In a historic development, a new milestone was set in Asia today when a purpose-built golf

academy was launched to serve the needs of junior golfers in the Asian continent.

The American School of Bangkok (ASB), a pioneer in providing quality education leading to

college education in some of the best universities in North America and the rest of the world,

opened the doors to its latest initiative in education – the ASB-International Preparatory Golf

Academy (IPGA) in Bangkok, Thailand.

It is Asia’s first one-stop junior golf academy that is focused to create well-rounded junior golfers

with the perfect mix of academic grounding and a strong foundation in how to play the game of

golf at the highest level possible.

The world-class ASB-IPGA is the brain-child of Mrs. Lakhana Didyasarin Tavedikul, an

education visionary. In launching the new academy, she said, “The ASB-IPGA is the

actualisation of a dream designed to offer world-class education and coaching facilities to

current and future junior golfers to enjoy the benefits of a quality academic education and to

learn the game of golf from certified PGA of America Golf Professionals.”

The party that brings quality golf coaching to the ASB-IPGA is Tony Meechai, the internationally

renowned PGA of America coach Tony Meechai, the founder of the TMG Group Asia.

Commenting the historic development, Meechai said, “We are highly excited to assist in the

establishment of the IPGA at the American School of Bangkok! There are junior golfers who

have a burning passion to get an education in the United States, but find it difficult to attend golf

academies in the United States”. He continued, “Now with the establishment of the IPGA, this

provides those families in Southeast Asia with junior golfers to have access to quality American-

style education and a matching golf development programme without having to go to the United

States.”

Mike Sebastian, chief executive officer of the Asia Pacific Golf Group described the launch of

the ASB-IPGA as being both “timely and essential” for junior golf development in Asia. “We

view this as a an institution that is unique in that it will offer a holistic package of world class

academic tuition combined with a focused approach to the coaching of golf – an excellent

pathway to help develop junior golfers for a career within the expanding golf industry in Asia”.

The IPGA’s mission is to graduate well-educated student athletes who are prepared both

mentally and physically to take their place in the world and succeed at the highest levels in both

golf and life.

“The IPGA is working with a number of institutions in America to ensure that our students and

graduates find acceptance in golf programmes at some of the finest institutions in the world,”

added Mrs. Tavedikul.