Seoul, Korea: Oh Sang-jun, Senior Advisor to the Asian Golf Industry Federation (AGIF) in Korea, has launched the Asia Golf Humanities Institute (AGHI).

A prominent figure in golf in South Korea for more than two decades, Oh has been planning his new venture since last summer.

Oh, the AGHI’s Founder and Representative Director, said: “This year, I opened the institute that I’ve dreamed of – Asia Golf Humanities Institute.

“My vision is to develop AGHI as a centre for golf humanities study in Asia, aspiring to become a reliable partner for institutions like The R&A, United States Golf Association and the National Golf Foundation.

“AGHI will be a place where the humanities of golf, including history, architecture, course critique and trend and market statistics are studied.

“Creating new golf lifestyle content is another part of its work. The outcome will be disseminated to the public, to lecturers and events, co-ordinated with universities and cultural institutes and via social network services.”

In addition to the academic scope of the institute’s work, the AGHI will explore the field of youth education in golf.

“We will provide sponsorship and education to a selected number of junior golf talents,” said Oh, adding that it tied in with the Asian Golf Industry Federation’s ideals.

He said: “Last November, I joined the AGIF, a not-for-profit organisation focused on education of golf industry employees, both in club operations and course maintenance.

“With the AGIF, I will promote its wonderful education programmes to Korea. I will also work with the organisation to expand my areas of studies to the greater Asian region.”

Meanwhile, for recreational golfers who love travelling, the AGHI will organise various overseas golf trips to countries where golf originated and blossomed.

Eric Lynge, the AGIF’s Chief Executive Officer, said: “We congratulate Jun on this fabulous initiative to launch the Asia Golf Humanities Institute. We’ll support him in any way we can.”

As well as being an expert in resort master-planning, golf course architecture and construction management, Oh has extensive experience in running golf tournaments and overseeing golf club operations.

Oh’s academic qualifications include a Bachelor of Arts in Architecture (University of Washington, 1997), Master of Architecture (Columbia University, 2000) and Master of Science in Golf Course Architecture (University of Edinburgh, 2005).

Having worked in golf course design for more than a decade, Oh joined Gale International in 2014 and assumed responsibility for overseeing operations at the Jack Nicklaus Golf Club Korea where he supervised preparations for the 2015 Presidents Cup.

In 2017, he joined CJ Logistics E&C Resort Division where he liaised with the PGA Tour on the operational management of the CJ Cup @ Nine Bridges and was involved with the set-up of the Nine Bridges Forum, an annual golf industry seminar.

Oh said: “To me, golf is a life-saver. Golf was a great consolation to me back in the days when I was a struggling young architect in Manhattan.

“I consider golf the greatest game of all not only because it brings you to nature, but also the people.

“Golf is a game of variables. It asks you to deal with ever-changing nature and the elements. Rather than fighting against the variables, you must play along with them. This is the beauty of golf.

“At the end of the day, you must take sole responsibility for your game. You will realise at some point during your golfing career, that golf resembles life.”

To learn more about the AGHI, please visit https://youtube.com/watch?v=rsaqDzZ-OrI&feature=share