Golf Course Superintendents’ Association and Golf Business Forum join to create Australia’s largest golf industry event

The Australian Golf Course Superintendents’ Association (AGCSA) and Golf Business Forum have announced a new partnership that will deliver Australia’s largest ever Golf Business and Sports Turf Management conference in June next year.

Introducing the partnership, AGCSA Chief Executive Mark Unwin stated “partnering with Golf Business Forum ensures that Australasian Sports Turf Managers have expanded access to leading education opportunities to continue creating and successfully managing some of the most breathtaking sporting facilities in the world.”

Gold Business Forum Director, Guy Chapple is also pleased with the merger, adding “this is a natural evolution for Golf Business Forum. It’s been our objective to create an education and networking event for the whole golf industry.

“Joining forces with AGCSA, together with the ongoing support of our Foundation Partner Golf Australia, and the PGA of Australia, will see this combined event have a tremendously positive impact on the golf industry.”

To be held at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre (MCEC), the combined event is expected to attract over 1,250 delegates at which both programs will be held concurrently, coming together for education, networking and a large trade exhibition.

The Golf Business and Sports Turf Trade Exhibition will occupy a massive 6,000 metre² of MCEC’s floorpace, making it the largest and most diverse golf and sports field industry exhibition ever staged in Australia.

The Australasian Turfgrass Conference is a four-day event for Australian and international sports turf managers. The Golf Business Forum is a two-day event that connects and inspires the entire range of golf businesses, industry organisations and commercial partners that delight Australia’s 2.1 million golf participants.

Both events will tee-off on Tuesday 23rd June next year.

All education sessions will be held in the main theatre providing a single stream of education for Delegates. Tuesday afternoon education will be provided in the exhibition area and different concurrent sessions on a range of Golf Business and Sports Turf topics will be offered. The Conference will expand into specific streams of education provided on Wednesday, before a combined closing keynote presentation.

Optional pre-event workshops will be available on Monday 22nd June, and the Turfgrass Conference will provide further education, certification, a range of facility visits and Turf Management tours on Thursday.

Unwin added “the role of a sports turf manager is evolving from having a pure focus on the science of Agronomic management, to an increased emphasis on the leadership and development of turf management teams.

“To be able to partner with Golf Business Forum and significantly expand the education offering to Sports Turf Managers is something I’m particularly looking forward to in 2020.”

There will also be plenty of opportunity for networking and social interaction at the event. Golf Business Forum will continue with its major social event on Tuesday night, whilst the Turfgrass Conference will get together for the Sports Turf Management Industry Awards Dinner on Monday evening and the legendary Conference Farewell Bash on Thursday night.

Click here to view event details in the Australasian Leisure Management Industry Calendar.