Singapore (January 19): It is official - the booming Asian golf market is set to gain another golf show - this time it is The Southeast Asia/India Golf Merchandise Exposition.

This new event is a response to the golf industry’s call to provide a single platform to serve as a showcase for everything that the industry has to offer. The show will be staged in Bangkok, Thailand from 30 April to 2 May 2010. It is being organised along the lines of the PGA Golf Merchandise Show in the US.

"Southeast Asia and India collectively make up a geographic bloc with a total population in excess of 1.7 billion people. It is one of the fastest growing regions in the world and is also home to some of the most dynamic economies on the planet," explained Mike Sebastian, managing director of Asia Pacific Golf Development Conferences Pte Ltd, the owner and producer of the Southeast Asia/India Golf Merchandise Exposition.

The total golfing population is reported to be between 4 - 5 million golfers in this region it is and growing at a breakneck speed. It’s a potentially explosive in marketing terms – a moving target that is projected to keep growing for many years to come. “This is a huge market that needs everything from golf clubs to golf balls, apparel and golf accessories and everything else in between. There will be more than 100 exhibitors on show," Sebastian pointed out.

The 2010 Southeast Asia/India Golf Merchandise Exposition will be marketed and promoted over 15 countries and India and is designed to help the golf industry reach out to this burgeoning market over a three-day period in the bustling city of Bangkok, Thailand. The Exposition is being supported by the Tourism Authority of Thailand and Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau.

"If you are in the golf industry, this is one show you cannot afford not to be seen at. And for the golf consumer, this show will be a huge supermarket – you will feel like a kid in a candy store," said Sebastian. In conjunction with the Exposition, there are plans afoot to stage workshops and clinics run by exhibitors and trade organizations. “It will a three-day carnival of golf, packaged with fun and excitement that only the City of Bangkok knows how to deliver,” declared Sebastian.

Bangkok has been selected for a number of very practical reasons:

• It is home to the most number of golf courses in the region;
• It is reported to have a golfing population of between 700,000 to 1 million golfers;
• It is very centrally located in the region and easily accessible by consumers wanting to attend the exposition;
• And it is a truly exciting destination to visit.

“The Southeast Asia/India Golf Merchandise Exposition will be a one-stop shop for both the trade and consumers alike. It will be the absolute consummate golf show of shows,” concludes Mike Sebastian. The organizers project to host 30,000 visitors over the duration of the show.
Details regarding registration are available on the Exposition’s web site at: www.asiagolfexpo.com

PROFESSIONAL GOLF COACHES IN ASIA GET THEIR OWN SHOW

Singapore (January 19): The Inaugural PGA Of Asia Conference has taken off and hectic plans are underway to stage this long overdue event in the exotic city of Bangkok in the royal kingdom of Thailand.

The conference dates are locked in and the two-day event will be staged at the plush Centara Grand on April 30 to May 1, 2010.

Why is this conference overdue? “Well, if you look at the growth of golf in Asia, it’s really absurd that no one has taken the trouble to organize a knowledge-sharing event for golf coaches in the region,” rationalized Mike Sebastian, managing director of Asia Pacific Golf Development Conferences Pte Ltd, the owner and producer of this event.

This is the first time that a properly structured and organized conference is being held for golf coaches in the region. “We hope to be able to line up some top foreign coaches and together with the collaboration of associations that represent golf coaches, we will have a world class programmed in place for the delegates who sign up for this event,” pointed out Sebastian.

According to Georgina Wong, executive director of the company behind this conference, “Bangkok was selected for this important conference because it is very centrally located within the region and it has some 1000 professional golfers and coaches – reason enough to home-base the event in Thailand”

The PGA of Thailand will play host to this major conference and according to Wong, “Veteran Thai golfer, Boonchu Ruangkit will be the patron of the conference.”

Top Asian coach and the man famous throughout the region for his “Black Hat” golfing tips, Tony Meechai was elated with the news of the conference. He said, “This is awesome – finally, the coaching community is being recognized by the industry and this can only be good for all of us.”

The organizers are planning on an attendance of 500 delegates at this inaugural conference. “We need to give the coaching profession a real shot in the arm – if Asia is to assume its place at the very top of global golf, we need to invest in the development of our coaching community and we’ve got to do it now,” Sebastian explained.

“The first steps have been taken and based on reaction and initial response, this show is going to be a real knock-out!” declared Wong.

The Inaugural PGA Of Asia conference will be staged in conjunction with the 2010 Southeast Asia/India Golf Merchandise Exposition, which will also be held in Bangkok from April 30 to May 2.