Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia: Speakers on the opening day of the 2024 Asian Golf Industry Federation (AGIF) Conference painted a bright picture for the future of the golf industry in the region.

AGIF President Chris Gray said: “We heard that according to a recent report from The R&A, participation in golf is continuing to surge around the world … with Asia at the forefront.

“Indeed, Asia is listed as the leading region for people engaging with golf among R&A-affiliated regions, with total adult engagement of 26.2 million. That’s great news for the golf industry as a whole and was reflected in the positive outlook from our world-class line-up of presenters.”

Being staged at the Sime Darby Convention Centre, within the grounds of the Kuala Lumpur Golf & Country Club in the Malaysian capital, the third edition of the AGIF Conference has attracted almost 100 delegates with attendees from Australia, India, Myanmar, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam and host country Malaysia.

Today’s morning session included presentations from DJ Flanders, Executive Vice President of Troon International, the world’s largest golf club management company, Derek Liu, Southeast Asia Sales Manager for Club Car, and Bruce Williams, International Marketing Manager for Grigg and Brandt in the specialty fertiliser group.

There was also a Zoom presentation from Philadelphia-based Carmen Magro, discussing how water affects turf performance, tournament preparation and turf grass physiology.

Concluding the day was a panel discussion on golf course renovation and irrigation featuring Green Dynasty Managing Director Owen Hester, Gavin Reid, Vice President and Partner at Flagstick, Rob Weiks, Area Manager at Rain Bird International, and Brett Mogg from Nelson & Haworth Golf Course Architects. The session was moderated by Gray.

Among the speakers on day two will be SN Farhana Hamzah, the first female President of the Golf Course Superintendents’ Association of Malaysia, Evan Du Plessis of Sports Turf Solutions and Toro’s Richard Walne.

Jed Moore, Ben Styles and Dandelly Nguyen, senior executives at 54, will take part in a panel discussion focused on the rise of Vietnam’s golfing industry, with Jake Jones, LIV Golf Senior Vice-President of Impact and Sustainability, rounding off proceedings.

AT A GLANCE

Name: AGIF Conference
Date: October 23-24, 2024
Venue: Sime Darby Convention Centre, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Organisers: Asian Golf Industry Federation
Sponsors: Centaur Asia-Pacific, Club Car, Jebsen & Jessen, Rain Bird, Sports Turf Solutions, The R&A, Trojan Battery.