Golf Club Talk UK

On this episode of Trending Topics with England Golf, we spend some time with two of the England Golf board - Julia Regis and Jenny Denyer.  The discussion looks to present a picture of the process of becoming a Director, what it's like to be on the board and the role itself and any specialised areas that each Director might take responsibility for.   Julia and Jenny give us an overview of their careers thus far and how that placed them nicely to help the strategic direction of England Golf.  Both come from a leadership, coasching and performance angle and have performed roles on other Boards.   The conversation delves into some challenges facing Golf as a sport and how these might be approached.  They include improving ethnic diversity in Golf and attracting more women and girls to the game.  There's also a look at some of the great opportunities in front of the sport and how these can be exploited.   A great chat and thanks to Julia and Jenny for giving up their time.  https://www.englandgolf.org/ https://www.englandgolf.org/leadership-team    

Alex Woodward, CEO of Walton Heath Golf Club, shares his expertise on high-performance leadership within the private club sector. He emphasizes the importance of service standards and team dynamics in enhancing member satisfaction. James Burns, co-founder of Club Benchmarking, discusses data-driven strategies for financial success, highlighting the critical role of strategic and capital planning for clubs. Together, they explore how effective leadership and benchmarking can ensure long-term sustainability and operational excellence in the golf industry.

Michael Herd, from Kopplin, Kuebler and Wallace, discusses the firm's exciting expansion into Australia and New Zealand, stressing the importance of good governance in club management. Jeff Morgan, President and CEO of CMAA, shares insights on the CMAA World Conference, celebrating its impressive growth and the collaboration with CMAE for industry education. The conversation touches on embracing leadership skills, the significance of workplace culture, and the necessity for structured staff training in golf clubs to meet evolving demands.

Gareth Morgan, Professional Development Manager at GCMA, joins Sean Boyle, General Manager of Chesterfield Golf Club, and James McLean, General Manager of Bognor Regis Golf Club, to tackle cost pressures facing golf clubs. They discuss rising business rates and minimum wage impacts while sharing innovative strategies for revenue generation. The trio highlights the importance of member engagement and effective communication during financial challenges and emphasizes long-term growth through collaboration and optimizing resources. Gain insights that could transform club management!

On episode 110 of GCTUK, following a monthly catch up, Leighton and Eddie talk to Simon Hassall, Chairman of Haydock Park Golf Club.  Haydock Park is a members club located in the North-west of England.  Simon, having come from a strong corporate background, has been in post for 3 years and he provides his views on the industry, but also how he approaches his role.  Some of the other areas covered include; Being a director and how Simon views the Chairman role and the industry, how to take the best of the corporate world......into Golf clubs, use of data, challenges of keeping a Board focused on the right areas and what Haydock Park is doing to stay ahead of the curve.  https://www.haydockparkgc.co.uk/ Don't forget our Management Field Trip at Princes and Royal Cinque Ports Golf Clubs on 26th, 27th March.  For more details or to book click here - Management Field Trip  www.golfclubtalk.uk golfclubtalkuk@gmail.com

On the latest Trending Topics, we welcome Matt Draper and Mark Romasiuk from England Golf and David Hawkins, Secretary of the Bedfordshire Golf Union.   The discussion is all about mental health and how it can effect anyone in Golf Clubs, both Golfers and those working and volunteering in clubs.  David explains why he has such a strong interest in this topic and why he became a mental health first aider and how he now leads a group of mental health first aiders.  The three guests explain that it's down to all of us to look out for each other and try to recognise when something's not right. England Golf will be launching its "Fore Your Mind" compaign in early February.  Mark explains how it's designed to signpost both Golfers and Golf Clubs to the best place to receive advice and information.  A really important topic and thanks to David for sharing his story.  https://www.englandgolf.org/ www.golfclubtalk.uk golfclubtalkuk@gmail.com Don't forget our Management Field Trip at Princes and Royal Cinque Ports Golf Clubs on 26th, 27th March.  For more details or to book click here - Management Field Trip 

A great interview on episode 109 with three outstanding younger managers joining Leighton.  We meet James Brockington, GM at Henley GC, Molly Pavey, GM at Bramshaw, Poultons & Newark, and George Tunbridge, GM at St Enodoc.  It's not all about their age though and the chat explores their entry into Golf Management and how they view the industry.   The wide range of clubs and ownership structures also provides a great perspective and the topics explored include mentorship, communication, investment, current challenges, particularly around cost pressures and how to engage your members.  The industry is certainly in good hands and we thank the guests for their time and hope you enjoy an enlightening interview.     Don't forget our Management Field Trip at Princes and Royal Cinque Ports Golf Clubs on 26th, 27th March.  For more details or to book click here - Management Field Trip  www.golfclubtalk.uk golfclubtalkuk@gmail.com

Andrew Reynolds, recently retired Head Professional at Royal Cinque Ports Golf Club, shares insights from his notable career in the golf industry. He discusses trends in golf course development, focusing on inclusivity and member experience. The conversation dives into the generational diversity challenge in clubs and the necessity for innovative income sources. Andrew also reflects on the evolving nature of golf and the role of mentorship, emphasizing community collaboration and personal growth within the sport.

On the latest Trending Topics we welcome Matt Draper and delve into two vital areas of Golf Clubs - Safeguarding and Legal Compliance.  The common theme through the discussions centre on good governance practices and having the necessary policies and procedures in place.  The safeguarding department at England Golf are there to educate and inform clubs around ways to keep their members safe, but also if an incident were to arise - they are there to help in a practical way.  Petra Duvanna, Safeguarding Lead Officer, explains to listeners what safeguarding is and what clubs need to be aware of and look out for.  She also talks through some examples of breeches and these quite often come down to bullying by others or harrassment by parents.  There's also some great advice on how to report an incident. David Walters, Legal & Compliance Officer, then talks us through some other areas of legal compliance for clubs and how to stay on the right side of the law!  This is largely from an Equality, Diversity and Inclusion point of view, but this could also mean member discipline, employment law, health and safety and GDPR.  Your EDI policy and Disciplinary Policy will be the guiding documents here. A crucial listen for any Club Manager or someone who governs at a club. https://www.englandgolf.org/safeguarding https://www.englandgolf.org/legal   Golf Club Talk UK Management Field Trip - Wednesday 26th and Thursday 27th March 2025.

Leighton is joined by Tom Brooke, Natalie McColl, Gareth Morgan and Darren Wood to take a look back at 2024.  The review is carried out through the lens of the GCMA Strategic Plan and like all golf clubs should be doing - reviewing the objectives.  After Tom gives an overview of the purpose, vision and values, we take a look at four key pillars of the plan: Membership and Membership Services Regional Development Professional Development Partnerships and Collaborations There's also a brief glimpse into 2025 and some of the opportunities and challenges.   Save the date for your diary!  November 16th - 18th 2025 - GCMA Conference.  De Vere Cotswold Water Park. Golf Club Talk UK Management Field Trip - Wednesday 26th and Thursday 27th March 2025.  GCMA members receive a £30 discount.  Quote code "GCMAMEMBER" www.gcma.org.uk GCMA Strategic Plan