We did not simply talk about wanting to bring education to the local level. We got on down to doing it!

In support of the Asosiasi Superintendent Padang Golf Indonesia, the AGIF was proud to present the Turf Management XI: Seminar at Indonesia from 2 to 4 August at the Emeralda Golf Club.

The seminar was well attended with 80 participants from 46 golf courses in Indonesia – from Jakarta, Sumatra, Java, Bali and Irian Jaya.

AGIF congratulates Montgomerie Links for winning the USD$10,000 grant to promote participation in the game of golf across all socioeconomic strata in the Central Coast region of Vietnam. An initiative led by Committee Chairman Mark Adams and endorsed by the Vietnam Golf Association, golf courses and driving ranges in Vietnam were invited to submit their bids earlier in the year for AGIF’s consideration.

Bangkok (March 29): Thailand is well on its way to becoming the undisputed "Golfing Hub Of Asia". Two brand new golf business events, the 2010 Southeast Asia/India Golf Merchandise Exposition (SEAIGME) and the Inaugural PGA Conference of Asia have been total sell-outs. Both events are scheduled to be held at the end of April and with just weeks to go before show-time, exhibition space at SEAIGME has been fully booked. "This is testimony to Bangkok's draw as a major golfing hub in the region and this overwhelming response will spur the rapid growth of this event in the years to come," declared Mike Sebastian, managing director of Asia Pacific Golf Development Conferences (APGDC), the owner and producer of both the events.

Singapore (June 9): Helping the game’s development in Vietnam by introducing as many new players to the game as possible is the aim of a US$10,000 cash grant from the Asian Golf Industry Federation (AGIF).

The Working Sub-committees of the Asian Golf Industry Federation have finalized a number of programmes that will witness activation this year.

One of the main programmes is being spear-headed by the Education Committee (Coaching, Training & Player Development). Working in conjunction with the Asia Pacific Golf Development Conferences and the PGA of Asia, it has launched its first project which is  has already launched its first project which is the PGA Conference of Asia.

It is also assisting with support to launch the PGA of Asia which will be the official body to drive the teaching, training and certification of teaching professionals throughout the region. The committee has secured the assistance and support of the Thailand PGA and the Sports Authority of Thailand to make all of this happen.  www.pgaasiaconference.com

BEIJING (March 8): Only one of the some 20 golf courses in Beijing has been developed legally, a member of the law committee in China's parliament said. 

Amid concerns about land grabs of prime farming land, China's government put a moratorium on the development of new golf courses in 2004 and reinforced the ban last year. 

San Diego (February 19): Surpassing show organizer projections, more than 7,000 qualified buyers attended the Golf Industry Show, Feb. 10-11 in San Diego.

In all, 7,029 industry professionals who are involved in purchasing decisions walked the San Diego Convention Center aisles, eclipsing the 7,012 mark in New Orleans last year.

Jason Straka, a Senior Design Associate at Columbus, Ohio based Hurdzan/Fry Environmental Golf Design has been nominated to join the American Society of Golf Course Architects Board of Governors.  Straka along with Brian Curley and John Harvey will begin three year terms at the Board meeting following the 2010 ASGCA Annual Meeting on March 9^th in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida.

Singapore (February 1) IMG Golf Course Management is celebrating 20 years of providing management and consulting services to leading golf clubs in Asia Pacific. Since being established in 1990, IMG has provided professional golf course services to over 40 golf clubs in 20 countries and is widely recognized as the leading golf course operator in Asia.

Singapore (January 12): The Inaugural PGA Of Asia Conference has taken off and hectic plans are underway to stage this long overdue event in the exotic city of Bangkok in the royal kingdom of Thailand.

The conference dates are locked in and the two-day event will be staged at the plush Centara Grand on April 30 to May 1, 2010.