Published July 17, 2008 on July 21, 2018

Indonesia Turf Management Seminar Heads to the Hills

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Palm Hill Golf Club has been confirmed as the venue for the 2018 ASPGI (Asosiasi Superintendent Padang Golf Indonesia) Turf Management Seminar and Field Day.

To be held on August 13-14, the event is expected to attract more than 100 golf course managers, course superintendents, club managers, greenkeepers and mechanics from across Indonesia.

It will be the fifth time the event had been staged in collaboration with the Asian Golf Industry Federation (AGIF).

Juhana Arif, the ASPGI President and Golf Course Superintendent at Emeralda Golf Club, said: “The Asosiasi Superintendent Padang Golf Indonesia is committed to offering educational opportunities for our members around the country.

“With the rapid developments in golf course maintenance, it is vital for superintendents in Indonesia to continue to upgrade their knowledge and skills.

“Therefore, our association is pleased once more to work together with the AGIF to showcase speakers from home and abroad, who are experienced practitioners in their respective fields in golf course maintenance.”

International speakers are Chris Gray, Director of Golf Course Maintenance at the Singapore Island Country Club, and Roger Goettsche, Superintendent at Hainan Island’s Shanqin Bay Golf Club in China.

Gray will focus on ‘Forecasting turfgrass disease occurrence’ and ‘Preventative fungicide programme targeting key diseases’ while ‘Cultural practices to control turf diseases’ and ‘Renovation: Identifying priorities with limited budgets’ are the topics of
Goettsche’s presentations.

Leading off the Indonesian speakers is Dr Rahayu who will discuss ‘Characteristic Zoysia and Seashore paspalum native for Indonesia’s golf courses and sports fields’.

The topic of IR. Iskandar’s presentation is ‘Soil analysis and problem-solving’, while Agus Setyono will highlight ‘Tournament preparation and Rules of Golf’ and Witurseno explains ‘How to produce high-performance greens with simple treatment’.

Eric Lynge, the AGIF’s Chief Executive Officer, said: “We’re delighted to be returning to Indonesia and thank the ASPGI for their support.

“We are also grateful to the management and staff at Palm Hill Golf Club for being such gracious hosts and allowing us to make use of their outstanding facilities.”

During the seminar, Lynge will make a presentation on the AGIF’s Certificate in Greenkeeping (CIG), the first of its kind in Asia.

Aimed at supporting education among golf course superintendents and improving conditioning of golf courses, the initiative is backed by The R&A, the game’s ruling golf organisation and is scheduled to be launched over the next three years across several markets in Asia.

Richard Walne, the AGIF’s President, said: “The objective is to be able to offer an accessible, affordable and internationally recognised certification for superintendents. The Certificate will provide a much-needed education path for turfgrass professionals in Asia, which already exists in North America, the United Kingdom and Europe and Australia and New Zealand.”

Steve Isaac, Director – Sustainability at The R&A, said: “The R&A has agreed to support the AGIF Certificate in Greenkeeping as part of our greenkeeper education programme. This is a positive development for the golf industry in Asia and we are excited at being involved with this initiative.”

Education Partners in the programme are Jacobsen, Jebsen & Jessen, John Deere, Syngenta and Toro, all Executive Members of the AGIF, a not-for-profit organisation boasting more than 100 member companies from all areas of the golfing industry.

While turfgrass issues will be the focus of attention on August 13, the field day will take place on the morning of August 14, at which companies will have the opportunity to showcase their latest golf course maintenance 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.

Located in the Sentul Highlands near the green city of Bogor, the gently undulating layout at Palm Hill is surrounded by hills that lead towards Mount Salak. The 18-hole course was designed by Tom Matteson and developed by Japan’s Taisei Corporation.

The ASPGI Turf Management Seminar will be the fourth event in the AGIF series of Turfgrass Management Seminars and Field Days in 2018.

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 and was followed by the Vietnam Turfgrass Management Seminar at the Song Be Golf Resort.

Following on from Indonesia, at least two more events are planned for 2018.

For further information and to book your exhibition space, please contact the AGIF Secretariat at PK.ONG@AGIF.ASIA.