Sentosa Golf Club preps next generation of turf pros

Before the first shot is struck at ARAMCO LIV Golf Singapore 2026, a veritable army of turf specialists will already have completed thousands of hours preparing Sentosa Golf Club’s championship Serapong Course for competition.

As part of that effort, Sentosa Golf Club is once again showcasing the future of the profession through its Agronomy Superintendent Programme, which returns during tournament week to give aspiring turf professionals a behind-the-scenes experience of preparing a world-class golf course for elite competition.

Now in its 16th year, the program invites a select group of volunteers to work alongside Sentosa Golf Club’s agronomy team throughout the week, gaining insight into the precision and planning required to deliver championship playing conditions.

Working with Sentosa Golf Club’s GM and director of agronomy Andy Johnston, golf course superintendent Rodney McKeown and the club’s expert grounds crew, participants play an active role in preparing the course, contributing directly to its aesthetics, playability and competitive integrity.

Throughout the week, the volunteers assist with everything from precision mowing and bunker preparation to green speed management and final tournament setup.

Across the tournament period, nearly 40 volunteers join Sentosa’s agronomy team to help prepare The Serapong Course for championship competition. Since launching, the program has attracted strong global interest from turf professionals eager to experience tournament preparation at one of Asia’s more respected golf clubs.

“This program gives people a genuine insight into what it takes to prepare a golf course for the highest level of the game,” Johnston said. “The attention to detail behind the scenes is extraordinary. From green speeds to mowing patterns and bunker presentation, every detail matters when preparing a course for the world’s best players.”

A key element of the program is Sentosa’s 10-year partnership with Toro, launched in 2022, with the club serving as a Toro Centre of Excellence in Asia. Participants gain hands-on experience operating some of the latest machinery and turf management technologies.

“For anyone serious about a career in turf management, it’s an incredible learning environment,” said McKeown, who has been responsible for delivering 28 globally televised tournaments in his 14-year tenure at Sentosa. “You’re working in real tournament conditions and seeing first-hand the level of precision required to present surfaces for the best players in the world.”

Carolina Golf Club assistant superintendent Nick Colombo worked at Sentosa for seven months during his agronomy placement as part of his turf studies at Ohio State and recently returned as part of the program. “Coming back to Sentosa as part of the volunteer program feels special for me,” he said. “Being able to return during LIV Golf Singapore is a full-circle moment. The course has always been world-class, but what stands out most is the people and the passion for excellence in course preparation. To now contribute again during a major international event like this is something I’m really proud to be a part of.”

The Agronomy Superintendent Programme reflects Sentosa Golf Club’s continued commitment to sharing knowledge, developing future turf professionals and maintaining its reputation as one of the leading tournament venues in Asia.

ARAMCO LIV Golf Singapore 2026 BY THE NUMBERS

• 217 miles of fairway mowing completed during tournament week
• 600 miles walked by green mowing team during tournament week to prepare championship putting surfaces
• 22 greens, including practice greens and short game areas, prepared daily to tournament speeds of 13 on the Stimpmeter
• 105 bunkers raked and edged daily
• 197 Toro machines in operation across the course