Nha Trang, Vietnam: Conditioning of Vietnam’s rapidly increasing number of world-class golf courses is set to improve further following completion of the latest Certificate in Greenkeeping (CIG) Confirmation Course.

The second Vietnam cohort from the acclaimed Asian Golf Industry Federation (AGIF) programme produced outstanding results.

A total of 19 students – 17 from Vietnam and two from India – were eligible to attend the Confirmation Course having successfully completed five assessments online throughout the year-long programme.

All 19 duly received their Certificate of Achievement. Eight of them scored a total grade of more than 90% across the board for their practical/written assessments and oral presentations and were presented with their Certificate of Achievement (Excellence).

Richard Walne, Chairman of the AGIF’s Education Committee and the driving force behind the R&A-backed CIG programme, said: “Once more, we’ve been hugely impressed by the attitude and commitment of the attendees and their desire to learn.

“With dozens of new courses due to be built around Vietnam in the coming years, it’s critical that there’s an affordable pathway for greenkeepers to receive education to help them better carry out their important work.

“Thanks to the continued backing of The R&A, the CIG is able to provide just that platform – and the benefits are there for all to see.”

Prior to the three-day Confirmation Course at Vinpearl Golf Nha Trang, the students attended a five-day Introductory Course at Vinpearl Golf Hai Phong in September 2023 and a five-day Progression Course at Hoiana Shores Golf Club in the first quarter of 2024.

Walne said: “Our thanks go to Vinpearl Golf Nha Trang’s General Manager Phan Thanh Binh, who was very supportive of the CIG programme, allowing us to make use of the training facilities.”

Walne also singled out for praise the two volunteer live interpreters – Hoang Ngoc Minh from Flagstick Golf Course Construction Management (a Full Business Member of the AGIF), and Nguyen Duc Long, Golf Course Superintendent at Hoiana Shores, himself a CIG graduate.

Following the Vietnam Confirmation Course, the number of graduates from the CIG programme has broken through the 100 barrier.

“We now have a total of 113 graduates, which is a significant milestone considering there were only 18 graduates when the programme resumed after the Covid-19 pandemic in August 2022,” said Walne.

That number is poised to rise further during the final quarter of 2024 with the Confirmation Course for the first CIG cohort from India due to take place in the first week of December at Pune’s Oxford Golf Resort.

In partnership with The R&A and delivery from the New Zealand Sports Turf Institute (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.

The CIG is supported by The R&A and Education Partners Jacobsen, Jebsen & Jessen, John Deere, Syngenta and Toro.

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