Outstanding Turnout for Orchard Gathering

Manila, Philippines (September 4): Almost 100 golf course superintendents, course maintenance managers, golf directors and club managers have signed up for this week’s Philippine Golf Course Management Conference.

The two-day gathering at The Orchard Golf and Country Club in Dasmarinas City is presented by the Asian Golf Industry Federation (AGIF) in partnership with the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America (GCSAA).

The Philippines event marks the first joint AGIF-GCSAA undertaking since the signing of a Strategic Alliance Agreement between the two organisations six weeks ago.

It’s the first in a series of Turfgrass Management Education Seminars and Expositions with further events scheduled for Vietnam next week and China in November.

Richard Walne, Chairman of the AGIF’s Education Committee and Toro’s Managing Director, Australia & Asia Pacific, said: “We are pleased that the AGIF is collaborating with the GCSAA and the respective local golf associations to bring about these events for the benefit of the Asian golf industry.”

This week’s event will tee-off on Friday with welcome remarks from Conrad Benitez, President of The Orchard Golf and Country Club and Vice-President of the Federation of Golf Clubs Philippines and the National Golf Association of the Philippines (NGAP).

Following an introduction by AGIF Education Committee member Steve Wilson, Elizabeth Guertal, a Professor at Auburn University, will make the first presentations on Warm Season Turf Grass and Basic Soil Science.

That will be followed by a discussion on Golf Industry Trends in Asia by Jim Prusa, Director of Golf Courses and Laboratory at Korea’s Sky72 Golf.

Bruce Williams

Bruce Williams, Past President of the GCSAA and Principal of Bruce Williams Golf Consulting, will then take centre stage with a two-part presentation on Team Management Planning.

The conference is being organised by the Federation of Golf Clubs Philippines in co-operation with NGAP and the Philippine Sports Commission.

Gold sponsors for the event are Jacobsen, Rain Bird, Syngenta and Toro, while Bernhard & Co and Foley United are Silver sponsors. Flowtronex is a Bronze sponsor.