCSAM’s President, said: “The GCSAM is committed to continuous education.

“We are pleased that so many of our members from all around the country were able to take time out to participate in last year’s seminar and we are hopeful for an even better turnout this year. There is no better way to learn than by sharing knowledge.

“The GCSAM has been working together with the MGA towards the ultimate objective of improving the condition of golf courses throughout Malaysia and looks forward to strengthening ties with the AGIF going forward.”

Steven Thielke

Steven Thielke, the TPC Kuala Lumpur’s Chief Executive Officer, said the club was pleased to play host to the AGIF’s second turfgrass educational seminar in Malaysia, in collaboration with the GCSAM and MGA.

He said: “Education of our course superintendents in Malaysia and around Asia is crucial if we are to see an improvement in course conditions.

“We applaud the objective of the seminar to enhance turfgrass manager knowledge and skills in golf course maintenance.

“With the backing of the AGIF, the GCSAM and MGA there is every reason to believe that the education seminar will grow bigger in the years ahead.”

The first day of the seminar will be focused on course superintendents with lectures to be delivered on Effective Communications; Managing with Less Chemicals and Minimum Level for Sustainable Nutrition; Shade Management; Drainage and Major Tournament Course Set Up.

Among the high-quality speakers are:

Bruce Williams, Principal of Bruce Williams Golf Consulting and former President of the GCSAA
Carmen Magro, Vice President – Business Development/Chief Agronomist of Stevens Water Monitoring System and former Director of Penn State College of Agricultural Sciences’ Golf Course Turfgrass Management Programme
Jack Cheong, Course Superintendent, Royal Selangor Golf Club
Dr Andrew Mitchell, Head of Research – Agronomy, New Zealand Sports Turf Institute
Jay Sporl, PGA Tour Agronomist

On the second day, it will be a tripartite alliance between the AGIF, GCSAM and Golf Course Managers Association of Malaysia (GCMAM).

The morning session will see a gathering of general managers, club managers and superintendents to discuss topics relating to communications – between management and members, between general manager and superintendents and the role of the superintendent in management.

Joining Williams as a speaker will be Andy Johnston, General Manager and Director of Agronomy at Singapore’s Sentosa Golf Club, and the TPC Kuala Lumpur’s Steven Thielke.

A field day will be staged on the afternoon of October 18 at which companies will be able to display and operate their latest golf course products.

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

In 2015, the AGIF organised eight Turfgrass Management Seminars and Field Days in eight different countries – China, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam.

The Malaysian Turfgrass Management Seminar is the fifth 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.

The Philippine Golf Course Management Conference took place at The Orchard Golf and Country Club at the start of May, while the Vietnam Turfgrass Management Seminar was held at the Tan Son Nhat Golf Course in July.

The 17th ASPGI (Asosiasi Superintendent Padang Golf Indonesia) Turf Management Seminar will take place at Emeralda Golf Club on October 10-11.

Following on from Malaysia, a further event this year is planned for Taiwan.

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