Singapore: The Asian Golf Industry Federation’s (AGIF) ground-breaking Certificate in Greenkeeping (CIG) programme has received an overwhelming response to its debut in Vietnam.

Within weeks of announcing details of the November launch of the first CIG Introductory Course, the Hanoi event was heavily over-subscribed.

With each course able to accommodate 20 students, the AGIF is now planning on organising a second intake in the first half of next year.

Richard Walne, Chairman of the AGIF’s Education Committee, said: “From the initial feedback we received, we expected a strong response … but not quite at this level.

“It goes to underline the strength of the Vietnamese golfing market as well as the appetite for learning and receiving meaningful certification.

“Given the level of interest, we’re delighted to confirm that we’ll be adding a second session in April 2023, for which more than 50% of the spots are already taken. The remaining slots will be filled on a first-come, first-serve basis so we’d encourage interested parties to sign up immediately.

“We’re now talking to potential venues and will be able to announce the date and location of the new class in the coming weeks.”

For the first intake, the Introductory Course will take place at Hanoi’s Long Bien Golf Course from November 21-25. The Progression Course will be staged in Danang in April, 2023 with the Confirmation Course scheduled for Ho Chi Minh City in October, 2023.

The CIG programme is targeted at individuals with a minimum two years’ experience in the turfgrass industry who are currently employed at golf clubs and who aspire to progressing their careers.

Since launching in 2018, CIG courses have been staged in Malaysia and Thailand. To date, the courses have attracted students from Cambodia, China, India, Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand with 18 individuals completing the programme. Currently, 31 are part way through and a further 30 waiting to sign up.

After enduring a 2½-year hiatus due to the Covid-19 pandemic, unfinished courses were completed in August and new intakes welcomed during a gathering at The Els Club Desaru in Johor Bahru, Malaysia.

Focusing on the core knowledge and skills required to operate safely and efficiently as a greenkeeper on a golf course, and in a way that protects the turf, prevents damage to the reputation of the course and improves productivity, the CIG is a 12-month programme with five modules.

In partnership with the New Zealand Sports Turf Institute (NZSTI) and with backing from The R&A, the specific aim of the CIG is to improve the professional knowledge of greenkeeping staff and provide an educational framework for the golf greenkeeping industry in the region.

Recognising the positive sustainable impact of this programme, The R&A was a founding supporter of the CIG. AGIF members Jacobsen, Jebsen & Jessen, John Deere, Syngenta and Toro are Education Partners in the programme.

*For further details on the CIG, please contact PK Ong at pkong@agif.asia or visit https://agif.asia/certificate-in-greenkeeping/