Bernd Wiesberger Committed To Defend Title At 2014 CIMB Niaga Indonesian Masters

Jakarta, 14th November 2013 - Bernd Wiesberger will attempt to successfully defend his CIMB Niaga Niaga Indonesian Masters title from April 24 to 27, 2014, a feat that has only been achieved by Lee Westwood of England.

The Austrian, who has two victories in Europe, expressed enthusiasm to return to the Royale Jakarta Golf Club. “I'm excited to be returning to Jakarta to defend my CIMB Niaga Indonesian Masters title at Royal Jakarta Golf Club, one of my favorite courses."

When Wiesberger lifted the prestigious trophy at the Royale Jakarta Golf Club last year, he promised to come back to defend his title at the Asian Tour event. "The crowds were so supportive this year, and I'm sure next year's event will be bigger and better than ever," Wiesberger added.

Asian Tour legend, Thongchai Jaidee of Thailand, a three-time Asian Tour Order of Merit winner, has also agreed to play in the US$750,000 event. Title sponsor, CIMB Niaga, has committed to invite more great players to participate in the CIMB Niaga Indonesian Masters 2014.

“It is great to have Bernd Wiesberger back to defend his title together with Thongchai Jaidee. These two players will certainly add value and excitement to our event. We look forward to announcing more names in the months to come and are currently in talks with some impressive Star Players. CIMB Niaga is committed to growing this event year on year to make it better for our loyal customers and guests.” said Arwin Rasyid, President Director of CIMB Niaga.

Arwin added that since becoming Title Sponsor in 2012, the purpose of CIMB Niaga is very clear which is to enhance golf in Indonesia. That’s why the CIMB Niaga Indonesian Masters is aiming to become the right tool to optimize the potential of Indonesian players, from junior level to professional.

Asian Tour Chairman, Kyi Hla Han praised the announcement. "As the official sanctioning body for golf in the region, the Asian Tour is proud to be associated with the CIMB Niaga Indonesian Masters. On behalf of our talented players, the Asian Tour would like to thank CIMB Niaga, who has been a tremendous title sponsor. We also welcome the wonderful news that Bernd will return to defend his title next year, said Han.

The 2014 edition of the Indonesian Masters will be played on the same (South and West) courses at the 27-hole Royale Jakarta Golf Club. George Chandra, COO of the club added: "Earlier this month during the Asia Pacific Golf Summit, Royale Jakarta was awarded with the 'Best Golf Course in Indonesia' award for the third year running, which underlines the quality of our course. This year we're making some minor changes like cutting roughs and extending greens to make play even more challenging and have more variety in pin placement for the tournament next year. Then during the upcoming tournament we will record all ball locations as inputs for a course analysis by Bob Moore, the course designer, to see if changes need to be made to bring the course to an even higher level."

The CIMB Niaga Indonesian Masters has cemented its place as the nations most prestigious event and continues to grow since its inauguration in 2011 with long-term event partners.

The event also focuses on giving back to the community through its charity initiatives together with Habitat for Humanity Indonesia. To date, the CIMB Niaga Indonesian Masters has managed to build 31 homes for families in need and together with National Energy Company, Pertamina, built a clean water solution for over 10,000 people in the Cimalaya area.

The CIMB Niaga Indonesian Masters will have widespread exposure via a strong local media platform and the Asian Tour’s global television platform, which reaches out to over 200 countries and 650 million households on the Live, Highlights, Asian Tour Golf Show and Golfing World. Indonesia’s premier news channel, Metro TV, will also be broadcasting the event locally for 10 hours live and will be airing additional shows and features related to the event and the positive impact to the golf industry and overall economy of Indonesia.

Partners include Title Sponsor CIMB Niaga, Salonpas by Hisamitsu (Main Partner), Telkomsel (Official Communications Partner), Rolex (Official Time Keeper), and SvingGolf (Official Apparel),

Vietnamese Billionaire Uses Jakarta Stage To Fund Asian Junior Golf Development

In an unprecedented move, Vietnamese entrepreneur turned philanthropist, Mr. Le Van Kiem, has made a substantial contribution to help establish the Asian Junior Golf Development Foundation. Mr. Le is the Chairman of the KN Vientiane Group. The announcement was made following the conclusion of the 2013 Asia Pacific Golf Summit in Jakarta, Indonesia.

"I understand the challenges that Asia's under-privileged children face in taking up the game of golf and through this foundation, I hope to be able to help aspiring young Asian talent who do not have the financial means to develop and aim for top honours in the sport of golf," Mr. Le declared.

One of Vietnam's leading entrepreneur, the billionaire has invested in a 36-hole golf course as part of the Vientiane-Long Thanh special economic zone covering an area of 557.74 ha with a total investment of US$1 billion.

The Asian Junior Golf Development Foundation will be managed by the Asia Pacific Golf Group with Mr. Le serving as its Patron.

Commenting on the formation of the foundation, Angela Raymond, president of the Asia Pacific Golf Group said, "What Mr. Le has done is indeed a highly commendable gesture from a man who believes in sharing his success with the less fortunate and this initiative is destined to grow under his patronage and we hope to work with various national golfing bodies in the region to identify and support juniors who need the help of the foundation."

One of Asia's top coaches of juniors, Tony Meechai, President of Tony Meechai Golf Academy said, "This is certainly a momentous moment for junior golf development and I am sure that with Mr. Le at the helm of the new foundation, efforts will be made to reach out to Asia's heartlands to draw out some of the best talent available to develop into future champions."

This sentiment was shared by the principals of Pro Tour Golf College, the leading golf academy in the region, David Milne and Lawrie Montague who said, "We are now actively developing programs for juniors in Asia and it is really wonderful to see this generous gesture from Mr. Le and we believe that it can only do a lot of good for the development of golf in Asia."

The Asian Junior Golf Development Foundation has been made possible with a donation from Mr. Le. "In the months ahead, we will partner with various stake-holders in the golf industry to roll out a very thorough program to see how best we can help deliver support to deserving juniors who come from under-privileged homes in Asia," said Ms. Raymond.

The Asian Junior Golf Development Foundation will be headquartered in Singapore.

Asia Pacific Golf Summit: Get Ready For The Q-Principle

A DYNAMITE APPROACH TO SERVICE DELIVERY!

What is a big challenge for the management of golf clubs in today's rapidly changing club business environment? Have we got you stumped? Would you believe if we told you that one of the most pressing challenges faced by golf clubs today concerns member expectations and the delivery of quality service.

In the early days of golf clubs in Asia, member expectations and service quality were not really a major issue with club management. This was primarily due to the fact that there were not too many comparisons to be made. But today, with the growth in the number of quality restaurants and world class hotels, there are new and demanding benchmarks to be measured against. Members demand and expect more in terms of product quality and expect very high service standards.

Recognizing this, the 2013 Asia Pacific Golf Summit will bring in a world class authority to grapple with this challenge and provide solutions that will keep club members happy and returning for more.

Andy Stangenberg

The expert is Andy Stangenberg, the founder of Q-Principle Inc, who is an author and world class life coach. With over 27 years of experience in the operational field of the service industry in six different countries, Stangenberg has developed a tremendous understanding of service excellence and the importance of service engagement between associates and guests, members and customers. He has taught the school of service and leadership in many countries and has owned and operated private hospitality schools in Aruba and Maui.

His experience as an executive hotel director required him to play a constant role as a coach and trainer, strengthening the engagement quality between people.

Stangenberg has been featured as a keynote speaker in many conventions around the globe, including World Conferences in Las Vegas, Orlando, New Orleans, San Diego, London, Shanghai, Zurich and Honolulu. Stangenberg is used by world leading companies as master coach, responsible for employee and leadership development. His high energy and captivating presentation style has earned him the reputation as one of the top speakers of our times and a master in the art of storytelling.
He is just one of a number of world class speakers who have been booked to speak at the 2013 Asia Pacific Golf Summit, held from 5-7 November 2013 at the Shangri-La Jakarta.

To miss Stangenberg is to miss a rare opportunity to grapple with the challenge of change and come out a winner.

Act now and make a date to learn from a true great expert on service standards - delegate registration is open on-line and we are waiting to hear from you:
Official Website Link: http://www.golfconference.org

Registration Link: https://secure.golfconference.org/event/asia-pacific-golf-summit-2013

2013 Asia Pacific Golf Summit - Setting New Standards For The Golf Club Industry!

NEWSFLASH: Watch out for news on a major game-changer for the golf industry in Asia. D-Day for the news to break is August 1, 2013

The Countdown For APGS 2013 Has Started – It’s A Paradigm Shift

The 2013 Asia Pacific Golf Summit, the seventh in the series, is taking shape and promises to deliver a three-day conference that will take a long, hard look at the golf industry in Asia and what it needs to do to stay relevant in the rapidly changing business and recreational landscape of the new millennium.

The venue for APGS 2013 is a nation that is itself experiencing change and growth at a mind-numbing pace. Indonesia and its capital city of Jakarta will play host to this year’s conference and it will help set the tempo and mood for the event.

There is no other country in Southeast Asia that reflects the 21st Century better than Indonesia. In a nutshell, this sprawling archipelago leads the region with the following credentials:

• Southeast Asia’s largest economy.
• Southeast Asia’s largest population.
• A member of the prestigious G20 group of nations.
• Projected to be the fifth wealthiest nation on the planet by 2030.

What better setting could APGS 2013 ask for? Besides being the most dynamic country in the region, Indonesia also has a tremendous passion for golf. A passion that perhaps is only unique to this country. With more than 150 golf courses and home to some truly world class golfing facilities, the number of courses is expected to witness at least 50 new golf courses commissioned in the coming years. This is a very encouraging outlook especially when viewed against a backdrop where golf is on the decline in most of the developed world.

Given this positive outlook of the projected growth of golf in Indonesia, APGS 2013 will be assembling a line-up of world class speakers who will discuss various aspects of how the region should prepare itself to meet the challenges of the future and how to keep golf relevant and help it grow in a constantly changing environment.

The conference will kick off with a special keynote address from one of the world’s most fascinating and dynamic game-changers in business – Tony Fernandes, founder of the region’s fastest growing airline, Air Asia.

In the coming weeks and months leading to APGS 2013, new business partners and speakers will be announced and everything points to the event being different, refreshing and knowledge-driven.

For an update on the state of golf in Indonesia and how this nation is expected to lead the growth of the game in the region, check out the following exclusive reports:

Asian Golf Monthly

Asian Golf Business

Registration is now open at https://secure.golfconference.org/

Come and be a part of APGS 2013 – it will be a fascinating insight to how Asia needs to keep pace with revolution in an evolving world!

APGS 2013 – One Of the World’s Truly Great Golf Business Events.

Brunei Welcomes Indonesia's Minister of Tourism

In the run-up to the Asia Pacific Golf Summit that will be held from 11-13 December 2012 in Brunei, the attendance of Indonesia's Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy is already making headlines in their local papers:

The Brunei Times, 1 August 2012

The online version can be viewed here at: Special guest to tee off address

Media Permata, 1 August 2012

The online version can be viewed here at: Menteri Indonesia penyampai khas APGS 2012

BruDirect.com, 1 August 2012

This online only version can be viewed here at: Indonesia Tourism Minister To Speak At APGS Summit

Asian Golf Tourism Issue 2 Is Out Now

The second edition of Asian Golf Tourism, the go-to magazine that has been designed to be the most informative and thorough publication on golf tourism in Asia and the authoritative guide to both the trade and consumer alike, is out now.

In this edition you will find amongst others information on the upcoming Asia Pacific Golf Summit, where several major players in the golf (tourism) industry from Indonesia will be present, including Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy, HE Mari Elka Pangestu, who will be the keynote speaker. Furthermore articles on developments in Bintan, Bali and a 8-page feature on the Jagorawi Toll Road golf courses, Jakarta's equivalent to Mission Hills.

Also articles on golf in Abu Dhabi, Thailand, Vietnam and much more. To read this online magazine click here.

Indonesia's Tourism Minister To Speak At Asia Pacific Golf Summit

The Indonesian Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy, Mrs. Mari Elka Pangestu has accepted an invitation to be a special VIP guest speaker at the 2012 Asia Pacific Golf Summit slated to be held in the oil-rich sultanate of Brunei Darussalam on December 11-13.

"We are very pleased to have a person of Mrs. Pangestu's standing to address the Summit this year and coming from the largest economy in Southeast Asia, is a clear indication as to the importance that Indonesia attaches to the golf industry," said Mike Sebastian, chief executive officer of the Asia Pacific Golf Group, the owner and producer of the Summit.

Mrs. Pangestu will deliver her address on the opening day of the Summit which will be on December 11. "It is really an honour for us to be able to play host to not only one of Indonesia's most senior ministers but also a leader who is recognised throughout the region for her ability to lead and deliver results," pointed out Sebastian.

More than 60 world-class speakers and panellists have already been confirmed to take part in APGS 2012.

Indonesia Gets Focused on Golf Tourism

If there is one country in Asia that is awakening to the game of golf and the role that it can play in promoting tourism, it has got to be the Republic of Indonesia. It has been a nation that has been flying below the international golf radar for quite a while but all of a sudden, golf has shot into the forefront of tourism promotion.

It's the big buzz word amongst stake-holders of the game in the country and the importance of golf tourism has taken a whole new meaning. It is regarded as of the "pillars of tourism" and the programme to drive Indonesia up the ladder of great golf destinations is being spearheaded by the Indonesian Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy, Mrs. Mari Elka Pangestu.

Mrs. Pangestu takes over this challenging portfolio after having has a very successful stint as the nation's Minister of Trade. In appointing her, Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said, "I trust Mari Pangestu to lead the ministry and I want, in the next three years, to develop tourism and the creative economy."

Being the target-driven person that she is, Mrs. Pangestu has taken the bull by the horns and is determined to deliver the results that are expected of her. "I have drawn up a three-year master plan to develop a road map that will help us develop and grow golf tourism in the country," she emphasised.

In a discussion with the Asia Pacific Golf Group, the new tourism supremo declared, "From a base of some 20,000 golf tourists who come to Indonesia, my aim is to grow this number ten times over in the next three years". A truly bold statement that is just not political rhetoric. This is a lady who is realistic and who understands the challenges that she has to work against to achieve her goal. She has the vision and the intellect to get the job done – after all, before she ascended to a ministerial post, she was the executive director at the Jakarta-based Centre for Strategic and International Studies.

"We have all of the essential ingredients for success already in place," she explained. "We have some 162 golf courses in the country and most of our courses are really wonderful – a visitor can play golf in a myriad of settings – by spectacular volcanoes, by stunning oceans capes and spell-binding rainforests". "Combined with our rich culture, the warmth of the Indonesian people and the delectable variety of exotic food, Indonesia is a veritable showcase for golf," Mrs. Pangestu pointed out. To make her point, she singled out the Jagorawi toll road, a 59-kilometre stretch of highway that is dotted with 17 world-class golf courses. "Where else in Asia can one find a lay-out like this!" After having taken her advice and driven through this thoroughfare, one must admit that Jagorawi is indeed a "highway to golfing heaven".

A keen golfer herself, Mrs. Pangestu has adopted a highly holistic plan that will involve a number of regions within the sprawling archipelago of 13466 islands to develop golf tourism. "We have Jakarta, Bali and the islands of Batam and Bintan in the Riau archipelago and we plan to improve all of the supporting infrastructure around these destinations and to transform these centres into golfing havens," the Minister said.
Given her focus, drive and determination, there is absolutely nothing that can come in the way of Mrs. Pangestu as she pushes ahead to transform the Indonesian Republic into one of Asia's top golf tourism destinations.

Professional Tournaments ... How Can It Impact Your Club?

Do you remember the days when Asia hardly had any professional golf tournaments. Then came along the Asian Tour which has grown over the years. We now have another major professional tour in Asia - the OneAsia Tour. Together with professional tours in Japan, South Korea, China, Thailand and India, professional tournaments have become a major feature on the regular golfing calendar.

Asia is also growing in importance for foreign professional tours. These days, the PGA Tour of America, the European Tour and the LPGA Tour all stage events in Asia. In years to come, this trend will grow.

In light of this anticipated growth, a special panel session will be staged at the 2012 Asia Pacific Golf Summit to be staged in the oil-rich Sultanate of Brunei on December 11-13.

The panel will be chaired by Paul Stringer, Executive Vice President of Nicklaus Design.

The panel will comprise:

• Tenniel Chu, Vice Chairman of Mission Hills Group and Secretary General of OneAsia Tour
• Harald Ellison, General Manager of Black Mountain Golf Club, Hua Hin, Thailand
• Mark Adams, Senior Vice President of IMG Golf Management Services
• Adrian Wahyudi, General Manager of Royale Jakarta Golf Club, Indonesia (host venue of the Indonesian Masters)

If you are a golf club owner, operator, general manager or a business executive involved in growing the club experience, make sure that you block out the dates now! December 11 - 13, 2012.

The Sultanate of Brunei will roll out the red carpet to welcome you to a truly peaceful abode!

Act Now! – Book your seat for the 2012 Asia Pacific Golf Summit at: https://secure.golfconference.org/

Some Of Asia's Best Step Up To The Plate To Share Their Success Formulas

Never before has the club sector of the golf industry in Asia enjoyed so much prominence. The 2012 Asia Pacific Golf Summit is going to see to it that the golf club business is going to be really show-cased when the conference rolls into the Royal Sultanate of Brunei Darussalam in December.

The last thirty years have witnessed the construction of world class golf courses throughout the Asian continent. Many of these courses have now become legendary for a variety of reasons.

For the 2012 Summit, the organisers have pre-selected three golf clubs to be featured on the programme.

The three clubs are:

• Black Mountain Golf Club
• Royale Jakarta Golf Club
• Chiangmai Highlands Golf and Spa Resort

Each of these clubs has a distinct story to tell and a valuable experience to share with their peers in Asia. The success story of Black Mountain will be narrated by its general manager, Harald Elisson. Harald's course has played host to the Black Mountain Masters, one of the region's most successful professional tournaments and the 2010 Royal Trophy clash between Team Europe and Team Asia.

From Indonesia, we check out the highly successful and award-winning Royale Jakarta Golf Club, home to the prestigious Indonesian Masters. Come and meet the affable and personable golf-loving George Chandra, the club's chief operating officer. George will walk the Summit through what makes his club tick.

Finally, from the beautiful resort belt of northern Thailand, there is the exquisite Chiangmai Highlands Golf and Spa Resort. It's success story will be told by Woranon Samakoses, the managing director of this sprawling facility.

"This is definitely a first for the Summit and for Asia - to have top flight club executives share their management practices and philosophies with their industry peers. We hope that this serves as a fore-runner to similar presentations from other Asian golf clubs in future," said Mike Sebastian, chief executive officer of the Asia Pacific Golf Group, the owner and producer of the Summit.

Act Now! – Book your seat for the 2012 Asia Pacific Golf Summit at: https://secure.golfconference.org/

The Golf Club Experience... Has It Gone AWOL?

Club management and the delivery of the club experience will come under scrutiny at the 2012 Asia Pacific Golf Summit to be held in the oil-rich Sultanate of Brunei Darussalam on December 11-13.

This is an issue that has been widely talked about, discussed and hotly debated by patrons of golf clubs and club owners and operational personnel. If one is to look back over the years, the so-called "glory days" of golf in Asia, quality of service was of paramount importance. The delivery of service was also a matter that many golf clubs took great pride in. However, based on feedback, these once hallowed standards of service seem to have been in a state of decline. It must be pointed out though that there are still many golf clubs in Asia who strive for very high standards, although there are many who don't share these same ideals.

In an environment where efforts are on-going to grow the game of golf, how important is service and its role in delivering the club experience?

This matter will be cross-examined by a high-powered panel of experts led by Kurt Michelsen, General Manager of Cengkareng Golf Club and the former Asia Pacific Vice President for Troon Golf.

The panel will be made up of:
RISHI NARAIN – Managing Director, Rishi Narain Golf Management (India)
PETER DOWNIE – General Manager, Sentosa Golf Club (Singapore)
NEIL COULSON – Director of Operations, IMG Golf Course Services (China)
CLIVE CARPENTER – Managing Director, Golf Today Network (London)

"We are asking some very pointed questions of the industry. By and large, the club spirit, experience and camaraderie that golf was once known to uphold seems to be in a state of decline especially in clubs in Asia," explained Mike Sebastian, chief executive officer of the Asia Pacific Golf Group, owner and product of the Summit.

If you are a golf club owner, operator, general manager or a business executive involved in growing the club experience, make sure that you block out the dates now! December 11 - 13, 2012.

The Sultanate of Brunei will roll out the red carpet to welcome you to a truly peaceful abode!

Act Now! – Book your seat for the 2012 Asia Pacific Golf Summit at: https://secure.golfconference.org/

Golf Tourism To Take Center Stage At APGS 2012

Singapore, 12 June 2012 - For the first time, the movers and shakers of the golf industry in Asia will find out how valuable and how important golf tourism really is to the region as a whole.

Never before has this topic been handled at a major international conference in Asia.

At the 2012 Asia Pacific Golf Summit, some of the most knowledgeable and most respected experts on golf tourism will on hand to discuss the topic - GOLF TOURISM – A DYNAMIC NEW ENGINE OF GROWTH.

This topic will be the subject of a high-powered panel discussion to be led by Sheikh Jamaluddin Sheikh Mohammad, Director of Tourism, Brunei Tourism.

The expert panel will include the following members:

• Stacey Walton - General Manager, Banyan Golf Club (Thailand)
• Mark Seigel – Managing Director, GolfAsian Pte Ltd (Thailand)
• Dennis Kloeth – Managing Director, IndoGolf (Indonesia)
• Paul Gibbons – Director, Group Marketing, MST Golf (Malaysia)

Commenting on the topic and the panel composition, Mike Sebastian, chief executive officer of the Asia Pacific Golf Group, the producer and owner of the Summit said, “The subject of golf tourism cannot be ignored. As it is, it is already a multi-billion dollar income generator for some countries in the region and it is hoped that this panel will serve as a fore-runner to more attention being paid to golf tourism.”

He went on to add, “The panel that we have assembled is a world-class group of some of the best experts in the business and under the expert direction of Sheikh Jamaluddin, we can look forward to a very enlightening and entertaining panel session.”

More than 30 world class speakers have already accepted invitations to speak at the 2012 Asia Pacific Golf Summit.

For more details, please visit the Summit’s web site at http://www.golfconference.org

Asia Pacific Golf Summit 2012 Website Launched

Singapore, 7 March 2012 - The web site for the 2012 Asia Pacific Golf Summit (APGS) is now operational.

It boasts a brand new look and is a very user friendly facility designed to assist international delegates to find out everything they need to know about the Summit.

The event in Brunei will be the sixth in the annual series and promises to be a major knowledge event on golf.

The Summit will continue to provide a universal platform for candid debate and discussion on the challenges facing the golf industry in the Asia Pacific. It will also set the tone and create pathways to bring about positive change to help guide the industry to grow in a rapidly changing business, leisure and recreational environment.

“Unlike previous years, APGS 2012 will focus on specific areas where golf is being most challenged with a view to finding innovative ways of meeting these challenges effectively and growing the game throughout the region,” said Mike Sebastian, chief executive officer of the Asia Pacific Golf Group, the owner and producer of APGS 2012.

“APGS has been a trail blazer for golf in this region and we expect this year’s Summit to continue in this fine tradition,” declared Bob Moore, ASGCA, Principal, JMP Golf Design Group, Costello Hollinger Moore.

“In the coming weeks, we will be announcing the names of key speakers and presenters at APGS 2012 and we also expect to announce the full programme by end May,” revealed Sebastian.

Asia Pacific Golf Summit Heads To Oil-Rich Sultanate Of Brunei

Bandar Seri Begawan (Brunei), January 26 - The 2012 Asia Pacific Golf Summit (APGS) will be staged in the oil-rich state of Brunei. European golfing legend Colin Montgomerie will be among the keynote speakers at the sixth edition of the Summit, now firmly established as one of the world’s leading business gatherings for the golf industry.

The luxurious, six-star Empire Hotel and Country Club will be the venue for the three-day Summit, from December 11-13. The facility, with its Jack Nicklaus-designed course, is a two-time winner of the Best Golf Resort in Asia Pacific category in the Asian Golf Monthly Awards.

The participation of Montgomerie, an eight-time European Tour Order of Merit champion and captain of Europe’s triumphant Ryder Cup team in 2010, is certain to add spice to the occasion.

Mike Sebastian, Chief Executive Officer of the Asia Pacific Golf Group, owner and producer of the acclaimed APGS, said: “We are delighted to have Colin as a special celebrity keynote speaker. Besides adding a tremendous touch of class to the Summit, he is certain to stimulate delegates and guests with his forthright views on a wide variety of topics affecting the industry.”

APGS is an annual high-level gathering dedicated to the business and operational aspects of the golf industry in the Asia Pacific region. Notable past speakers who have addressed the Summit include Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player, Peter Thomson, Greg Norman, Annika Sorenstam, Tony Jacklin and Robert Trent Jones II.

Montgomerie will now join that illustrious list. ‘Monty’, as he is popularly known, has had a spectacular career, including a streak of seven consecutive Order of Merit successes from 1993 to 1999, and 31 European Tour victories, placing him fourth on the all-time list. His career high world ranking was second.

He’s enjoyed plenty of success in Asia with wins in the Macau Open, Hong Kong Open and Singapore Masters, among others. In recent years, he’s begun to make a name for himself as a promising course designer. Arguably his finest work has come at The Montgomerie Links in Danang, voted Best Course in Vietnam for the past two years in the Asian Golf Monthly Awards.

Moving to the Sultanate of Brunei, a new dimension will be added to the 2012 APGS as it will be staged in conjunction with the Royal Trophy, the inter-continental team match play challenge between eight-strong line-ups from Asia and Europe. Featuring teams captained by Japan’s Naomichi ‘Joe’ Ozaki and Spaniard Jose Maria Olazabal, the sixth Royal Trophy will take place from December 14-16, directly after the Summit.

Sebastian said: “By staging these two world-class events together, we are actually creating an unmatched golf spectacle of global proportions – the coming together of the best in a golf business event and a golf tournament.”

Those sentiments were echoed by Desmond Acheson, General Manager, Empire Hotel and Country Club. He said: “We are extremely delighted to be able to play host to these two stellar events and we strongly believe that by staging both the events together we will be creating a not-to-be-missed world-class golf classic for the global golf trade and golf fans.”