Foshan, China: A host of expert speakers will share their knowledge with attendees at October’s Business Management Institute [BMI] China Golf Management seminar and field demonstration.
To be staged in conjunction with the China Chapter of the Club Managers Association of America [CMAA] and the Asian Golf Industry Federation [AGIF] the event will take place from October 25-30 at Guangdong Province’s Foshan Golf Club.
The gathering is the brainchild of Dr Aylwin Tai, Managing Director of Richtone Worldwide Limited and a man who has dedicated more than 30 years to the development of golf in China.
“I’m looking forward to what promises to be an outstanding event,” said Dr Tai, whose recent work has concentrated on the development of education programmes and partnerships with the CMAA, Sun Yat Sen University and the AGIF to provide advanced training to Asian/Chinese club managers working toward Certified Club Manager (CCM) designation.
Eric Lynge, the AGIF’s Chief Executive Officer, said: “The Federation congratulates Dr Tai on his educational initiatives, which very much tie-in with the aims and objectives of the AGIF.
“On behalf of our members, we express our gratitude to Dr Tai for including the AGIF in this exciting undertaking.”
Following the final round of the European Challenge Tour’s Foshan Open on October 25, the seminar will tee-off the next day with welcome speeches from Dr Tai, the CMAA’s Richard Bruner and Jonathan Smith, CEO of the Golf Environment Organisation.
Joining Professor Bruner of Michigan State University among the high-profile speakers are John Lyberger, Director of Golf at Congressional Country Club, Darry Koster, Course Superintendent at Hong Kong’s Clearwater Bay Golf and Country Club, Rob Hill of the Global Golf Advisory and Dr Micah Woods from the Asian Turfgrass Centre.
Also on the agenda are topics related to water management, rules regarding golf etiquette, local and international environmental issues, pro-shop and retail management, golf event operation and turf grass science plus round-table discussions addressing the current challenges of golf course development in China.

Additionally there will be a field day at which there will be first-hand demonstrations of the latest golf course maintenance equipment.
The BMI Programme is designed to provide the opportunity to further managers’ education and enhance their professional performance.
In 1988, a group of forward-thinking club managers felt there needed to be a more advanced, scholarly programme to further professional development in the club management industry. That year, the CMAA held the first BMI at Georgia State University in Atlanta.
Since then, more than 9,000 managers have successfully completed BMI programmes. Today, the CMAA offers 10 different BMI courses. The CMAA is currently working on developing more BMI courses to help meet the ever-changing professional development needs of its members.
The BMI China is an overseas BMI programme, authorised by the CMAA, established in China since 2007 to provide the opportunity to managers in China for enhancing their professional performance, and also one of the few BMI programmes endorsed outside America.
The BMI China programme is designed with similar structure and contents to CMAA-BMI courses in America, and the lecturers are all sent and approved by the CMAA and Dr Tai.
Managers who complete the required credits can obtain the honourable title of Certified Club Manager (CCM) after passing the examination.
Currently, the CMAA China Chapter is working closely with the AGIF to have further co-operation in promoting BMI Education throughout the Asia Pacific region.
For further details, please contact: Sophie He, Programme Co-ordinator, Nansha Golf Club, Guangdong Province. Mobile: +86-135 8042-5785. E-mail:  250070980@qq.com