Meet The Women in Agronomy At Troon International Destinations In Asia

Troon Women’s Golf Month is in its 7^th year and aims to celebrate women in golf with a month of activities and awareness programmes.

We look to encourage female participation in the game throughout the year, with our international destinations spotlighting clinics, tuition programmes and activities geared towards growing the game amongst women. These range from junior programmes like those at Montgomerie Golf Club Dubai to specific Ladies Days as implemented by The Els Club Dubai which offer women discounts on green fees to ladies and complimentary access to practice facilities.

During Troon Women’s Golf Month, we focus in on Women’s Golf to get as many ladies experiencing golf at their local Troon managed golf course, as possible. But let’s not forget the women that work behind the scenes to maintain the golf course; women in agronomy.

At Vattanac Golf Resort in Cambodia, Sokhim Chheang has played an integral role at the facility as Assistant Superintendent. Working in the golf industry for seven years, she is passionate about continually learning and developing her knowledge and sharing that knowledge with the team to produce superior playing surfaces and a great golf experience for guests. She started out in the landscape team and has worked her way up to Assistant Superintendent thanks to her ambition. Sokhim continually trains the team in all departments whether it be in agronomy or explaining to the caddies on how green speed is measured and the characteristics of the TifEagle putting greens at Vattanac Golf Resort.

At Victoria Golf Resort, part of John Keells Holdings PLC in Sri Lanka, they are powering opportunities for local women to develop a career in the golf industry by providing education and training. The agronomy team consists of several women who have years of experience in maintenance positions, looking after the golf course, such as Sellamuththu Susila. Sellamuththu joined Victoria Golf & Country Resort in 2014 as a planter for the nursery and then moved on to working on the greens. Susila and her colleagues now have the opportunity to develop their skills further as the facility look to invest in these women, offering financial support and providing additional training which will see the women obtain licenses to operate the machinery on course.

Troon International Division Vice President of Construction and Agronomy, Robin Evans, commented, “At Troon managed golf courses throughout the world, we take into consideration the culture and customs of the country and this includes providing opportunities regardless of gender.  We have found that the women within our Agronomy Departments are dedicated and eager to learn the diversified skills needed for the different roles available to them. Our superintendents at Vattanac Golf Resort and Victoria Golf Resort, Marcus Hartup and Scott Annesley respectively, continue to support the development of knowledge and skills of the women at the facilities to forge a career in golf course maintenance”.