As General Manager and Director of Agronomy at Sentosa Golf Club since 2010, Andy Johnston has helped shape one of Asia’s most celebrated golf destinations. Drawing from early guidance during his early years in the industry, he’s blended traditional values with modern innovation. GBN sat down with Andy to discuss what drives his leadership, how tournaments shape his design philosophy, his innovative sustainability practices and what the next decade holds for the game.
GBN: Andy, you’ve spent decades shaping some of the most respected golf courses in the world, from working alongside golf legends to leading Sentosa Golf Club’s transformation into a global sustainability pioneer. When you look back, what’s driven your journey and kept you motivated to keep pushing boundaries in design and leadership?
Andy Johnston: That’s a great question, and honestly, it all comes down to passion and purpose. I’ve been fortunate to spend my entire career doing something I truly love, creating experiences that connect people with the game and with nature.
From my early days under Arnold Palmer, I learned that golf course design isn’t just about building holes, it’s about building something that lasts. That lesson has stayed with me. Whether I’m designing, maintaining, or managing, I’ve always been driven by the idea of leaving things better than I found them. At Sentosa, that mindset evolved. We realised that being world-class today isn’t just about perfect greens or championship setup; it’s about leadership and responsibility.
What keeps me motivated now is seeing how this work inspires others; how our team, members, and even other clubs around the world are embracing change. It’s proof that golf can be both beautiful and meaningful, that it can respect tradition while leading innovation. That combination of heritage, creativity, and impact, that’s what keeps me pushing forward.
Sentosa hosts some of the most high-profile tournaments in the region. How has that experience influenced your design and management approach?
Tournament experience gives you a real appreciation for detail. When you’re preparing for elite competition, you see how every inch of turf affects strategy and playability under pressure. You also get immediate feedback from the best players in the world. That perspective keeps you humble and constantly improving. Whether it’s a major event or a member’s weekend round, the fundamentals never change: great greens, great bunkers, great tees. Those are the heart of the experience – tournament ready, 365 days of the year.
Sentosa has hosted numerous top-flight professional events, but is also a popular members club
How do you balance creating a course that challenges professionals but still welcomes everyday golfers?
That’s the art of design. A well-built golf course should be playable for everyone but reveal its complexity as skill increases. It’s about giving options, risk and reward, angles of attack, recovery opportunities. If members enjoy the course daily and professionals respect it during tournaments, you’ve achieved the right balance.
How do you see golf course design evolving over the next decade?
The future won’t be defined by length or luxury, it’ll be defined by who can operate sustainably, profitably, and elegantly at the same time. That’s the challenge. It’s not about being ‘green’ for the sake of it; it’s about being green in every sense, smart with resources, innovative in design, and efficient in operations.
Technology and AI are transforming many industries. How do they influence golf course design and management?
Technology drives almost every decision we make now. From satellite imagery to agronomic data, we can design and maintain smarter than ever before. AI will soon help us predict maintenance needs, simulate weather impacts, and even model player behaviour. But the artistry still matters as you can’t let data replace human intuition. The best results come when innovation and instinct work together.
Sentosa Golf Club has pledged to be a net zero operation within the next five years
What milestones or achievements stand out from the club’s sustainability journey?
There are many, but a few stand out: removing single-use plastics, introducing a single-head control irrigation system that cut water use by 40%, and optimising our pump operations. Beyond the tangible results, the most rewarding achievement is influence. What’s been most rewarding is seeing other clubs and federations take their own first steps. That shared movement is what makes real change possible.
What’s the next phase of sustainability at Sentosa?
Energy and carbon reduction are the focus. We’re now exploring new frontiers in energy efficiency and carbon management, integrating renewable technology and advanced agronomy to help us reach net zero responsibly. The goal over the next five years is clear: to reach net zero the right way.
From your perspective, what are the biggest challenges facing the golf industry today?
Sustainability is number one – clubs that ignore this reality will struggle. Golf courses are constantly being judged from the wider markets to become more efficient and that is something that is always being assessed at Sentosa.
Climate change adds another layer of complexity: unpredictable weather patterns, extreme heat, and heavy rainfall all impact turf health and course conditioning. These challenges demand use to be innovative with our practices – these are no longer optional; they’re essential.
Andy speaking at the recent Vietnam Golf Course Owners Summit where he shared his vision for best practices in environmental responsibility
What do you hope the global golf industry learns from Sentosa’s example?
That the clock is ticking. Every club has a responsibility to act. The challenges that face our planet aren’t distant issues, they’re happening in real time, and golf has a unique opportunity to lead by example. At Sentosa, we’ve proven that sustainability isn’t a sacrifice for greatness. It makes operations smarter, strengthens pride in your work and adds long-term value to the game. Our goal has always been to prove that golf can be a positive force. If our example inspires others to act, that’s the true win.
What are the toughest challenges you face day-to-day as a General Manager and Director of Agronomy at a world-class club like Sentosa?
I think the toughest challenge is ensuring that we are proactive with our approaches; not reactive. We need to use the data and technology that we have around us to build on our sustainable practices and to always be improving, as we want to continue to be leaders in our field. We have set the benchmark for other clubs around the world to follow and that is something that we want to continue to be able to do. Being the General Manager and Director of Agronomy is a dynamic role because you’re not just maintaining a golf course; you’re running a complex operation under the spotlight of global tournaments. Every decision must ensure excellence across playability, aesthetics, and environmental responsibility.
Looking back at what Sentosa has achieved, what gives you the most pride?
What gives me most pride is the transformation we’ve achieved together as a team. You can win as many awards and gain as much recognition as you like, but you have to be inspiring positive change within the industry.
When I look at Sentosa today, I see a club that’s not only world-class in playability and presentation but one that’s setting new standards for responsibility and innovation in our industry. I’m proud of how we’ve changed mindsets, how our staff, members, and even other clubs around the world have embraced a more sustainable, forward-thinking approach to golf. We’ve shown that excellence and environmental stewardship can go hand in hand.
But more than anything, I’m proud of the people. The passion, creativity, and commitment of our team are what make Sentosa what it is. Every success we’ve had has come from that shared belief that we can always do better. That culture of purpose and pride, that’s what truly stands out for me.
