Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia: Individuals and clubs who have excelled and made significant contributions to golf in the region will be honoured at the 2026 Asian Golf Industry Federation (AGIF) Annual International Summit.

Among the highlights of the three-day gathering will be the AGIF Awards Dinner, to be staged in the ballroom at the Sime Darby Convention Centre (SDCC) on Wednesday, October 28.

Chris Gray, President of the AGIF, said: “Building on the success of its inaugural edition in 2025, the AGIF Awards will continue to honour individuals and organisations that are shaping the future of golf in Asia through vision, impact, and commitment to the game.”

A total of six awards will be presented in five categories:

• Lifetime Achievement Award (Individual)
• Business Leadership Award (Individual)
• Country Leadership Award – (a) Golf Clubs; (b) Individual
• Rising Star (Young Leaders <40 years)
• Women in Golf Leadership (Women Leaders)

The awards are open to individuals of all nationalities, provided their work has contributed significantly to the growth and development of golf in Asia. With the exception of the Lifetime Achievement Award, contributions considered should be within the past five years.

Gray said: “Nominees must uphold the highest standards of professionalism, integrity, and sportsmanship, reflecting positively on the golf industry, and demonstrate a measurable impact on the advancement of golf in Asia, through leadership, innovation, sustainability, education, or community development.”

Nominations can be submitted by industry peers, organisations, or through self-nomination, subject to verification by an independent judging panel that will review all entries. Nominators will need to provide reasons for the nomination and examples of the nominee’s impact in their respective field.

To submit your nominations, please click here. Nominations will close at 5 pm (Singapore time) on Tuesday, September 15.

Last year, 32-year-old Joshua Ho, Chief Executive Officer at the Singapore Golf Association, and 34-year-old Vu Nguyen, Secretary-General of the Vietnam Golf Association, were identified in the category for Rising Stars.

Meanwhile, Deborah Wong and Champika Sayal were singled out in the segment for Women Leaders. Wong is Chairman of the Rules of Amateur Status at the Malaysian Golf Association, while Sayal is Secretary-General of the Women’s Golf Association of India.

Four veteran individuals were cited for Distinguished Contributions to the game over a sustained period of time – Pakistan’s Taimur Hassan Amin, Indian Dilip Thomas and Malaysians Zainal bin Mohammed Shah and His Royal Highness Tunku Tan Sri Imran ibni Almarhum Tuanku Ja’afar.

Brad Burgess, Founder and CEO of Sports Turf Solutions, was honoured for his Outstanding Contribution to the game having been a leader in introducing and promoting advanced Zoysia turf varieties around the region, improving course sustainability and performance.

Excellence in Innovation awards were presented to Trojan Battery Company, a global leader in energy solutions for golf and low-speed electric vehicles, and SmartScore Global, a comprehensive digital platform that connects golfers and golf courses through an integrated mobile app and management system.

In the category for Outstanding Contribution, clubs from nine countries were cited – Brunei (The Empire Golf & Country Club), Cambodia (Vattanac Golf Resort), India (DLF Golf & Country Club), Indonesia (Gading Raya Golf Club), Malaysia (Kuala Lumpur Golf & Country Club), Philippines (The Orchard Golf & Country Club), Singapore (Tanah Merah Country Club), Thailand (Amata Spring Country Club) and Vietnam (Hoiana Shores Golf Club).

Rishi Narain, Head – Events, Sponsorship and Membership at the AGIF, said: “The objective in inaugurating the AGIF Golf Awards last year was to recognise excellence, innovation, and leadership in the Asian golf industry. The interest and response that we received was overwhelming.”

Featuring globally acclaimed speakers and panellists addressing the golf industry’s most pressing issues, this year’s Summit is being staged at the SDCC on October 27-29.

For the third year in succession, the Summit is aligning with the richest LPGA Tour event in the region. Adjacent to the SDCC, the West Course at the Kuala Lumpur Golf & Country Club (KLGCC) is hosting the US$3 million Maybank Championship – featuring many of the world’s top players – from October 29-November 1. Delegates at the AGIF Summit will be granted access to attend the tournament.

As well as Sime Darby Convention Centre acting as the Venue Partner, the Malaysian Association of Golf Recreational Club Owners, the Golf Course Superintendents’ Association of Malaysia and the Golf Club Managers Association of Malaysia are Supporting Partners.

The second AGIF Business Leaders Invitational will take place on October 27 to be followed by the Summit (October 28-29), featuring a line-up of world-class speakers focusing on a variety of pressing issues facing the industry, including technology and sustainability.

The gathering will conclude with a late afternoon poolside barbecue at KLGCC on October 30, coinciding with the conclusion of the second round of the Maybank Championship.

AT A GLANCE

Name: AGIF Annual International Summit
Date: October 27-29, 2026
Venue: Sime Darby Convention Centre, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Organisers: Asian Golf Industry Federation
Venue Partner: Sime Darby Convention Centre
Supporting Partners: Malaysian Association of Golf Recreational Club Owners (MAGRO); Golf Course Superintendents’ Association of Malaysia (GCSAM)

Name: AGIF Business Leaders Invitational
Date: October 27, 2026
Venue: TBC, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Organisers: Asian Golf Industry Federation

Name: AGIF Gala Awards Night
Date: October 28, 2026
Venue: Sime Darby Convention Centre
Organisers: Asian Golf Industry Federation

*For further details about sponsorship opportunities and attending the Summit as a delegate, please email events@agif.asia