The Golf Club Manager: November 2018

THE GOLF CLUB

MANAGER ISSUE 20 | NOVEMBER 2018

THE OFFICIAL JOURNAL OF THE GOLF CLUB MANAGERS’ ASSOCIATION

GCMA

WHERE ARE THEY NOW?

W E C ATC H U P W I T H O U R 2017 AWARD WINNERS

SPECIAL FOCUS: HEALTH AND PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT

INTERVIEW

YORKSHIRE DOUBLE

FORMER GCMA MANAGER OF THE YEAR GARY PEARCE O N S WA P P I N G F U L F O R D F O R T H E G A N TO N H OTS E AT

ED U C AT E | I N FO RM | I N S P I RE ‘

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CONTENTS ISSUE 20 | NOVEMBER 2018

GCMA

CAREERS

04

GCMA chief executive Bob Williams

40

16

What are our award winners up to now?

The latest jobs for GCMA members

INDUSTRY

EDUCATION

24

44

How golf could tackle the UK’s health crisis

48

The R&A’s Kevin Barker on golf and health

Keeping you In The Loop with industry news

INTERVIEWS

REGIONAL

26

58

Meet the Manager: Castle Royle’s Chris Hanks

61

Rory McIlroy’s generous donation to his home club

Ganton’s Gary Pearce

61

44 26

THE OFFICIAL JOURNAL OF THE GOLF CLUB MANAGERS’ ASSOCIATION GCMA Bristol & Clifton Golf Club, Beggar Bush Lane, Failand, Bristol, BS8 3TH Tel: 01275 391153 | hq@gcma.org.uk CHIEF EXECUTIVE Bob Williams - bob@gcma.org.uk COMMUNICATIONS MANAGER Mike Hyde - mike@gcma.org.uk GOLF MANAGEMENT RESEARCHER Jim Cunning - jim@gcma.org.uk EDUCATION COORDINATOR Niki Hunter - niki@gcma.org.uk FINANCE ADMINISTRATOR Shirley Edmondson - shirley@gcma.org.uk COMMUNICATIONS EXECUTIVE Marie Taylor - marie@gcma.org.uk MEMBERSHIP SERVICES Julie Knight - julie@gcma.org.uk PRESIDENT JR (John) Jones 2018/19 CAPTAIN Cameron Dawson BOARD OF DIRECTORS Gary Steele, Phil Grice, Eddie Bullock, Amy Yeates, Andrew Rankin THE GOLF CLUB MANAGER IS PUBLISHED BY: SPORTS PUBLICATIONS LTD 2 Arena Park, Tarn Lane, Scarcroft, West Yorkshire, LS17 9BF, UK Tel: 0113 289 3979 | info@sportspub.co.uk PUBLISHER Tom Irwin - t.irwin@sportspub.co.uk EDITORIAL DIRECTOR Dan Murphy - d.murphy@sportspub.co.uk OPS DIRECTOR Will Shucksmith - w.shucksmith@sportspub.co.uk EDITOR Steve Carroll - s.carroll@sportspub.co.uk PRODUCTION EDITOR James Broadhurst -j.broadhurst@sportspub.co.uk CHIEF DESIGNER Andrew Kenworthy - a.kenworthy@sportspub.co.uk DESIGNERS Vicky Jones - v.jones@sportspub.co.uk Becky Clark - b.clark@sportspub.co.uk Paul Barnett - p.barnett@sportspub.co.uk Every effort has been made to ensure accuracy, but the publishers cannot accept responsibility for omissions and errors. All material in this publication is strictly copyright and all rights are reserved.The views expressed in The Golf Club Manager do not necessarily represent the views of the company or the editor. Every care is taken in compiling the contents but the publishers assume no responsibility for any damage, loss or injury arising from participation in any offer, competition or advertising contained within The Golf Club Manager.

THE GOLF CLUB

MANAGER ISSUE 20 | NOVEMBER 2018

THE OFFICIAL JOURNAL OF THE GOLF CLUB MANAGERS’ ASSOCIATION

GCMA

WHERE ARE THEY NOW?

W E C ATC H U P W I T H O U R 2017 AWARD WINNERS

SPECIAL FOCUS: HEALTH AND PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT

INTERVIEW

YORKSHIRE DOUBLE

FORMER GCMA MANAGER OF THE YEAR GARY PEARCE O N S WA P P I N G F U L F O R D F O R T H E G A N TO N H OTS E AT

ED U C AT E | I N FO RM | I N S P I RE ‘

001 GCMA November 18 Cover.indd 3

ON THE COVER: Gary Pearce

30/10/2018 13:21

WELCOME

ISSUE 20 | NOVEMBER 2018

N

ow the majority of us have come back to earth following the excitement of the Ryder Cup, it is that time of year when many of you will now be preparing for the winter and looking ahead to what 2019 has to offer.

With just one more regional meeting for me to attend in Northern Ireland this month, it is pleasing to report the majority of meetings this year have been well attended and there has been a fairly positive buzz throughout.

In the last month, the meetings at Fairhaven, in the North West, and Stowmarket, in East Anglia, were no exception - where an array of presenters, ranging from stocktaking to health and safety updates, provided interesting topics.

I was also pleased to be invited to join other main golfing associations and organisations in meeting with Scotland Golf in Edinburgh. While the purpose of the meeting was mainly focused on how we could all work together to assist Scotland Golf deliver a better product, the greater underlying message seemed to be how these collective groups can work more effectively when they are working together.

The following week, The R&A and Golf & Health project hosted the First International Congress on Golf & Health. Starting in London, the congress progressed to High Elms Golf Club, in Kent, where we were treated to an array of some of the most interesting data and

presentations. These included an address by The R&A CEO Martin Slumbers, as well as some of the World Health executives, and the public health minister Steven Brine.

The Golf and Health project presented a set of results from their studies that scientifically evaluated the health benefits of golf, both physically and mentally. While there were some very strong messages that came forward, which can be viewed in the magazine, the main theme that stuck with me is that ‘those who play golf live five years longer than those that don’t play’ This is a message that the GCMA and many of our industry partners will be sharing with as many of you as possible.

Bob Williams – chief executive

“It is pleasing to report the majority of meetings... have been well attended and there has been a fairly positive buzz“

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What you

NEED TO KNOW Relevant news, opinion and expert insight from around the industry.

Plus what’s happening around the UK in the world of the GCMA

GCMA | INDUSTRY | CAREERS | EDUCATION | REGIONAL

Picture of the

MONTH

The 2018/19 GCMA national captain Cameron Dawson has been racking up the miles this year as he travels the country representing the association.

8 | GCMA.ORG.UK

It’s not all work and no play, however, and a recent highlight of his golfing calendar was a trip to Northern Ireland for the match against Sweden. Cameron

snapped this glorious sunset at the end of a brilliant day at Portstewart, and you can hear more about his recent activities in his next column in the December issue.

ED U C AT E | I N FO RM | I N S P I RE

SA VE

TH

ED

10 - 12 NOVEMBER 2019 DE VERE COTSWOLD WATER PARK

AT E

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GCMA | INDUSTRY | CAREERS | EDUCATION | REGIONAL

This GCMA club is famous for…

FORMBY

This Southport course, run by manager Stuart Leech, has an unusual link to the ill-fated luxury liner Titanic

I

f you’ve never played Formby, you’re missing a treat. Not only is it one of this country’s finest links layouts, it also boasts one of golf’s great clubhouses.

Formby’s original clubhouse was destroyed by fire in 1899 and the present building was opened two years later at a cost of £7,000.

One of its most distinctive features is a massive clock tower and that wasn’t in place when the doors first opened.

It came in 1909 and was a gift to celebrate the club’s 25th birthday.

It was provided by Joseph Bruce Ismay. He is now infamous – and not because he handed over a lovely oversized timepiece.

Ismay was the chairman of the White Star Line, the Liverpool shipping company that built Titanic. The ill-fated ship sank on April 15, 1912, after hitting an iceberg on its maiden voyage from Southampton to New York.

More than 1,500 of the estimated 2,224 passengers died when the liner – famed for being the biggest ship in service – foundered in one of the worst peacetime maritime disasters. Ismay was not one of them. He was on Titanic’s only voyage and after the iceberg was struck, 400 miles south of Newfoundland, he boarded a

10 | GCMA.ORG.UK

lifeboat 20 minutes before the ship went down. He received enormous criticism afterwards, particularly given the number of women and children who perished and his reputation never recovered.

But there are also stories of Ismay assisting survivors and only boarding the lifeboat when there was no one else on his side of the boat to rescue. Nevertheless, Ismay resigned as chairman of the White Star Line in 1913 and history has not been kind. In the 1997 blockbuster Titanic, he was portrayed by Jonathan Hyde as

privileged and ignorant – using his status to urge Captain Edward John Smith to go faster to get favourable press coverage for an early arrival in New York. Whatever the truth, the clock tower at Formby is a memory of happier times and stands as a towering symbol of the club’s prestige.

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ED U C AT E | I N FO RM | I N S P I RE

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GCMA | INDUSTRY | CAREERS | EDUCATION | REGIONAL

Our Knight in shining

ARMOUR

Growing the association’s membership is the job of Julie Knight. We find out more about her role

M

embers are the lifeblood of the GCMA and it is has been an exciting year for the association on that front. The launch of the affiliate members’ category was a key part of the strategic review, undertaken throughout last year with the support of business consultant Nick Watkins, and it has been well received. That area is seen as a key growth opportunity as other industry professionals look to gain skills and an understanding of golf club management.

The first few months since the launch have certainly brought in new recruits from all areas of the business into the GCMA family.

But that review, which was a root and branch look at the association’s structures and practices, made another key recommendation: ‘To appoint someone to lead on Membership Services to support membership growth and the delivery of professional development services.’

Julie Knight is the result. She joined the GCMA team at Bristol headquarters in September, having spent 15 years working in golf conferencing and business coordination at The Kendleshire.

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Her position was created in the summer, following an internal restructure at head office, and Julie’s work will aim to build on the success of the affiliate scheme while also pursuing new avenues to increase membership, and support current GCMA members.

“I’m the first point of contact for anyone wanting to make membership enquiries and answering calls to anyone who wants information,” she said.“I’m that first line of support.

“I’m the first point of contact for anyone wanting to make membership enquiries” “My role is to develop and look after membership, the members, and to try and increase recruitment.

“My first month has been different, but very enjoyable.

I’m enjoying seeing this side of the business and looking after managers rather than working alongside those people.

“So I’m very much looking forward to getting into the role and bringing some new people on board.”

Julie has been part of the golf club

scene for more than a decade and a half and is a regular golfer, who plays off a handicap of 21 That knowledge of the club game, both inside and outside of the office, was key factor in her successful appointment, explained GCMA chief executive Bob Williams.

“Whether members need some advice, support or just a second opinion – Julie will be the first port of call for all our members, and if she can’t help immediately, will know the best person for them to speak to,” he said. “Her background in golf is a real bonus. She understands the business, and the challenges that our members are facing on a dayto-day basis. The restructure wasn’t a pleasant process, and it has been a difficult summer. But it was time for a change, and I’m confident Julie will help the association step up a gear in terms of membership service levels, and membership growth.

“Julie will be doing her best to get to as many events as possible over the next few months, so if you meet her in person, or speak to her on the phone, I hope you’ll make her feel welcome as part of the association.”

To get in contact with Julie, email her at Julie@gcma.org.uk

ED U C AT E | I N FO RM | I N S P I RE

GCMA | INDUSTRY | CAREERS | EDUCATION | REGIONAL

‘My education has contributed to positive

CHANGE’

E

ducation and change are two topics that have been trending in the golf industry over the last few years.

Our industry has accepted that we need to change the way we educate and also that we need to educate those who can bring about the required change.

I have always tried to embrace both in my career but the demands on the modern club manager mean we have to do so much more than ever.

After a year in my role as general manager at Helensburgh Golf Club, I was relatively happy with my own performance, and that of the club as a business, but I realised I needed to do more with my own professional development if I was to improve and if the club was to get the best of me as a manager.

Back in 1997, I turned professional and embarked on the PGA training scheme, which was the industry standard and – indeed – the only route to becoming a club professional.

In late 2017 it struck me that here I was, 20 years later, in exactly the role I wanted – but without any formal qualifications to back up my practical experience.

Around that time an email arrived from the GCMA inviting applications for a professional development opportunity.

Sponsored by irrigation experts Rain Bird, it would enable the successful applicant to embark

14 | GCMA.ORG.UK

upon the ASQ Level 5 Diploma in Golf Club Management.

At this stage I had heard of the course but didn’t know it in any detail. After some investigation on the website, I was encouraged by the fact the GCMA had partnered with the PGA and BIGGA to design an in-depth, industry specific qualification tailored to the modern club manager. I applied as soon as the process opened.

The challenging, but enjoyable, process involved an online application followed by a trip to Birmingham to present my ideas to Bob Williams, Alistair Higgs, of Rain Bird, and Ellie Parry, of Forte Marketing.

Luckily for me, the presentation theme was ‘where golf will be in 10 years’. As the members of Helensburgh would testify, this is something I like to talk about a lot.

After an anxious wait, I was delighted to receive a call to congratulate me on being the first recipient of the GCMA/Rain Bird Professional Development Bursary.

Things began to move fairly quickly from that call and I found myself at the Induction day at The Belfry in April.

Sitting in the same room as I had on my PGA induction day 20 years previously was a strange feeling but, as I met the mix of current club managers, golf pros and

ED U C AT E | I N FO RM | I N S P I RE

Kevin McAleer was selected as the recipient of a professional bursary provided

by Rain Bird in partnership with the GCMA. In the first of a series of blogs, he outlines why he applied and what it’s meant for his career

those from outside the industry all together, I knew I had made the correct decision.

Having completed the induction day and the first workshop, I am absolutely convinced of the merits of the course. I always enjoy being surprised by something during any kind of education and this was the case on the module covering innovation.

Leigh, the tutor who delivered the module, isn’t from the golf industry and it was fascinating to hear a view of how golf clubs can innovate and grow from someone who is an expert on enterprise and development. Leigh’s speciality is small businesses and, for most golf

clubs, that is what we are.

I took a lot from the first workshop, including some of the suggestions made during the discussions with the others in attendance, and have no doubt that each workshop will also be a great platform for sharing ideas and experiences with my peers.

It’s now six months on from the induction day and my education has contributed to positive change at Helensburgh. We recently approved plans for an innovative new mixed-gender individual medal competition and have begun shaping our fixture list for 2019 to allow more access to members on Saturdays.

Education has also contributed to the next big change in my career. During a recent interview, the captain, who was leading the panel, said:“Tell us about this bursary you won and the Diploma course you are undertaking’.”

I think they liked the sound of it as a few days later I was lucky enough to be offered the chance to move to Cawder Golf Club to become their general manager.

Ironically, next up for me on the Diploma course is the module on Managing Change.

I think I might quite enjoy that one and look forward to sharing my insights with you in my next blog.

Kevin, pictured far left and in the centre of the right-hand picture

ED U C AT E | I N FO RM | I N S P I RE

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GCMA | INDUSTRY | CAREERS | EDUCATION | REGIONAL

Whatever happened to our...

AWARD WINNERS?

I

t’s the showpiece of the GCMA’s National Conference and a glittering evening that all who attend remember for years to come.

The 2017 Club Management Awards were no exception.

The fabulous surroundings of Mercedes-Benz World provided the backdrop and an evening of inspiring success stories were revealed as Amy Yeates won the coveted Manager of the Year Award, Gordon MacLeod was named Newcomer of the Year and Pyle & Kenfig claimed the Team of the Year Prize.

So what has the intervening 12 months held for our winners? We caught up with them to find out…

Manager of the Year – Amy Yeates Winning the GCMA’s showpiece award was the catalyst for an incredibly busy year for Amy Yeates.

Not only did it propel her onto the GCMA board, but it also proved the springboard for a new job.

We asked her to take a breather and reflect on her success…

It’s a year since you were named Manager of the Year. How do you look back on that evening?

It’s quite scary to think it was nearly 12 months ago.

It was all a bit of a shock when I got the award. I very much felt like I was the underdog.

The most important thing about winning was how many of the industry people that were really

16 | GCMA.ORG.UK

ED U C AT E | I N FO RM | I N S P I RE

It’s been 12 months since that inspiring night at Mercedes-Benz World. We look back to last year’s ceremony and ask the winners how it has affected their careers

ED U C AT E | I N FO RM | I N S P I RE

GCMA.ORG.UK | 17

GCMA | INDUSTRY | CAREERS | EDUCATION | REGIONAL

chuffed for me. That was really special.

I had a lot of congratulation cards and messages and it is quite heart-warming that, as an industry, we come together for these sorts of things.

It’s been a busy year. You have a new job, for starters…

I think winning the award really influenced that. It was certainly influential in getting the CEO position at Moor Park.

It was a big part of the cover letter for my application and it was good timing. I won in the November and the job came up the following March or April.

”The most important thing about winning was how many of the industry people that were really chuffed for me.”

18 | GCMA.ORG.UK

It was great to enjoy it up in Scotland and great to promote Scottish managers into getting involved with the GCMA. But the biggest change for me was that I got the job at Moor Park.

I don’t know whether it would have been the same outcome had I not won but it was nice, and a proud thing for me to be able to say in my interview, that I was coming as a board member and the current club manager of the year.

As you mentioned, you have joined the GCMA board…

That was great. There is something to be said about just applying and being a nominee for the award as opposed to winning it.

Just by applying and being nominated and going through the process, it’s great to raise your profile and gives you the opportunity to show to the GCMA and the selection committee what you do.

Whether I had won or not, I wouldn’t have been surprised if they had still asked me to come onto the board because they’d been

exposed to me and were excited about everything I was doing.

Are you enjoying your new role?

Moor Park is a fantastic club. It’s a big challenge and a big club. It’s not just a run of the mill traditional club.There are two championship courses and 13 or 14 tennis courts and a mansion that does an awful lot of weddings and celebration events.

It’s a big one to manage but it’s exciting. We’ve got a big team – about 85 people – and it certainly helps to have the GCMA’s resources as well.

So you would recommend members enter the Manager of the Year award this time around?

The process makes you really think inwardly. It makes you look at what you do and feel quite proud about what you’ve done.

If you do get through as a finalist, you go through another thoughtprovoking process where you feel like you have analysed what you do. That is a really good thing to go through.

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GCMA | INDUSTRY | CAREERS | EDUCATION | REGIONAL

You’ll get a lot of support from your club. It’s a tough job and sometimes you feel like you are constantly in defence mode but, when you approach your committees, bosses or general managers, I think you will be surprised how much your peers and club committees support you – because they are proud of what you do.

Newcomer of the Year – Gordon MacLeod Taking the prize for Newcomer of the Year has given Gordon MacLeod the confidence to succeed during a busy, and challenging, 12 months at Cambridgeshire club St Ives.

It’s also encouraged him to

20 | GCMA.ORG.UK

spread the GCMA’s message with a new member of staff, who may yet follow in his footsteps.

How have the last 12 months been?

Absolutely hectic. We have gone from strength to strength but this has been an exceptionally hard year – not least with the weather. We’ve moved from one of the most prolonged and wettest winters into one of the most prolonged warmest and driest summers. That created challenges, and not just from the golf course perspective, but from a membership, revenue and retail perspective.

How will winning the award

help you in the future?

I think the key thing is it has given me confidence that I could be on to something in terms of my approach and to try different things. We’ve tried FootGolf this year. We have embarked upon some potentially significant capital expenditure with redeveloping the clubhouse, redeveloping elements of the golf course and practice facilities.

My confidence has also given me a greater ability to see what’s going on in the wider golf market and try and translate that into what might happen here at St Ives.

Would you recommend other new managers putting their names forward?

Without any shadow of a doubt.

ED U C AT E | I N FO RM | I N S P I RE

”The key thing is it has given me confidence that I could be on to something and to try different things.”

Perhaps one of my biggest decisions this year, when we were looking at changing the retail model, was to set about recruiting an individual with the view that, in time, they would succeed me in this role.

Succession planning is key and I will be pushing our new golf operations manager down the GCMA route and the career

ED U C AT E | I N FO RM | I N S P I RE

professional development path sooner rather than later.

Team of the Year – Pyle & Kenfig Being named Team of the Year was vindication of the improvements that had been made at every level at Pyle & Kenfig over a significant period of time.

The team of secretary Simon Hopkin, professional Dylan Williams and head greenkeeper Paul Johnson, were winners after a period that had seen a massive new irrigation system installed at the Welsh course, as well as investing in junior golf and boosting renewal rates.

What difference did the GCMA’s recognition make to the team? We quizzed Hopkin to find out…

How did you look back on the evening when you were named Team of the Year?

It was 12 months of hard work being rewarded by your peers and your association. A lot of teamwork goes into it, you set out your aims and objectives with your business plan and your strategies of how you want to achieve and how you want to see the year. Seeing all that come to fruition was great.

It’s great internally when you are hitting all your goals and getting plaudits from the committee.

But it’s something else when it’s the GCMA and others recognising the achievements we’ve made here.

How have you pushed on since that night?

GCMA.ORG.UK | 21

GCMA | INDUSTRY | CAREERS | EDUCATION | REGIONAL

We maintained our renewal rate at 97.5% plus and we’ve actually got a waiting list for membership.

That’s a really strong marketing tool. People don’t want to leave because they can’t get back in and it’s very strong to have maximum membership.

We’ve based a lot on our other income streams and have pushed our four Dormy rooms and are promoting them very heavily on a stay and play basis.

The driving range and short course facilities have been boosted within the community and we’ve got a lot of local people coming to those.

We are continuing to develop the course and we are also involved with Wales Golf as a development centre.

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”Sometimes it’s a lonely business being a club manager... it’s a really well deserved pat on the back” Would you recommend other teams have a go at the Team of the Year award?

Absolutely. Sometimes it’s a lonely business being a club manager, a pro or a head greenkeeper.

You are in these little bubbles sometimes and, when you are exposed to the whole of the UK and get that recognition, it’s a really well deserved pat on the back.

It’s also a really good benchmark.

When you apply for these awards, you set your own standards for what you have achieved. You are looking back over the last 12 to 18 months in terms of how far you have come as a team.

That’s a good exercise – to review what you’ve done and to look into the future, see how you can build and how you can develop yourselves, your team and develop the golf club.

* The 2019 Club Management Awards will again be awarded at the GCMA National Conference in November. Details of the nomination and judging process will be announced in the New Year.

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In the

LOOP 1. Scottish Golf vote in favour of affiliation fee increase What’s happened: Affiliation fees will increase from £11.25 to £14.50 from January 2019 after a resolution was passed with a majority of 60.2% following the general meeting at the Stirling Court Hotel.

What does it mean? Raising the affiliation fee has caused Scottish Golf considerable heartache over the past 18 months or so, but the passing of the revolution will bring in increased revenue of around £500,000.

That cash has been ring-fenced to support the development of “key strategic priorities” and will also offset proposed cuts announced after the funding available to Scottish Golf decreased.

Andrew McKinlay, Scottish Golf chief executive, pictured, said:“I would like to thank the membership for voting in favour of a prosperous future for the game.

“I understand the subject of the affiliation fee has been a contentious one in recent years but I have been clear on the financial challenges the game

The news you need to know from the last month in the golf industry…

faces without the ability to invest in areas that will help facilitate long term growth.”

Eleanor Cannon, Scottish Golf, chair, added: ”We must now work together as one Scottish Golf family to make golf more accessible to younger members, to incorporate non-members into our offering, to support our clubs and to encourage our players to fulfil our potential.

“Those aims have been made all the more achievable in light of this outcome.”

2. CSI partners with England Golf for 2020 vision What happened: Club Systems International has been recognised as a ‘preferred partner’ of England Golf as the governing body looks to prepare small clubs for the introduction of the new World Handicap System in 2020.

What does it mean? The new partnership will see grants of more than £500 available to qualifying clubs that will allow them to buy a CSI 10” PSiTouch screen.

To qualify for a grant, interested

@GCMAUK Fantastic introduction day yesterday by @ThePGA & @ GCMAUK gave me an insight into what is to come throughout my Level 5 Diploma in Golf Club

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Management @TheBelfryHotel #golf #grow #learn @GolfbyJosh Congratulations

@RyderCupEurope on a fantastic victory!! And to @Paulianarmitage, @Reyes_golf and the rest of the team behind the scenes @ legolfnational! You’ve earned a

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We want to hear from you!

Send your correspondence, on any subject, to letters@gcma.org.uk

clubs will need to have fewer than 300 members, an annual revenue of less than £250,000 or will need to employ fewer than three fulltime staff.

Those who meet the criteria will qualify for a grant totalling either 25, 50 or 75% of the normal PSiTouch price of £695 plus vat.

Richard Peabody, CSI’s managing director, said:“Our financial support of World Handicapping in England will help smaller clubs introduce this cutting edge technology, in line with their larger counterparts.”

Gemma Hunter, England Golf’s handicap and course rating manager, added:“A major part of the WHS will involve players inputting their own scores and these grants will be of great benefit to clubs which are struggling to afford a touch screen.”

acquired their retail arms and where the company is continually looking to expand.

American Golf have 42 active retail partnerships with clubs, the first on-course store having been opened at Ashton-in-Makerfield.

Mike Ashley’s Sports Direct and JD Sports Fashion were among the interested parties interested in acquiring American Golf, which has a turnover of around £140 million, but the clinching deal was negotiated by Endless’ Manchester partner Tom Jack and investment director Richard Harrison.

Jack said:“We believe this is a business with fantastic potential and we’re delighted to be able to protect the employment of over 900 employees as a result of this acquisition.”

Welcome to our newest GCMA members Mark Allden, at Pine Ridge, in London & Home Counties Region Aude Bredel, at Bluegreen Saint-Aubin, in France Callum Cook, at The Springs, in Southern region David Evans, at Milford Haven, in Wales region Richard Fox, at Bearstead, in Maidstone Karl Hepple, at Matfen Hall, in Northern region David Hest, at Dean Wood, in North West region Robert Holland, at Torquay, in South West region Nick Horrocks, at Chippenham, in Wiltshire

3. Endless acquires American Golf What happened: The private equity investor has taken over American Golf, safeguarding the jobs of more than 900 employees.

What does it mean? This is good news for a number of golf clubs, where American Golf have

Carol Jones, at Lincoln, in East Midlands region Christopher Lovis, at Seaford, in East Sussex Jonathan Norton, at Hunley Hall Hotel & GC, in Saltburn-by-the-Sea Lauren Oleksik, at Astbury Nigel Pearce, at Sleaford, in East Midlands region

rest... #rydercup @GCMAUK Played Knole Park yesterday, loved it, course in great condition,

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wonderful wildlife on and great company GCMA SE vs London/ Home Counties @KnoleParkGC @GCMAUK @KentGolfUnion @AndrewSeale

Matthew Pearson, at Leeds Golf Centre, in Yorkshire region Daniel Retief, at Mardyke Valley Adele Would, at Lincoln, in East Midlands region

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The interview...

GARY PEARCE

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A former GCMA Manager of the Year, Gary Pearce was handed one of British golf’s plum jobs when appointed manager of Ganton in June. Steve Carroll asks him about the prestige, challenges and opportunities presented by steering one of the world’s great clubs…

Y

ou arrived at Ganton in June.

How have the first few months been?

It was always going to be interesting starting in the middle of a busy summer season.

I have had to play ‘catch up’ quickly, but now things are starting to quieten down I am starting to look at some longer term planning ready for 2019 and beyond.

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It’s a fairly busy club in peak season and, along with the normal demands that brings, we’ve had a new addition of Vardon Dormy House to get on track.

This was the greenkeepers’ property and has now been beautifully converted into Dormy accommodation for eight golfers, situated next to the practice area.

You had been general manager at Fulford for 13 years and were almost part of that club.

How difficult was it to leave?

It was a big decision to leave Fulford.

It’s a club and membership very close to my heart and I enjoyed all the time I spent there.

But not many times, in our profession, do you get the opportunity to secure a role at a leading club like Ganton.

The pull was strong and the fact I don’t have move to a new house was a big influence for me and my family - as we wished to remain living in York.

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GCMA | INDUSTRY | CAREERS | EDUCATION | REGIONAL If there was one club I would have considered moving to it would have always been Ganton Golf Club. It is very special.

It’s not just a top 100 in England course. It’s a top 100 in the world course…

Yes, this is a great club, and getting to understand the culture, and the golf course itself, has been interesting over the last few months.

In essence, every golf club is a business and runs similarly, but every club has its own quirks and different ways of operating.

Ganton is no different in that respect.

The golf course here is very special. There is no doubt.

I’ve only played it a couple of times since I started, but I have quickly come to realise that you need to pay it lots of respect.

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It’s not like a normal inland course. It’s very much a links course and influenced by the wind so you must play it as you would a traditional links.

The members are very passionate about making sure the course remains right up there as one of the best courses in the world, and it really deserves that accreditation.

There are slight differences in the culture.

Fulford has a very busy playing membership and the members make full use of the facilities.

The members at Ganton tend to live a little bit further away and they don’t visit the club quite as often.When they visit, they expect a really high quality service.

Interestingly, the weekends here seem fairly quiet whereas, conversely, at Fulford the weekends were the busiest times of the week.

Both clubs retain traditional members’ club values, but also recognise the importance of running an effective business.

Fulford and Ganton are both very traditional private members’ clubs but how do the two differ?

Have you had to alter your approach as a manager then to adapt to that slightly different culture?

“This is a great club, and getting to understand the culture... has been interesting”

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Not particularly. As I’ve said a golf club is a golf club, and I think that there should be an expectation of delivering quality service and hospitality wherever you work.

Getting to understand the values at Ganton, and understanding how Ganton should be portrayed to our audience and members, has been important.

When you interviewed for the job, what was your ambition for the club?

I was very pleased to meet a chairman and captain who understand the need to run an efficient golf operation using sound business principles.

The ambition for the club comes from the membership and the members of the Committee who represent them, and I will assist them to

develop a plan over the winter months.

Are the modern goals of business and traditional values easy bedfellows?

Ganton always feels to me like a haven of traditions that the members really want to uphold…

I am sure that Ganton will uphold its traditional values, this makes the club so special, but at the same time, we need to recognise that there are changes in the golfing world, and we need to stay ‘ahead of the game’.

We need to ensure that we remain attractive to members, along with our overseas and national visitors.

How do you do that? It sounds difficult to be modern yet

traditional at the same time…

I’m not sure it is that difficult.

People who come to Ganton want to have the experience of a traditional golf club.

Golfers visiting Ganton are usually members of traditional golf clubs themselves. Many of them have travelled long distances and they are looking for a memorable experience.

I think that we can deliver that expectation, along with professional hospitality.

The first few months were about settling in. How are you now planning to push the club forward?

We’ve got through the end of a busy season, and now it is all about planning for next year.

We are in the very early stages of putting together a business and marketing plan.

Ganton Ranked by Golf Digest as one of the top 100 courses in the world, a round at Ganton is an almost spiritual experience.

The club employed the legendary Harry Vardon and Ted Ray as professionals and have hosted the Ryder, Curtis and Walker Cups alongside a host of elite amateur and professional tournaments.

Golf’s finest architects have sculpted the course with Harry Colt and Dr Alister MacKenzie the principle craftsmen. They have left a layout that is renowned for its character, and difficulty, as well as its fearsome bunkering.

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Looking from an outside perspective, it appears that Ganton would have very few challenges.

You’d enjoy a lot of visitor revenue, you could open your membership as and how you wish and are oblivious to the challenges we’ve seen in that regard over the last decade.

Are there challenges for a club like Ganton?

Ganton is a mature club that has run with sound business principles for many years.

Our challenge is to make sure that Ganton remains a place that golfers want to visit and be part of, be that as a new member, a country member, or for a one-off visit.

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I’d imagine the membership process was by invitation, proposals and recommendations rather than advertising?

We do have a limit to our membership, and we invite our current members to propose appropriate candidates to join in the future.

By doing this we have a very friendly membership at the club and new members get to know others very quickly.

We also recognise that people move around the country with their jobs, and they may well be suitable candidates for membership of the club and we have a separate process for them to apply.

We have country members who live some distance away from the club and visit us on occasion through the year, and the new Dormy House will be attractive to them.

When I think of Ganton, I think about the Ryder Cup, Curtis Cup, Walker Cup and those great elite amateur and professional tournaments that have also been staged here.

You mentioned this earlier on, what do you have in mind?

We have plans going forward. We have an international match – England vs. France – coming up in a year or so and then the Brabazon Trophy following that.

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We are hoping to secure some future events for Ganton, and we are in discussions with various organisations to secure them.

What’s it like coming into a club like this every morning – steeped in the history of the game as it is?

It’s very special. It starts as soon as you turn off the A64 and come in the drive.

After three months here, it still has an impact on me when I drive in and come into the clubhouse.

Hopefully others feel the same when they visit Ganton.

I am a real golf history geek, and the link we have with Harry Vardon and Ted Ray is very special.

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We have an impressive list of past winners here at Ganton, the honours boards showing names like Olazabal, Faldo, Wolstenholme and Bonallack.

Hosting the Ryder Cup, Walker Cup and Curtis Cup is obviously an impressive stamp on Ganton’s CV. Did you really think too long before coming here?

I did. Fulford was very close to me and it’s a club steeped in history and great tournaments, and I remain very passionate about the club.

However, it’s not often an opportunity to work at a great venue like Ganton comes up, and after deliberation I made a

decision I am delighted with Leaving this year must have been difficult given the R&A Girls’ event that was staged earlier in the year. You also had the Carris Trophy (English Boys’ Under-18 Amateur Strokeplay) coming up, for which you had planned for so long…

I was sad to miss the Carris. It had been in the pipeline for a number of years.

I had worked with England Golf before, and I knew how they worked and that the Carris would be a great tournament.

I was sad to miss it and I did turn up on the last day to watch, rather than help out. The team

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GCMA | INDUSTRY | CAREERS | EDUCATION | REGIONAL there did a great job to deliver a successful event.

It was great to work with The R&A and that was my first experience of working with them for the British Girls’ event.

It was superb, and it was very well thought out and managed by them. One of the things that attracted me to Ganton is the opportunities to be involved in events like this in the future, as that’s something I enjoy.

You’re an active member of the GCMA, and a former GCMA Manager of the Year. How do you feel about the association at the moment in terms of personal development?

I think it is great the way it is structured. I think they are putting some good programmes together for new people coming into the industry, which is important.

I like the idea of a Young Managers’ Group to develop skills in some of the younger people in the industry and I would definitely be keen to support that. I’ve had the benefit of some of the training and the networking opportunities over the years and, hopefully, that has put me in good stead for where I am now.

Yorkshire is a strong region

too.There are a lot of clubs but a lot of people attend as well...

The way that Cameron Dawson (Yorkshire regional manager and 2018 national captain) has turned those meetings into business meetings is definitely a benefit going forward and members get more from those meetings.

Are you enjoying it?

Absolutely – 100%. There have been some long days, and a lot of hours to start with, but we are now getting to a stage where it’s starting to quieten down operationally and it’s all about planning and getting ready for next year.

Who is Gary Pearce?

Gary Pearce took a business studies and recreational management degree at Leeds Beckett University and began his golf management career as a graduate manager in golf and leisure at Marriott Dalmahoy in Edinburgh.

After a spell as general manager at Cottesmore Hotel Golf and Country Club, in East Sussex, he spent five years as director of golf at Marriott Hollins Hall.

In December 2005, he took on the role of general manager at Fulford and spent more than 12-and-a-half years there before being appointed as manager at Ganton in June.

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Are your Local Rules up to date?

There will be a complete change of wording for all local rules to correspond with the new rule changes as of January 1st.

IMMOVABLE OBSTRUCTIONS - NOW RULE 15 G.U.R - NOW RULE 16

PENALTY AREAS - NOW RULE 17 OUT OF BOUNDS - NOW RULE 18

Eagle will provide a service to help regarding your Local Rules t +44 (0)1883 344244 e info@eagle.uk.com www.eagle.uk.com

From saving the lives of patients to

RESCUING A CLUB Neil and Trudi Reeves saved Marsden Park from closure with little idea of what they were taking on. But, as Steve Carroll found out, the couple are starting a golfing revolution in their little corner of Lancashire‌

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T

rudi Reeves has dedicated a career to saving lives. But her most difficult patient is not a person. It’s a golf club.

By any sensible measure, how she spends her weeks is madness. Three days, she’s a nurse – a diabetes specialist for a health charity.

Almost every other waking hour is spent trying to salvage half a century of history at Marsden Park.

The sword had been hanging over the Lancashire club for years before Pendle Leisure Trust finally pulled the plug.

It probably should have become a statistic – just another of those clubs forced into closure by changing times and the need to cut costs.

Emotions, though, tie stronger than money.

And for Trudi’s husband Neil, the feelings for this corner of Nelson run deep.

Marsden Park is where he learned to play golf – his childhood home found on the edge of the course.

It was his first job too, before his vocation as a PGA professional took him to Yorkshire and decades spent teaching everyone from beginners to European Tour pros.

Neil had been the final throw of the dice for the Trust – having been tempted back to rescue the club’s fortunes.

A lot was expected but the transformation wasn’t immediate, and the towel came in.

Suddenly, the Reeves were Marsden Park’s only hope. They put a proposition to the council to take over the lease.

“We didn’t really need to take it on, but when we knew it was going to close, I thought we might be able to help them out and keep it open,” he says.

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“It has been the lifeblood for a lot of golf in our area. A lot of professional friends have come from Marsden Park.

“A lot of members at other clubs near the area have started at Marsden Park.

“We are not under any illusions.

We are still a feeder club for others but we just want to get people playing golf.

“That’s what we are about – getting new people who’ve never played, playing golf.”

The takeover was due to start on

April 1, 2017 and, in hindsight, the lead up to that first week was a portent to what was to come.

“We had 10 days’ turnaround time,” remembers Trudi.“We needed to do a refurbishment of the clubhouse, the kitchen – everything.

“We needed to employ staff. We needed to install systems.

“They didn’t have any club systems in there. We had to totally rebuild the bar and the kitchen in that 10 days.”

Neil’s there seven-days-a-week

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chasm in membership that fissures whenever golfers whiff the scent of uncertainty.

They’ve also done it without a committee, a decision that didn’t please everyone, and have had to hold their nerve in the face of the criticism that brought.

But the venture has now become their lives and the challenges were only starting when they got the keys, as Trudi now knows only too well.

“The ups are great. The downs are dreadful. We started in the worst year for 25 years weather-wise.

“Everybody does everything.

Nobody is too proud to roll up their sleeves and do stuff.”

now – “and then some. It’s from opening to closing”.When Trudi’s not in her ‘proper job’, she’s sorting out the paperwork and keeping the wheels moving in the office.

“I had absolutely no experience of running a golf club,” she admits.

“I have run teams and have worked for the National Diabetes team and I’ve been improvement lead for a national team so I thought the principles were very similar. Improvement is improvement.

“It doesn’t matter what the

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content is. You can learn the content. But I didn’t appreciate how much content there was.

“I’m still learning and I will continue to learn because it has been massive in terms of complexity – in breadth and depth – and with a massive amount to take in.

“We had no run-in time. We just had to hit the ground running.”

It’s been a huge job. They rebranded as Reevolution Golf to try and appeal to a younger audience while repairing the

“We were under water most of last year and there were all the trials and tribulations that presents – both financially and in terms of trying to improve the course.

“That wasn’t a really good platform for us to build on and this year, although it has been super, we’ve been as dry as a bone.

“We had to buy bowsers in. The greenkeepers were out until 2am watering the greens to save them.

“We’ve no irrigation system. But do you know what? The fantastic thing about our club is, and I can’t emphasise this enough, that I know we are family and this is a family club.

“So the greenkeepers come in at two in the morning to water the greens. They work behind the bar and they will come in on an evening.

“We do events and they will come and work behind the bar.

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The bar manager is also a singer, so he sings at those events.

“Everybody does everything.

Nobody is too proud to roll their sleeves up and do stuff. Everyone pitches in.”

And something remarkable is starting to happen. Younger members have flocked to the club, attracted by its no-nonsense, no snobbery, reputation.

There’s no segregation at Reevolution Golf. Players tee it up together – regardless of sex or age.

There aren’t many rules and regulations, either, and that message, as well as a warm welcome, is hitting home.

There are about 180 members now, and the Reeves have set themselves the ambitious target of building that up to 300 in the next three years.

It’s welcome progress given

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the turmoil that has sometimes threatened to engulf the couple in the unforgiving world of golf club ownership.

Even so, life today is still by no means plain sailing.

“I don’t think we’ve got through the hard bit yet,” says Trudi.“I think we are still trudging our way through that. Realistically, it will take two or three years.

“It was a massive thing to do and if I knew then what I know now would I have still done it?

“Absolutely not. I must have been crazy to do it. Would I turn back now? No. Has it been worth it? Yes. “We’ve got some great members and we have got a fantastic team.

They keep you going. They have never let us down and they are all young and good fun.

“We are all in it together and it’s enjoyable being there.”

Who are Trudi and Neil Reeves?

Trudi and Neil Reeves are the directors of Reevolution Golf.

Neil is a Class AA PGA Professional with more than 25 years’ experience and has taught golfers ranging from beginners to European Tour stars. GCMA member Trudi also works in the health industry on top of dealing with the club’s administration.

Reevolution Golf is the brand name for Marsden Park Golf Club, which the pair saved at the 11th hour from closure.

They took the opportunity to try and bring a new family feel to the club, as well as overseeing dramatic improvements to the facilities most notably in the bistro/bar area.

To learn more, visit marsdenparkgolfclub.com

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EDUCATE EXHIBIT EVOLVE BTME 2019 | 22‑24 January 2019 Harrogate Convention Centre | btme.org.uk

The turf industry is rapidly changing. Autonomous machinery, pioneering grass species and state of the art turf health products are redeďŹ ning how turf professionals achieve their goals.

BTME, too, is evolving, and 2019 will see the exhibition expand into alternative facilities in the Harrogate Convention Centre providing visitors with an enhanced BTME experience.

GCMA RECRUITMENT

FOR MORE DETAILS ABOUT THE VACANCIES BELOW, VISIT GCMA.ORG.UK/JOBS

BRICKENDON GRANGE GC ::: GENERAL MANAGER

Brickendon Grange Golf Club is an 18-hole, private members’ golf club situated in 160 acres of beautiful parkland in rural Hertfordshire.

The Management Committee are seeking to appoint a forward thinking manager who will be able to take advantage of the refurbishment work to enhance membership and encourage further revenue streams with outside events.

To apply for this permanent position, please email your CV with a covering letter marked Private & Confidential to the Chairman, james@bggc.org.uk Region: Chilterns and Home Counties | Apply by: 12 November 2018 | Salary: Competitive

BROMBOROUGH GC ::: GENERAL MANAGER

HALLOWES GC ::: GENERAL MANAGER

The General Manager will be responsible for all aspects of the club, including its day-to-day activities and the relationships between the club and its members, Management Committee, guests, employees, contractors, community, local government, national government and industry. To apply, please email a covering letter to: andyleadbetter2000@yahoo.co.uk. Feel free to call the current General Manager for for more information.

Region: Wirral Apply by: 30 November 2018 Salary: £25k-30k

Hallowes Golf Club, founded in 1892, is a very pleasant hilltop parkland course situated halfway between Sheffield and Chesterfield.

We are looking for an experienced, ambitious, energetic and progressive General Manager who will be responsible for the overall running of the club.

Applications, including a covering letter and CV, to: secretary@hallowesgolfclub.co.uk. Interviews to take place w/c 26 November.

Region: Yorkshire Apply by: 16 November 2018 Salary: Competitive

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GCMA RECRUITMENT

EAST DEVON GC ::: GENERAL MANAGER

Established in 1902, East Devon Golf Club is a traditional yet forward-looking members club. At the western end of the World Heritage Jurassic Coast and in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty the Harry Colt course enjoys spectacular scenery and commands some of the best views in golf.

The club is seeking to appoint an experienced golf club secretary/general manager to work closely with the Board in implementing the club’s progressive business plan.

To apply, please email a written application including a CV and details of your current remuneration package to: Chairman@edgc.co.uk Region: South West | Apply by: 21 December 2018 | Salary: Competitive

KNEBWORTH GC ::: GENERAL MANAGER

Knebworth Golf Club is situated between Welwyn Garden City and Stevenage in the rolling Hertfordshire country side and is easily accessible from the M1, A1M and centre of London.

We are now looking for an experienced and enthusiastic General Manager to join and lead our team. The successful candidate is likely to have proven experience in a similar role and is able to demonstrate achievement in a golf/sport/leisure business.

To apply, please email and include a current CV to the Club Chairman, Tim Smart, timsmart70@ hotmail.com Region: Chilterns and Home Counties | Apply by: 16 November 2018 | Salary: Competitive

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GCMA RECRUITMENT

FOR MORE DETAILS ABOUT THE VACANCIES BELOW, VISIT GCMA.ORG.UK/JOBS

MOUNT PLEASANT GC ::: GENERAL MANAGER

Mount Pleasant is a golf club and restaurant based in Lower Stondon, Bedfordshire. For more than 25 years, our friendly, welcoming club has hosted golfers of all skill levels.

We are looking for an exceptional leader who will lead the staff to deliver a ‘one team philosophy’ and provide a high level of service to members, guests and visitors. The successful candidate will have experience as a General Manager, with a track record of success.

To apply for this permanent position, please email your CV with a covering letter in confidence to: Tara Simkins, tarasimkins@mountpleasantgolfclub.co.uk Region: Bedfordshire | Apply by: 15 November 2018 | Salary: Competitive

SHERWOOD FOREST GC ::: GENERAL MANAGER

WETHERBY GC ::: GENERAL MANAGER

Sherwood Forest is a private members’ club with a reputation for an outstanding golf course and in particular some of the best greens that are to be found anywhere in the country. The successful candidate will possess a proven track record of success either in golf club management or a similar sector. To apply, please email a CV and covering letter to: chairman@ sherwoodforestgolfclub.co.uk

Wetherby Golf Club is a progressive private members’ club which continues to invest in both maintaining and improving the quality of its parkland course. We are seeking a General Manager to help us to continue to adapt and change. To apply, please email a CV and covering letter to: Mrs Ann G Kelly, Chairman of General Committee, Wetherby Golf Club Ltd, Linton Lane, Wetherby, LS22 4JF.

Region: East Midlands Apply by: 16 November 2018 Salary: Competitive

Region: Yorkshire Apply by: 30 November 2018 Salary: In line with industry standards

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Good

PRACTICE Advice on golf club management issues – from finance to clubhouse rules and employment law to staff morale – from our panel of experts

GCMA | INDUSTRY | CAREERS | EDUCATION | REGIONAL

How golf could help tackle the public

HEALTH CRISIS

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The Golf and Health project has been gaining momentum and, last month in London, the benefits of the sport were outlined to an international audience

E

ven by the hyperbole of this social media age, the figures were startling.

Playing golf, a major study found two years ago, could increase life expectancy by five years and help prevent 40 chronic diseases, including diabetes and colon cancer. The research team, led by Dr Andrew Murray, looked at 5,000 studies into the sport and wellbeing and these were among the first shots fired in the global Golf and Health project.

Last month, a major landmark for that project – which has the support of the World Golf Foundation and The R&A – was reached when a global consensus among leaders in public health, policy and sport backed golf in the race to tackle physical inactivity and the prevention of disease.

Evidence was presented at the 7th Congress of the International Society for Physical Activity and Health.

The biennial meeting is the world’s flagship physical activity and public health event and was attended by more than 1,000 people from over 60 countries.

A satellite event, the First International Congress on Golf and Health, saw the GCMA and other interested bodies hear how golf is associated with a range of physical and mental health benefits and that new studies are under way to discover if playing golf improves strength and balance and can help combat conditions such as

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dementia and Parkinson’s Disease.

It comes only a few months after the World Health Organization published its Global Action Plan for Physical Activity.

That plan aims to target the one in four adults, and 80 per cent of adolescents, deemed to be insufficiently active. It wants countries to reduce physical inactivity in those two groups by 15% by 2030.

With golf now classed as a moderately intense form of physical exercise, it’s an activity that stakeholders think has huge potential in helping to improve public health.

We caught up with some of the key people at the conference to gauge their views on how the project has gone so far...

HOW PLAYING GOLF CAN MAKE YOU HEALTHIER Play regularly – Aim to play golf, or other physical activities, at least 150 minutes per week Warm up – Do some aerobic exercise, stretching/mobility exercises, then practice swings to maximise performance and minimise injury risk Walk the course – Walk the course as opposed to riding a golf cart, if able Protect your skin – Using sunscreen and appropriate clothing (such as a collared shirt and cap). Avoid excessive exposure to direct sunlight.

Fit for golf – Appropriate strength and conditioning exercises can decrease injury and illness risk and improve performance.

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THE RESEARCHER Dr Andrew Murray’s groundbreaking PhD has been producing startling headlines on how golf is good for your health.

The European Tour’s chief medical officer says the Golf and Health project is using science to prove common sense principles

THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE Martin Slumbers, chief executive of The R&A, says health is a key part of the governing body’s message to modernise the game

I fully expected the science to prove common sense – that golf is good for health.

I worked for years as the Scottish Government’s physical activity champion and worked in public health promoting physical activity.

We know it’s one of the best things you can do.

It’s one of the best presents you can give your children.

Physical activity research has shown better marks at school, better physical health, better mental health and longer life for your children.

So it is something we can give to our children, but why don’t we get it for ourselves as well?

Physical activity has such a huge range of benefits – 30% off early death, 30 to 40% off heart attacks, strokes and some types of cancers, such as breast, and decreased

depression and decreased rates of dementia and anxiety.

There are a range of other body and pain benefits we can (also) ascribe.

The evidence we have shows we can confidently say that golf, vis-àvis physical activity, can provide a range of benefits.

It’s science proving common sense.

It’s using good regular scientific methods to show what we know and also work out what we don’t know.

So the bottom line is this: Golf is definitely a health enhancing physical activity.

It can have a range of physical and mental health benefits and I’d urge people to get active.

Take some form of physical activity and golf is definitely a great form of that.

We are very keen to get the whole game to modernise and be relevant to today’s society. Within that, health is a key part.

We wanted to commission research to see if there was a real correlation between health and playing golf.

I’m so pleased we have got to this point and that it is being recognised. We are getting tremendous support from the all-party Parliamentary Group on golf, we are getting tremendous support from the Tour and to have Annika Sorenstam here promoting it gives it a completely different dimension for our game.

benefits to playing the game…

Absolutely. It is a sport that’s now classified as moderately intensive, which is the important categorisation.

We’re living in a society that’s more overweight and is causing issues to the medical professional.

Loneliness is causing issues to the medical profession.

One of the really interesting bits, which we have only just started to work on, is about strength and balance.

GCMA: There is still a barrier to overcome to change the perception that golf is not an athletic activity. This project has shown there are marked

46 | GCMA.ORG.UK

GCMA: There’s some real momentum behind this project now…

The R&A will continue to support this, and will continue to invest in it, because we think it’s a product that golfers and golf clubs, and golf administrators, need to grow the game.

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THE GOLFER Annika Sorenstam, arguably the greatest women’s player ever, is a global ambassador for golf and health. She says bodies must work together to make golf more accessible and achieve the sport’s full potential

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I was introduced to the concept through the World Golf Foundation.

They reached out and, for me, it was pretty much a given – with the golf aspect and the health aspect as well.

I have always cared about health and being active and that’s the message we get through with our foundation and with our tournaments.

I’m a big believer in growing the game and the health aspect has not really been addressed.

We always think walking and moving is a good thing but now it is more evidence based and there are more statistics and numbers to show the exact benefits.

So they approached me and I said I’d help out as much as I can because we can all work together to make the game bigger and

better and spread the message.

GCMA: The strides this current research is making is impressive in some of the things that it is revealing…

They have evidence and research backing that up so I think it is really important.

It will open the eyes of some people who have never played.

When you get up there in age, maybe you are a bit limited to other sports and maybe this a sport where you can get some of these benefits.

In addition to having fun and being outdoors, it adds a lot to your quality of life.

For more information on the Golf and Health project, visit golfandhealth.org

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GCMA | INDUSTRY | CAREERS | EDUCATION | REGIONAL

In conversation with...

KEVIN BARKER

W

hat has been The R&A’s role in promoting the Golf and Health project?

We have been involved in the Golf and Health project for three years now after our Golf Development Committee agreed that the health benefits of playing the sport was an area worth researching. We want to encourage more people of all ages and abilities to play golf and golf has probably undersold the health benefits that can be gained from participation.

We believe that this is a research area which has worldwide considerations and so we took a proposal to the World Golf Foundation (WGF), which is based in Florida. The R&A is one of the board members.

The WGF decided to invest funds into exploring the health benefits of golf in two areas.

The first is a PhD by Dr Andrew Murray, who is now the Chief Medical Officer for the European Tour and is attached to the University of Edinburgh. Dr Murray’s PhD has been going now for three years and, in that time, he has published seven papers relating to golf and health. That’s quite prolific for a PhD. The WGF also put some money into a project board, principally managed by Dr Roger Hawkes, who was until recently the Chief Medical Officer on the European Tour but now fulfils the role of

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Chief Medical Advisor. Roger has been instrumental in coordinating the project and has been acting as a catalyst for various pieces of research around the world.

The other area that The R&A is directly and separately involved in is the funding of additional research into the potential strength and balance benefits of playing golf with the University of Southern California and the University of Southampton.

Is The R&A’s role about funding that research and communicating the benefits of golf to the wider public?

That’s probably fair to say. We want more people to play golf and we can communicate the health benefits of the sport to existing and new golfers.

It might also make it attractive to non-golfers while hopefully alerting decision makers, governments, health care providers and sports bodies to the advantages of promoting participation in the sport.

With particular regard to governments, we all know how much money they are putting into healthcare provision. If we can show that golf has health benefits then perhaps they will look at the potential for golf to bring about positive change in the future.

It’s a project then about changing perceptions among people who don’t play golf?

We know golf is not like tennis

or football. It’s not high impact, intensity or high aerobic exercise.

But it’s still an excellent form of exercise for people of all ages and the scoping work that Dr Murray has done, along with others, show there are many benefits to golf, mental and physical. That’s what we are hoping to highlight.

Did the results of that research surprise everyone? We know that golf has health benefits but the headline – that it could put five years on your life – is quite a compelling reason to start?

One of the key findings from the research so far has been an acknowledgement that golf

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The Golf and Health project is being supported by The R&A. Kevin Barker, The R&A’s Golf Development director, tells Steve Carroll all about their involvement That’s what we are hoping to do with a lot of the research, and certainly the strength and balance research, which seems to suggest that the unique motion of twisting and striking a ball may have particular strength and balance benefits.

As you get older, a lot of people fall, suffer a lot of fractures and it can cost the NHS a lot of money.

If we can show that golf makes you stronger, makes your bones stronger and that you are less likely to fall – and therefore less likely to have a fracture, and less likely to need the NHS – then politicians will look to listen to that.

is a moderate form of physical intensity exercise. That might not sound like much but governments around the world are encouraging people to be physically active because of increasing obesity, diabetes, heart disease, and so on, and the associated increasing health care bills.

The cheapest form of physical activity is walking but also look at this country and the big uptake in cycling and initiatives like parkrun.

If we can put golf at the forefront of people’s minds, and those in government, and get them to acknowledge that golf is a moderate form of physical intensity exercise – and that it is a

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physical activity that they should promote and recommend – then that has got to a good thing for our sport.

The Golf & Health project has had quite a lot of support from wider bodies – Parliament to name just one…

We have an increasingly aging population. If you can stay healthier for longer then you are not taking as much out of the NHS and that’s a big saving.

If golf can help the Government save money then politicians will want to listen to that. But you need to provide them with the evidence that golf can do that.

How is the project going to develop in the future?

There is a lot of research ongoing by various people around the world. The main thing is to communicate the benefits of golf to golfers, to governments and people involved in physical activity, along with doctors and physiotherapists around the world, to try and change their perceptions.

Who is Kevin Barker?

Kevin Barker spent 16 years in The R&A’s Rules department before joining the development team.

A former lawyer, and graduate of Glasgow University, he had previously refereed at some of the game’s most prestigious events – including The Open, PGA Championship and The Players.

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ADVERTORIAL FEATURE

Will your retirement plans withstand

BREXIT FEARS?

W

hile markets have remained resilient following the initial shock of the Brexit vote, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has cautioned that the impact of the decision to exit the European Union has continued to weigh heavily on the wider economy.

“The employment rate has remained around record highs, but the sharp depreciation of sterling following the referendum pushed up consumer price inflation, squeezing household real income and consumption,” it said, having downgraded its growth forecasts for the UK earlier last year.

The IMF’s report comes after the Bank of England (BoE) warned that

Brexit was having a “noticeable impact” on the economic outlook and that the UK’s split from the European Union will probably hamper productivity and slow growth.

Further to this,“Market contacts suggest that sterling has remained sensitive to shifts in perceptions of the UK’s future trading relationships following Brexit and their implications for the economy,” the BoE noted in its August Inflation Report.

Amid this uncertainty, there are concerns about what knock-on effects an economic downturn could have on savers’ retirement strategies.

Inflation above target For the rest of 2018, inflation is

expected to stay above the 2% target*, implying further pressure on incomes and consumption.

However, these projections assume continued progress in Brexit negotiations. A breakdown in talks would inevitably be a major impediment to the pound’s recovery, potentially creating a cost of living crisis.

There are fears that Brexitrelated inflationary pressures and stagnating wages could deter workers from staying in their workplace pension scheme.

Automatic enrolment has been a real success in helping workers save for retirement, but there is a risk that progress could be significantly undermined.

“You’d have more and more

The Partner Practice represents only St. James’s Place Wealth Management plc (which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct on the Group’s website sjp.co.uk/about-st-james-place/our-business/our-products-and-services. The ‘St. James’s Place Partnership’ and the 2 | GCMA.ORG.UK

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With the full force of Brexit yet to be felt, those who are saving for retirement need to be wary of the potential impact on their plans

employees who’d be saying, ‘Can we really afford to opt in, when there’s a spike on the impact of how much we’re taking home, and our expenses?’,” says Gina Miller, the pro-EU campaigner.

Experts also fear that an economic decline could put pressure on the pension system generally, as lower incomes and redundancies brought about by Brexit lead savers to make greater use of their pension freedoms.

People who lose their jobs before retirement age, and are without substantial cash reserves, might be tempted to draw more from their retirement pots or access their savings earlier than anticipated. If they draw down too rapidly on their pension assets, they risk running out of money in their 70s and 80s.

Expect uncertainty Against that uncertain backdrop, pension savers need to take a long-term approach.

It’s still too early to say whether Brexit will be good, bad or indifferent for the UK economy.

However, a detrimental economic impact is likely to lead to policymakers keeping interest rates lower for longer.

This will mean lower annuity rates, making a fixed income less attractive; and bigger company deficits, which could eventually impact on the ability of some final salary schemes to meet future pension payments. It’s therefore vital that individuals review their retirement plans frequently with their financial adviser.

The best investment strategy for

pension savers is to diversify their portfolio as widely as possible, to provide the best counter to the threats of short-term volatility, currency fluctuations and inflation.

With the right asset allocation, you can help manage risk in the long term and bring your retirement plans to fruition, regardless of political factors. *mtradingeconomics.com/unitedkingdom/forecast To receive a complimentary guide covering wealth management, retirement planning or Inheritance Tax planning, contact Fortress Wealth Partnership on 020 7744 4410 or email henry.irwin@sjpp.co.uk

Authority) for the purpose of advising solely on the Group’s wealth management products and services, more details of which are set out titles ‘Partner’ and ‘Partner Practice’ are marketing terms used to describe St. James’s Place representatives.

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GCMA.ORG.UK | 3

ADVERTORIAL FEATURE

The course flow and on-course

GAME CHANGER Improve your member satisfaction with Tagmarshal’s innovative software

W

ith members and guests visiting a golf course for the primary reason of enjoying an exceptional on-course experience, more and more clubs are creating points of difference and continually evolving to remain relevant and keep up with the significant demand for the game.

But there is any number of factors that go into creating, and repeating, a memorable round of golf. Some of those are beyond the control of the club’s management; and while inclement weather,

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or a member’s errant driver, are elements that a course can effectively prepare for, they are ultimately things that staff cannot be held accountable for.

From the moment the member arrives at the car park, though, right through until they’ve settled their tab at the clubhouse restaurant or bar, the opportunity exists to create unforgettable playing experiences, while ensuring the value of time the member or guest is devoting to the round remains a top priority.

Unfortunately, many membership-based golf courses lack the tools to appropriately react

to real-time on-course challenges.

Without the right oversight and information at their fingertips, on-course staff are immediately on the back foot, placing them under pressure to provide support and address challenges.

The risk of these inconsistent experiences is often due to slow, frustrating play, hold-ups or bottlenecks, which all negatively affect the on-course enjoyment and, ultimately, have an immediate effect on the time members and guests can spend in revenuegenerating outlets, such as the restaurant and pro shop.

With 74% of golfers listing field

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flow and pace of play as crucial to the enjoyment of their round, forward-thinking courses are now turning to golf course intelligence software and field flow technology to empower management to provide better value to members and guests with data-driven tools.

Improve the member experience This innovative technology allows course staff to prioritise the members’ needs through consistent on-course field flow, an excellent pace of play, and the ability to anticipate and adapt quickly to any changes that may affect efficient course management.

Tagmarshal’s intelligent golf course management software, and the smarter, self-service capabilities it provides, also creates effective and frequent communication lines between staff and members and guests on the course. By analysing this intuitive data and analytics, it allows management and staff to uncover potential problem holes, setups or course features, which can be adjusted to continuously enhance the oncourse experience.

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THE TECHNOLOGY APPLIES ALGORITHMS THAT ARE BASED ON FINDINGS AND TRENDS FROM 900 MILLION DATA POINTS TRACKED ACROSS THE MORE THAN 200 COURSES PARTNERED WITH THE COMPANY The Country Club at Castle Pines, situated in Colorado, for example, pays testament to this. Achieving acceptable field flow at the time of implementing Tagmarshal, this premier private country club was looking for a way to further enhance the playing experience on the course, while optimising operational efficiencies and reducing expenses.

Three months into the peak season the club had recorded resounding results with groups playing on pace increasing from 52% to over 70%, and over 90% of groups consistently finishing within 10 minutes of goal time, even though volume increased more than 500%.

“While the field flow on our course was never bad, we required a smarter, efficient, more streamlined way of managing the

on-course experience and flow on the course,” says Andrew Hedrick, PGA Head Professional at The Country Club at Castle Pines.“We stand for an exceptional playing experience and with the course getting very busy in peak season and being tough to manage due to terrain and vegetation, we wanted to find a solution that gave us oversight, actionable data, and an intuitive system to actively pursue a better flow and pace, while improving operational efficiencies and saving costs.”

Attract a younger membership while being relevant to current members In many cases, a positive culture around pace and the on-course experience has resulted in attracting large groups of new members per season, which in revenue terms is a boost to the club’s success. Courses that have a reputation for finishing rounds in a respectable time, by maintaining a consistent field flow and pace of play, find new member recruitment far easier especially when it comes to time budget sensitive younger members.

GCMA.ORG.UK | 53

ADVERTORIAL FEATURE

According to Stephen Knoop, Managing Director of Tagmarshal UK & Ireland:“A course should treat field flow and pace of play as an asset and a key member experience factor. Ensuring positive pace of play and course flow leads to improved golfer satisfaction and happy members who will act as advocates for member recruitment and retention, thus boosting the course’s reputation.”

caddies can be closely watched, and management can monitor the accuracy of their starters to ensure gaps between groups are regular, alleviating problems further along.

In contrast, marshals who are forced to intervene know exactly who is in each group before meeting them, and they have the tools at their disposal to ensure consistent and quality channels of communication.

“I cannot imagine operating without Tagmarshal next season,” says Colin Sinclair, Head Professional at Carnoustie Golf Links.“The system has proved to be invaluable. It has enabled us to make savings, improve service delivery, improve pace of play and enhance the whole golfing experience at Carnoustie”.

With knowledgeable staff, who have been empowered to best

Geared with these intuitive tools, courses are also able to maximise tee time management, efficiently utilising tee sheet assignments to manage the field. As the speed of play requirements change throughout the day, in accordance with the course’s peak and low times, realtime data provides the information necessary to be proactive.

use the intuitive information the golf course intelligence software provides, courses open up a number of opportunities to streamline and improve their operations.

These real-time, data-driven tools also incentivise course staff to strive for operational excellence.

With staff empowered with actionable data on the go, and management able to monitor operations throughout the round, the quality of the members’ experience can be managed from start to finish.

About Tagmarshal Tagmarshal is a golf course intelligence and pace-of-play management solution that turns pace into an asset. The system uses small ‘tags’ clipped onto golf bags or installed on carts which transmit geolocation data. Algorithms identify risk groups with accurate, objective support to alleviate pace challenges before they arise. Courses realise substantial returns on investments through improved on-course experiences achieved with less staff as well as increases in daily rounds

With a focus on return on investment, streamline operations and reduced costs As this technology begins to play a more prominent role in the running of the modern-day course, striking a balance between minimising costs, maximising revenue and maintaining a quality playing experience becomes something management have greater control over.

At its most simplistic, Tagmarshal is about controlling the field flow on the course through the utilisation of a golf cart GPS system and other data-driven tools, but the opportunities the golf course intelligence and field flow technology provides far exceed that.

Consistently tardy players and

54 | GCMA.ORG.UK

Provide value that exceeds expectations By using golf course intelligence and field flow technology, courses can better align their offering with the expectation of their members and guests. Achieving consistency on this front will always result in a more satisfied customer, and ultimately a better bottom line for the course.

For more information, contact Stephen Knoop, Managing Director, Tagmarshal UK & Ireland, stephen.knoop@tagmarshal.com

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ED U C AT E | I N FO RM | I N S P I RE

From the

REGIONS MIDLAND Midland Bowl 2018, Monday, September 17 Little Aston The second annual Midland Bowl was held at Little Aston with organisers keen to match, if not to surpass, the quality of the inaugural event last year.

Ten teams of four contested and came from Yorkshire, London and Home Counties, East Midlands as well as the association’s National Past Captains.

The mild autumn weather and the ambience of the clubhouse ensured there were many smiling faces that sat down for dinner that evening and support for the event continues to grow – although there is room for more.

The winners were the home team of Tom Duke, Iain Burns, Tony Norcott and Bob Fletcher, with 85 points, while the past captains’ team of Clive Hadley, John Dinsdale, JR Nicholson and Howard Williams were edged out by a single point.

NORTH WEST Autumn meeting, Tuesday, October 2 Fairhaven The region welcomed GCMA chief executive Bob Williams, who provided a summary of the association’s membership and finances, the board changes and those of head office personnel.

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He also provided information on personal and professional development opportunities, the Women’s Golf Leadership Group, The Golf Course 2030 Industry Roadmap and The R&A’s Greenkeeping Scholarship Programme.

Mike Smith, a director of Stockchek and Stocktake UK, gave a presentation on how profitability could be enhanced, costs could be kept down, margins maintained and wastage and loss reduced through good stock control.

He stressed that good stock control can sometimes be the difference between reporting a profit instead of a loss for many clubs’ food and beverage operations.

Outlining the level of service a club should expect from their stocktaker, he also provided an indication of the type of advice that a good stocktaker should be offering and providing to clubs.

The day’s final presentation was provided by Trevor Glover, a GCMA and North West region member.

He has recently taken on an ambassadorial role within The Golf Management Group after retiring from his position at Chesterfield Golf Club.

Members welcomed the news that ‘one of their own’ was now available to assist them in finding ways they could potentially achieve savings on the various products and services available to them through GMG.

Regional Managers Full details at gcma.org.uk/ regions Chiltern & Home Counties

David Cook East Anglia

Gary Smith East Midlands

Rod Savage London & Home Counties

Maureen Brooker Midland

Rob Wormstone Norfolk

John Barnard North West

Neil Annandale Northern

Terry Minett Northern Ireland

Jim Cullen Scotland

Bernard Flockhart South East

John Edgington South West

Karen Drake Southern

Paul Gaylor Wales

Mike Rees Wessex

Alex Taylor Yorkshire

Cameron Dawson

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GCMA | INDUSTRY | CAREERS | EDUCATION | REGIONAL

Meet the

MANAGER

Sponsor of the 2017 GCMA Manager of the Year award

With Chris Hanks, golf operations manager at Castle Royle, in Berkshire

Castle Royle

H

ow did you get into golf club management?

As a kid I didn’t really play golf. My dad used to drive me round the country because I used to play quite a bit of competitive rugby and cricket. My mum wanted us to do something together so I got into golf quite late – at the age of 16. When I was going to university I was really

58 | GCMA.ORG.UK

undecided about what I wanted to do and I found a course in golf and leisure management. That just ticked every box for me.

I then did a work placement at The Oxfordshire and I was very fortunate that they offered me a job as soon as I finished university.

It has just gone from there.

I have been at Castle Royle for approaching eight years, having been at The Oxfordshire for knocking on 10 years.

What do you like most about your role?

It’s the hands on, day-to-day experience with the members.

I get a massive kick out of them having an enjoyable experience at the club so I just thrive on any positive feedback that comes back to us from them.

If you could change one thing about it, what would that be?

If I could get more time off at

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the weekend to spend with my family, that would be perfect but, realistically, it is leisure time and the busiest time and it isn’t going to change.

What’s the best piece of advice you have been given?

It was by one of my old bosses and he just reminded me that you can never make everyone happy all of the time with your decision making.

You obviously play golf. What’s your current handicap and favourite golfing memory?

It’s five. I’d like to say it’s a strong five but it’s a very weak one these days.

I was fortunate enough to get a job working at B&H on the practice range at The Oxfordshire while at 6th form.

I got to meet a certain Severiano Ballesteros, who gave me a quick short game lesson when he saw us practising on the pitching green rather than picking up balls!

How do you feel about the state of golf at the moment?

It’s interesting times. It obviously went through a rocky spell but I can really see that there is a bright future ahead.

Clubs are starting to think outside the box and are a bit more diversified on how they get their revenue into the club. That has got to be the way forward.

It gets brought up all the time but I think dress codes being relaxed at clubs and attitudes (changing) to what people can

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“Clubs are starting to think outside the box and are a bit more diversified on how they get their revenue”

Chris Hanks

do at the golf club – and giving people more opportunities to get into golf clubs – is the way the sport has to go.

Where do you see the role of the golf club manager in 20 years’ time?

That’s an interesting one. I think it will be a role of unique, dynamic individuals who can see outside that box and embrace the changes that need to be made.

Let’s be honest, the hardest thing in life for people to be able to take is change and you just have to embrace that and move with the times.

Exploring that a bit further, do you think golf is at a crossroads at the moment? There is that debate over dress codes and shorter formats being pushed such as 9-hole golf...

I believe so. It’s interesting because time is obviously a big factor in golf and there are more fun formats being brought in.

These will certainly help the newer generation get into golf but, ultimately, your club golfer who is around probably still likes the 18 hole experience. Clubs need to be diverse on how they approach the matter.

What opportunities exist for the GCMA at the moment?

The GCMA realised the industry had to change and I think they are at the forefront of making it change.

As far as the education side is concerned, I attend quite a lot of the London & Home Counties meetings – because the education on offer at those is very good – and I am currently on the Diploma programme.

I’m also actively involved and attend Young Managers’ Group meetings regularly. It’s a superb way of networking with the new generation of managers who are looking to learn and develop within the industry.

Get In Touch To contact Castle Royle, visit castleroyle.com

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ED U C AT E | I N FO RM | I N S P I RE

My success story...

PAUL GRAY Four-time major champion Rory McIlroy learned his trade at Holywood and, as general manager Paul Gray tells Steve Carroll, there’s about to be a more concrete reminder of his legacy at the Northern Ireland club

Work carries on apace to build the new clubhouse at Coxmoor

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R

ory’s Corner doesn’t adequately describe the shrine that honours the achievements of Holywood’s most famous son.

In parts it’s like a parent’s scrapbook – clubhouse walls showcasing picture after picture of a schoolboy holding trophies.

In hindsight, they are the stepping-

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stones of an inexorable rise to greatness.

The trophy cabinet looks, at first glance, like the glass showcase you’d find at any club.

Until you look a little closer and discover it is the US Open trophy staring back at you.

Then there’s the massive, unwieldy, Wanamaker Trophy that signals PGA Championship glory and, yes, that is a replica of the

“It’s about bringing people to the golf club who, ordinarily, would have said ‘I don’t play golf so why would I go there?”

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Claret Jug too.

“They do bring his fans from around the world here and visiting Northern Ireland,” says Holywood general manager Paul Gray.

“It’s like a mini museum. It does bring us tourist traffic that we’ve never had before.

“It’s not on the volume that Royal Portrush or Royal County Down would have but it’s still people coming every season.”

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The members of Holywood are fiercely proud of Rory McIlroy and, despite the 29-year-old’s status as one of the superstars of the modern game, he’s never forgotten them or his hometown club either.

When he clinched his first major title, in such dominating fashion at Congressional seven years ago, it was back to Belfast where he first returned to a hero’s welcome.

The McIlroy family are deeply entrenched in the club. McIlroy’s father Gerry worked behind the bar and is a multiple club champion.

“When he comes home he does still call in,” adds Gray, who has known Rory since he was a child.

“One of his best friends, Richard McCormick, is still the assistant pro here and works in the shop. Rory does have a strong emotional tie with the golf club. It may be that some other golfers don’t or lose that. Rory has still kept it.”

It’s a close bond that McIlroy is now backing up with his wallet.

When Gray unveiled plans to build a gym at the club, as a way of extending Holywood’s reach into the community, what started out as a small project became much larger when the four-time major champion offered to stick his hands in his pockets.

“It was a few years ago and Rory and I happened to be training at the gym,” Gray recalls of the scheme’s origin.

“We were talking generally about the plans I had to put a small fitness suite into the club – really just to extend the facility.

“We weren’t spending a lot of money on it and we had a little area in the old pro shop to do it in.

He, very kindly, offered to help and said he would come up and have a look at it with me.

“He came up and, of course,

got kind of excited about it all.

That turned it from, originally, an £80,000 project into a £1.5 million project and he financially got behind it to help.

“That small gym is now a large performance suite, with three academy bays, simulators and an entertainment area with a bar.

“Rory’s paying for half of it. It’s unbelievable.

“He’s put that money up front. It’s incredible, no matter how rich you are, to donate that.”

“Rory is paying for half of it. It’s unbelievable. He’s put that money up front. It’s incredible, no matter how rich you are.”

Like the McIlroys, Gray is almost part of the furniture at Holywood.

As a junior member he caddied for Gerry and, after working in Killarney, returned around the turn of the century as Rory was really starting to push on.

“We’re both very passionate about changing how golf clubs are viewed and looked upon, and opening them up to different user groups and getting different people to come – and from that growing the game of golf.

“Rory is all about his legacy and what he’s going to leave behind.

“I think he’s seen the whole project and what it’s trying to achieve and that’s why he got behind it so strongly.

“It opens up a market for us to take in some fitness users and sell some gym memberships to a whole new audience of people.

“It’s about opening up and bringing people to the golf club

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who, ordinarily, would have looked at it and said ‘I don’t play golf so why would I go there?’

“Hopefully, when they are here they will see what a great food and beverage service we have here and we can tag onto the back of it.”

That audience Gray wants to attract is wide. He wants the community, many of whom are already invested in the club, to think of it as far more than simply a venue for golf.

McIlroy’s donation to the new

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fitness suite will help achieve that and the construction work to build it is well under way.

“This opens up so much potential for us. Even if it’s trying to run Get Into Golf schemes with our professional, we now have a really good facility to be able to hold them in.

“It’s somewhere to bring people.

We have a few months of the year where the weather, and the ground conditions, don’t allow us to get out so much.

“Having these indoor facilities are really going to help us. The main thing is we go from having three or four big income streams (at the club) to now having seven or eight.

“We’re almost doubling our income streams.”

We want to hear all about the success stories at your club.

Get in touch by emailing s.carroll@sportspub.co.uk

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September 2018

STATISTICS UK&I 23,539

Hole-in-ones made in qualifying events during August

Total competitions recorded

GENTS:

405

LADIES:

14,353 9,186

736,450 total rounds of golf recorded

LOWEST EXACT HANDICAP

Gents

Ladies

-5.4 -5.3 32,818 total HowDidiDo Order of Merit sign ups for 2018

5,263

eagles or better

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291,011 birdies

2,619,499

Stats provided by HowdidIdo.com

pars

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