The Australian Golf Course Superintendents’ Association (AGCSA) and Golf Business Forum are delighted to announce a new partnership that will deliver Australia’s largest ever Sports Turf Management and Golf Business Conference in Melbourne, June 2020.

Through this partnership, the AGCSA is delighted to announce an agreement with Golf Business Forum, to host the GBF in conjunction with the 2020 AGCSA Sports Turf Conference in Melbourne. Already the largest Conference in Golf Course and Sports Turf Management in Australia, this partnership provides a platform for the AGCSA to significantly expand Conference education, networking and value that Members and Trade Partners receive.

“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.” explains AGCSA CEO Mark Unwin.

Guy Chapple, the Forum’s Director, is equally thrilled. “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.”

Over 1,250 delegates are expected to attend the combined program in which both events 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 6,000m2 at Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre, making it the largest and most diverse golf and sports field industry exhibition ever staged in Australia.

The Australasian Turfgrass Conference is a 4-day event for Australian and international Sports Turf Managers. The Golf Business Forum is a 2-day event that connects and inspires the entire range of golf businesses, industry organisations and commercial partners that delight Australia’s 2.1M golf participants.

Both events will tee-off on Tuesday 23 June. 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 22 June, and the Turfgrass Conference will provide further education, certification, a range of facility visits and Turf Management tours on Thursday.

Unwin explained “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.

“We know that successful golf facilities enjoy a great partnership between the General Manager and Golf Course Superintendent. Both Guy and I worked with that approach in mind during our partnership discussions, and we are both very eager to continue this approach and bring something very special to the golf industry in 2020.” Unwin concluded.

About the Asia Pacific Turfgrass Conference

Held annually, the Turfgrass Conference & Trade Exhibition is the largest event of its kind in the Southern Hemisphere, encompassing over 120 hours of education and showcasing the latest in Turf management machinery, equipment, research, technology and products.

Each year, Golf Course Superintendents and their teams join hundreds of Sportsturf professionals, greenkeeping staff, Curators and Turf Maintenance personnel who attend the variety of Turf Management, Environment and Biodiversity and Management education seminars from leading Australian and International presenters, and visit the trade show to browse, question and hear from representatives across all elements of Sportsturf Management.

2019 Asia Pacific Turfgrass Conference & Trade Exhibition

June 24 - 28, 2019

Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre - Brisbane, Australia

2019 Turfgrass Conference registrations are now open, and a very limited number of Trade Exhibition opportunities remain for the 2019 Turfgrass Conference.

AGCSA Members receive a substantial discount for Conference Registration, so Join Now to save $200 on 2019 Conference Registration.

Learn more about this year’s Australasian Turfgrass Conference & Trade Exhibition via https://www.agcsa.com.au/conference/ and Golf Business Forum 2020 via https://www.golfbusinessforum.com.au/.

Originally published on www.agcsa.com.au. View the article here.