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Exotic Kuala Lumpur To Play Host To Asia Pacific Golf Summit In 2009

The Malaysian capital city of Kuala Lumpur has been selected to host the 2009 Asia Pacific Golf Summit.

The decision to stage the region's top golf business conference in Malaysia comes hot on the heels of the highly successful Summit held this year at Mission Hills in China.

Commenting on the Malaysian pick, Summit organiser Mike Sebastian, Managing Director of Asia Pacific Golf Development Conferences Pte Ltd said, "Malaysia was an automatic choice given its legacy in golf and the number of golf courses in that country. Besides its rich golf heritage, it is also a wonderful venue for a a global event like the Asia Pacific Golf Business Summit."

The Summit dates are expected to be announced in early January 2009.

According to Mike, the 2009 Summit is being built around feedback received from various quarters during the 2008 event. Based on this feedback, the tentative theme for the event is: Your golf course - protecting your investment and palnning for growth.

The communications thrust of the Summit will be pitched at two specific target groups which will be made up of:

• Golf club owners/operators/club management;
• Green superintendants and ground maintenance personnel.

According to Mike, "We have identified over 6,000 facilities from Japan in the North to Australia in the South and India to the West and will commence our marketing drive to reach the owners and operators of these courses starting in January 2009."

When asked to comment on the theme for the 2009 Summit, Mike responded by declaring, "We believe that the theme selected is very appropriate for the moment and it embodies all of the challenges that golf courses face in the Asia Pacific region especially against the backdrop of the economic problems playing out worldwide."

In terms of the programme structure, this is what is planned:

DAY ONE: (Target group - Green-superintendants)

Keynote Address: Protecting The Millions Invested In Turf And Maintenance

Speaker: A top international expert who will trace out a roadmap on how Asian green-superintendants can cope with the 24/7 challenges to grow and maintain a golf course's largest single re-current investment.

This theme setting address will be followed by a number of specially formulated Panel Tracks that will involve the trade addressing "how to" discussions to impart knowledge and experience to the delegates. This will take up the entire day.

On the second day, all green superintendants will be bused to a nearby golf course where a hands-on exhibition cum demonstration will be staged by various participating trade members. Besides static displays and "live" demonstrations, there will also be workshops on selected topics relevant to the work of a green-superintendant.

In conjunction with this, the second day will also stage a special session for Club operators/management.

A special keynote address will be delivered on the topic of "The Perfect Business Model For A Golf Club In A Fast Changing Environment". The speaker will be a top notch authority on matters relating to club operations. Again, the thrust of the address will be aimed at sharing how a golf club can be structured to function as a viable, profit-generating business (private or public). The keynote address will be again followed by a series of special Panel Tracks that will involve the trade addressing "how to" discussions to impart knowledge and experience to the delegates. This will take up the entire day.

The final day will be a half day session that will look at the business going forward. It will explore directions, opportunities, challenges etc. "We envisage drawing on the insight of no more than four captains of industry to provide this direction," Mike pointed out.

The afternoon will be set aside for a golf game and networking. There will be networking sessions provided for every evening and the Summit will end with the closing gala banquet and awards.

Finalised details for the 2009 Summit will be announced in late January 2009.

December 30, 2008