APGS 2019 opens at DLF GCC with much to share

By Rahul Banerji

Animated discussions, insightful talks and plenty of golf-related wisdom flowed on the opening day of the Asia Pacific Golf Summit at the DLF Golf and Country Club in Gurgaon on Monday, with the promise of more to come on day two.

The APGS, being held in India for the first time, has drawn a
international speakers and experts on various aspects and facets of the game and as expected, there was much to learn and absorb as the day rolled on.

Speakers touched on the various operational and business aspects of golf in the context of the summit’s theme, “A 5G Mindset For Golf’s Future In Asia”.

Over 200 delegates from across the world, including India are in attendance despite the pollution and smog that has enveloped the National Capital Region these past few days.

Array of inputs

Delegates at the summit include golf club owners, club managers, tour operators and professionals from the travel world, golf industry
professionals, businessmen and decision makers, many from the United States.

The stress, as expected with DLF playing host, was on developing the sport across Asia, particularly India. This is at a time when markets in the west, particularly the US, have not just matured but stagnated, leading to the search for new horizons for properties, as well as products.

Asia Pacific Golf Group chief executive Mike Sebastian launched proceedings on the day and thereafter took up emcee duties, as Megan Fallone of the Barefoot College stepped up to deliver the keynote address.

Tech-savvy

Speaking about “preparing golf for the digital age”, European Tour chief technology officer Michael Cole shared fascinating insights into how it is setting the pace on capture and use of data during tournaments and how they are being put to use by players, coaches and administrators.

In the section “the country club is alive and healthy”, Michael Leemhuis, managing director of The Collection Clubs, USA, underscored the need for research into changing user trends.

These findings were then translated into on-ground changes
catering to a new breed of customer, the millennial, as opposed to the baby boomers, who were for long a mainstay of country club memberships, he revealed.

In “time to keep it green”, Andy Johnston, general manager and director of Agronomy at Singapore’s Sentosa Golf Club, addressed the need for smart systems to maximize use of resources at all levels, and how technology is playing an increasing role in keeping golf clubs healthy and smart.

Tough turf

David Doguet of BladeRunners Farms of the US, who have pioneered use of the hardy Zoysia grass, expanded at some length on the development and growing use of the turf breed and where it scores over existing, popular species like the Bermuda and others,

Thereafter it was time for subjects like “a new service paradigm looms” addressed by Andy Stangenberg, founder/president of
Q-Principle Inc., of the USA, “making golf fun” by PGA certified coach, talker and auctioneer Jeremy Dale of the UK and more.

The day rounded off with a dialogue session on “is golf headed for better days?” steered by James Cronk, president of Canada’s Cronk Group.

2019 Asia Pacific Golf Summit Programme

Day Two

9.30 am:  Women In Golf’s Cross-Hairs, Elisa Gaudet, Founder, Executive Golf International/Women’s Golf Day, U.S.A.

10.10 am: A Fireside Chat – Driving Women’s Golf To New Heights, Kavita Singh, President, Women’s Golf Association of India

10.40 am: Investing And Growing Junior Golf, Raymond Roessel, Chairman of PacificPine Sports Group and CEO, Golf for Shankai Sports Group, China

11.20 am: China Gives Golf Tourism Thumbs Up, Simon Yang, Director of Club Operations, Mission Hills Group, China

11.50 am: Saudi Arabia: Exciting New Frontier, Majed Al-Sorour, Chief Executive Officer, Saudi Golf Federation, Saudi Arabia

12.45 pm: The Power Of 5G People, James Cronk, President, Cronk Group, Canada

2 pm: Training And Skills Upgrading, Stephen Bernhard, Executive Chairman, Bernhard & Co. Ltd, UK 

4 pm: Golf Tourism – Is It Being Handled Well? Rudy Anderson (Chair), President/CEO, Pacific Links, International, Canada. Panel Members: Mark Chapleski, President, Troon International, UAE; Mohamed Juma Buamaim, Founder/CEO, Golf Citizen, UAE; Brandon De Souza, Chairman & Managing Director, Tiger Sports Marketing, India; Ben Styles, Vice President of Golf, Hoiana Shores Golf Club, Vietnam

5 pm: The Ultimate 5G Proposition For Golf Courses, James Prusa, Principal, James Graham Prusa Associates, USA.

6 pm: STS Pub Nite

APGS is owned and produced by the Asia Pacific Golf Group (2014) Pte Ltd, a leader in golf publishing and events in the region.

Also read: DLF Golf and Country Club to host APGS 2019 on Nov. 4, 5