Gurgaon, India: Indian Golf Industry Association [IGIA] officials have pledged to further develop South Asia’s most important golfing gathering.
Delivering the closing address at the fourth edition of the annual India Golf Expo [IGE], Aakash Ohri, the IGIA’s President, said: “It is our intention for next year to make this bigger, better and with even more substance.
“The Indian Golf Industry Association is pleased and honoured to organise this annual golf expo and symposium which has grown to become South Asia’s largest gathering for the business of golf.
“We hope to welcome new members because the stronger our body is, the better it will perform.”
Staged at the DLF Club 5, the two-day event comprised a symposium, the Indian Golf Union turf care seminar and an exhibition.
Meanwhile, for the first time, the National Golf Academy of India organised its NGAI Teaching Summit concurrently with the IGE.
Asian Golf Industry Federation [AGIF] members Atlas Turf, Club Car, Ernie Els Design, Golfplan, Hunter Industries, Jacobsen, Rain Bird and Toro were among the exhibitors.
The AGIF was also well represented at the symposium with the speaker list including Spencer Robinson, the Federation’s Chief Communications Officer, James Quilley [Absolute Golf Services], Thomas Rubi [Ernie Els Design], Cameron Russell [Toro] and Kirk Buchanan [Atlas Turf].
Among the highlights of the week was the presentation of a Lifetime Achievement Award to Jeev Milkha Singh and Lifetime Contribution Award to Pawan Munjal, Vice Chairman, CEO and Managing Director of Hero MotoCorp, a major golfing sponsor.

Singh, described as the greatest flag-bearer of Indian golf for more than two decades, said: “I am extremely honoured and humbled to receive this award from the IGIA. I commend the association for working tirelessly to expand the reach of golf in India.”
Munjal said: “It’s a great honour to have been bestowed with the Lifetime Contribution Award by the IGIA.
“I also congratulate the IGIA for putting up South Asia’s biggest golf Expo and bringing together all the stakeholders of the game under one roof. This is yet another significant milestone in the journey of golf in the country.”
Jaydeep Chitlangia, President of the Indian Golf Union, praised the gathering. He said: “The Expo has been a catalyst and driver for the growth of the Indian golf industry. It presents all stakeholders a great opportunity to interact and exchange ideas, gain perspective and food for thought on the trends in the industry.”
Suman Billa, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Tourism, added: “The Expo will further enhance and boost India’s reputation as a golfing destination. I believe that with all our efforts together we can use this as a platform for raising India’s profile on the global map of golf tourism destinations.”