Singapore: Sentosa Golf Club, famed for its exceptional course conditioning, opened its doors to a select group of superintendents and golf staff from around the world at April’s inaugural LIV Golf Singapore.

This opportunity provided an exclusive insight into the club’s much-admired agronomy programme, highlighting its unwavering commitment to creating world-class ‘Tournament-Ready 365’ conditioning across its two championship courses, The Serapong and The Tanjong.

As the superintendents and golf staff arrived at Sentosa, they were greeted by meticulously maintained fairways, flawless greens with unique elevation changes, and pristine surroundings that have made the club a leader for golf course agronomy, not only in Southeast Asia, but across the world.

Eager to unravel the secrets behind Sentosa’s success, they embarked on a journey that would leave a lasting impact on their professional endeavours.

Khulan Geral, a Board member of the Mongolian Golf Association (MGA), shared her thoughts on the immersive agronomy programme at Sentosa Golf Club, her words perfectly capturing the transformative experience.

She said: “It was a whole new experience. I learned a lot about the course set up and gained so much respect for the golf course. Setting up the course for a world-class professional tournament is an experience that is not easy to get. Witnessing the meticulous process involved in creating optimal playing conditions was awe-inspiring.”

Led by Sentosa Golf Club’s experienced agronomy team, participants were immersed in a series of workshops and hands-on sessions while helping to prepare The Serapong for Singapore’s biggest ever golf event.

From turf management techniques to irrigation strategies, the superintendents and golf staff gained invaluable insights into the processes that contribute to Sentosa’s exceptional course conditions.

During the programme, Sentosa Golf Club showcased its cutting-edge technologies and sustainable practices. From state-of-the-art Toro machinery to environmentally friendly initiatives, the club is known for pushing the boundaries and setting new standards in golf course conditioning.

“It was great to have so many dedicated volunteers join us for LIV Golf Singapore, alongside our full-time agronomy team,” said Andrew Johnston, General Manager and Director of Agronomy at Sentosa Golf Club, a Facility Member of the Asian Golf Industry Federation.

“Their commitment and dedication to the task at hand was second to none, going above and beyond in their daily tasks to make sure the standards of golf course conditioning that Sentosa Golf Club has become renowned for across the world were always achieved,” he added.

The camaraderie among participants and Sentosa Golf Club’s agronomy team fostered a vibrant environment for learning and knowledge exchange.

Discussions revolved around the unique challenges faced by superintendents worldwide, and Sentosa’s experts were able to share their experiences and best practices, offering guidance to enhance course conditioning in diverse golfing regions.

The experience left an indelible mark on all who took part, igniting their passion and sparking innovative ideas to elevate their own course conditioning efforts.

They left equipped with new skills, fresh perspectives, and a renewed commitment to creating exceptional playing surfaces.

Geral aims to use the experience she gained to transform the future of the Mongolian golf industry.

She said: “The Sentosa Golf Club agronomy team went above and beyond by organising a seminar specifically for the volunteers. Their thoughtfulness enhanced the overall learning experience. As a Board member of MGA, I thought about the Mongolian golf industry and the future generations in it. This experience has ignited my commitment to nurturing our golfing community and developing our future talents.”

Throughout LIV Golf Singapore, Sentosa Golf Club not only continued to showcase its commitment to advancing the field of golf course conditioning, but also its role as a global ambassador in shaping the future of the industry.

The club’s unrivalled course conditioning and dedication to sharing knowledge and expertise have set them apart as an industry leader. Through this immersive programme at LIV Golf Singapore, superintendents and golf staff gained an exclusive glimpse into Sentosa’s world-class agronomy programme, inspiring them to elevate their own course conditioning standards.

The impact of this enlightening experience will continue to resonate, as these professionals return to their respective courses and organisations, armed with new insights and an unwavering commitment to excellence in golf course conditioning.