Tim Trinka has hailed another year of progress and development for the Asian Golf Industry Federation.
In a message delivered at the AGIF’s annual general meeting in Shanghai, Trinka, the organisation’s President, said: “It’s been another year of significant progress for the Federation, during which, I believe, we have cemented our position as one of the foremost golfing organisations in the region.
“With our first Chief Executive Officer, Eric Lynge, leading from the front, these past 12 months have seen solid foundations being laid on various fronts that will prove the basis for a successful future.
“These are exciting times for the AGIF, which is uniquely positioned to make an ever greater impact on the entire golf industry in Asia.”
Seoul-based Trinka, who was re-elected to the role of President for a further term, said that education has continued to be one of the core elements of the Federation in 2015.
“Indeed, the AGIF’s commitment to raising the profile and standard of turf grass maintenance in the Asian region is evident from the fact that come the end of 2015, we will have staged no fewer than eight Turfgrass Management Seminars and Field Days in eight different countries.
“This is an increase from four events in 2014; renewed events were in Singapore, Thailand, Philippines and Vietnam – new events were added in Malaysia, Indonesia, China and Taiwan.”
However, Trinka said the year’s most significant development came in August when the AGIF entered into an historic agreement with the Club Managers Association of America [CMAA].
He said: “This was a landmark moment for the club management industry. The tie-up enables the AGIF to utilise the CMAA’s acclaimed BMI curriculum to deliver similar face-to-face classroom learning to club managers across the Asian region.
“The aim of this partnership with the CMAA is to ensure that the worldwide standard of club manager education is maintained, and tailor approve classroom courses for successful delivery in our territory.”
BMI Asia Pacific will be the functional name of the AGIF-run CMAA education programmes.
The AGIF will work with approved CMAA education staff members to develop five, five-day educational programmes – BMI I, BMI II, BMI III & BMI Food and Beverage and BMI Golf Management – that cover all 10 management competency areas as defined by CMAA’s Certification and Club Management Institute [CMI] committees.
Working in partnership with Dr Jason Koenigsfeld, Senior Vice President, Professional Development, CMAA, the AGIF will appoint appropriate tutors for each level of education being delivered. The AGIF will also work closely with the BMI China and Dr Aylwin Tai, who has been the ground breaking force behind the CMAA’s China Chapter. The burgeoning relationship between the two organisations will pave the way for club managers from around Asia to attend seminars and gain internationally-recognised certification.
Asian Golf Industry Federation www.agif.asia
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