Johor Bahru, Malaysia: Seventeen more turf students have made the grade in the Asian Golf Industry Federation’s (AGIF) acclaimed Certificate in Greenkeeping (CIG) programme.

All the participants at the Confirmation Course for the fourth CIG cohort in Malaysia passed the stringent test with flying colours.

The 13 male and four female attendees at the three-day gathering at Forest City Golf Club came from golf clubs in Malaysia, Singapore, Brunei and Oman. They were eligible for sitting the Confirmation Course having made it through the Introductory Course last May and the Progression Course in September.

“Kudos to all the participants for their hard work and desire to learn,” said Richard Walne, Chairman of the AGIF’s Education Committee.

During the Confirmation Course, the students had to complete 11 written assessments and five practical assessments which tested their competencies in various subject matters.

On the final day, they presented a topic of their choice to a panel consisting of Walne, Chris Gray, President of the AGIF and R&A Head of Sustainable Golf & Agronomy, Asia Pacific; Sustane’s Henry Ng, CIG Committee Member; Lindsay Robertson, Training Solutions Manager at New Zealand Sports Turf Institute (NZSTI); and Lee Kok Keong, Assistant Manager – Course Maintenance at Singapore’s National Service Resort & Country Club (NSRCC), also mentor to two of the students in the class.

This group of students were the first to undergo the CIG’s new grading system where they must achieve a minimum mark of 60% across the board to pass.

No fewer than 13 of the students received their Certificate of Achievement (Merit) where they scored more than 75%, while four were commended for scoring more than 90% and gaining their Certificate of Achievement (Excellence).

Leading the way was Yang Yun Cheong of Kota Permai Golf & Country Club, Malaysia, followed by Kathy Liew (Seletar Country Club, Singapore), Leow Fu Sheng (National Service Resort & Country Club, Singapore) and Zhao Weijun (Forest City Golf Club, Malaysia).

Walne said: “Congratulations to all 17 attendees for faring so well. The results of the top-four were especially commendable.

“Special thanks to Anson Li (General Manager at Forest City Golf Resort), who supported the AGIF’s Certificate in Greenkeeping initiative, warmly welcoming us to Forest City for this Confirmation Course.”

AGIF President Gray said: “The Federation is proud to confirm that following the Forest City course, the total number of CIG graduates has risen to 80 with a further 60 part way through the programme.”

In partnership with The R&A and delivery from the NZSTI, the CIG was launched in 2018 with the specific aim of improving the professional knowledge of greenkeeping staff and providing an educational framework for the golf greenkeeping industry in the region.

As well as Malaysia, the CIG programme has already made its mark in India, Thailand, the United Arab Emirates and Vietnam.

With the India launch last December, the total number of students who have enrolled in the programme has broken through the 165-barrier with individuals from clubs in 12 countries – Brunei, Cambodia, China, India, Malaysia, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Thailand, the UAE and Vietnam.

“Thanks to The R&A and our Education Partners – Jacobsen, Jebsen & Jessen, John Deere, Syngenta and Toro – for their continued support. Their backing and encouragement is crucial to allowing us to expand the reach of the CIG,” said Walne.

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