Published on March 2, 2017

Orlando, United States: The Asian Golf Industry Federation (AGIF) stamped its mark at the Golf Industry Show (GIS) and 90th Club Managers Association of America (CMAA) World Conference on Club Management and Club Business Expo.
As well as the attendance of AGIF President Richard Walne and Chief Executive Officer Eric Lynge, Board member Steven Thielke was among the speakers at the Expo. The events were held back-to-back in Orlando.
Lynge said: “Usually these two events are held at different times and locations. Although it was great not having to travel back to the US for two different events, it made for an exceptionally busy week.”
The GIS is the pre-eminent annual gathering for the golf industry and AGIF members were well represented on the floor of the exhibition.
Lynge said: “This was my third time at the show and I’m always amazed to see how many AGIF members are participants at the GIS. It really gives me an idea of how broad the reach of the AGIF membership is within the industry.”
More than 30 AGIF member companies displayed their goods at this year’s GIS.
Lynge added: “What is also clear is that there are still plenty of organisations which can benefit from becoming a member of the AGIF.”
As well as catching up with members on the floor, Lynge introduced the ethos of the AGIF and the benefits of the Federation to potential new members. “There was a lot of interest in our education leading to commercial benefits and I expect a good selection of new members to join the AGIF this year,” he said.
Lynge also enjoyed a productive meeting with the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America (GCSAA), who continue to be a strong partner of the AGIF.
Following the GIS, Lynge journeyed 15 minutes down the road, to the Orlando World Centre, where the CMAA’s World Conference on Club Management and Club Business Expo was taking place.
Lynge said: “It was great to see Board Member and CMAA education participant Steven Thielke (Chief Executive Officer at TPC Kuala Lumpur) selected from the worldwide managers to say a few words at the Global Luncheon and to network with the other global partners of the CMAA. It is quite a global group and it was wonderful to see how the CMAA education has been adopted across the world.”
Lynge and Walne also attended the Global Symposium where Jeffrey Kreaffle, Chief Executive Officer at Congressional Country Club, gave a presentation.

Lynge said: “It was great to see Jeffrey again. He was in Singapore last March for our first Business Management Institute (BMI) on Club Management which we ran as part of our partnership with the CMAA. He has a great speaking style and so many insights to share. We would love to see him back in Asia to speak to our Certified Club Management intake again.”
Last year, the CMAA appointed the AGIF to execute the BMI education programme for the Asia Pacific region in partnership with existing CMAA partners in China, Hong Kong, Macau and New Zealand.
During the first year of co-operation with the CMAA, the AGIF has staged four BMI Asia Pacific education courses, two in Singapore and one each in Malaysia and Thailand. The next BMI will be held at Malaysia’s Kota Permai Golf and Country Club in July.