6 | indUstrY neWs
Troon Golf on the move
By david newbery
it is 10.30 am on a cool day at the Limestore
Building at newstead in Brisbane – the new
headquarters for golf course management
company troon Golf (Australia).
i’m greeted warmly by vanessa Andrew who
offers me coffee and ushers me into the
boardroom.
i’m here to interview the company’s senior vice
president and managing director ryan Walls
about troon Golf’s growth and its expansion into
Asia. But before Walls emerges from his office,
i’m reacquainted with nick stewart, director of
sales and marketing. stewart, who has been with
troon Golf for eight years, tells me troon Golf’s
prospects for growth are strong – both in the
Australia Pacific region and Asia.
He says over the past 12 months the company
has grown its portfolio and set a number of
initiatives in place.
These include:
• relocating to new office space;
• expanding its portfolio;
• extending existing Australian contracts;
the malaysia international Golf Fair
(miGF) 2010 is organised by malaysian
Golf Association (mGA) from October 1
to 3 at Putra World trade Centre, Kuala
Lumpur. it is the governing body’s first
and the biggest golf exhibition and
conference in malaysia since its inception
in 1929. the Honourable Prime minister
of malaysia, YAB dato’ seri mohd najib
tun razak is the patron of this inaugural
event, which is supported by tourism
malaysia, AseAn Golf Federation, and
the Golf Club managers’ Association of
malaysia. the theme for this year’s event,
• employing more highly-qualified staff;
• Opening a regional satellite office in
seoul, Korea and will soon open an office in
shanghai, in addition to Hong Kong;
• Launching the Privé residences by troon
brand;
• signing its first project under this brand in
Pine tree Luxury Condo and spa, seoul;
• Adding the m’s Club, which will open later
this year;
• Opening the troon Golf Academy at the
Banyan tree Club & spa, seoul; and
• Opening 27 holes at Lion Lake in China,
which was recently named Best new Course
in China.
stewart says troon Golf’s brand has grown
in a number of areas, which has allowed the
company to employ more people.
They include:
• david townend, as director Business
development (an Aussie and Asian veteran);
• Harry Kim as Korea Business manager;
• vanessa Andrew as national marketing
manager;
• david Hogben as director of Operations;
• Kathy Karibalis as Administration manager.
“troon Golf already employs a number of
Australians in key position in America, Abu dhabi,
China and London,” stewart said. moments later,
Walls is there heaping praise on his formidable
‘Where Golf takes Flight’ boosts malaysia’s
efforts to establish itself as the regional
hub for golf in Asia Pacific. miGF seeks
to bring professionals from different
golfing arms and golfers (professional
to occasional) under one roof to engage
on issues pertinent to the industry and
golfing community. miGF’s goal is to inject
greater dynamism by facilitating growth,
community and collaboration among the
golfing community.
About mGA.malaysian Golf Association,
founded in 1929, the sole governing
body, is entrusted to promote golf while
team. As i listen to Walls speak, i can’t help but
think this is one company on the move. ten
years have now passed since troon Golf arrived
in Australia and they have survived where others
have not. that tells me they must being doing
something right.“One of the keys to our success
is the fact that we are very selective when
deciding which golfing facility to associate with
the troon Golf name,” Walls said.
“We only agree to enter into agreements on
projects that have the same dedication to
quality and service as troon Golf.
“We are doing well and are very excited about
the future.” Walls’ plan to grow the portfolio
has starte