October 2024 Talon Talk by rehobothbeachcountryclub

REHOBOTH BEACH COUNTRY CLUB

EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP

CARPIU “C” CHERECHES

General Manager/COO

SPASKA IVANOV

Assistant GM/Director of Operations

RACHEL RIDGEWAY

HR & Payroll Director

HEATHER FEATHER

Controller

BETHANY ACKERMAN

Membership & Communications Director

JERRY SCHRECK

Director of Food & Beverage

PAT MASTRIAN, PGA

Director of Golf

ALAN FITZGERALD, CGCS MG

Golf Course Superintendent

TERRI GASKILL

Racquets Director

General Manager’s Message

Pat Talks Culture in the Workplace

George Tells What it’s like Being a PGA Pro

Ricky Talks Coaching Tuition Reimbursement Program Update

Talon Tribe Quarterly Update

Talon Tribe Survey Results

Submitted Photos and Videos

GENERAL MANAGER’S MESSAGE

Fall is here, the outdoor season has slowed, events are heating up, the pumpkins are growing and in just a few days we’ll be dressing up for Halloween and then it will be the Holiday Season. In the meantime, I’d like to provide you with some updates and clarity around recent changes to the makeup of the Tribe.

One of my favorite things about this Club, the thing that has kept me coming back season after season, year after year, is the people I work with and the memories we create together. The Talon Tribe holds a special place in my heart, which is heavier than normal while I write this article. As some of you may have seen in recent Club communications, although we had a successful season providing excellent service across the board, the financial implications of the season were more than the Club had projected. The business volumes were not as high as anticipated, and the expenses outpaced the revenue. Because of this, the Board, Executive Leadership and I had to make some difficult decisions.

Over the past few days, we reduced our fulltime staff headcount by 10 percent by eliminating positions. The presence of our Tribe members and their positive impact on the Club will be sorely missed. But, as difficult as it was to make those decisions and take those steps, I am so happy that the rest of you are still here with me. Together, we have built an incredible experience and culture, one for both ourselves (the Talon Tribe) and the Membership. It has been a dark few weeks, but I am looking forward to the light of the new year, a new season, and an excellent future together.

If you have any questions about the decisions that have been made recently, or if you would like to speak with me about any concerns, I will be holding a “Lunch with C” on Friday, October 25 at 10:30am in the Bayview Room.

Pat Mastrian Director of Golf

As I complete my 14th season here at RBCC I reflect on what makes this place so special. What I believe makes our jobs different than other industries is the special relationships you build with your coworkers and the Members. This creates the work environment that continues to keep me motivated to be better for fellow Talon Tribe members and for our RBCC Members. In today’s fast-paced and ever-changing club industry, the significance of a positive work environment cannot be overstated. A healthy workplace is more than just a space where employees clock in and out; it's a critical factor influencing productivity, job satisfaction, and overall organizational success. It is so great to see the many smiles not only in the golf operations but also within the entire Club’s operations. This helps foster internal success for our Talon Tribe which in turn creates the culture that our Members love here at RBCC.

The importance of a positive work environment is clear—it influences every aspect of an organization’s success and is especially important in our customer service industry. As we continue to evolve, let’s continue to stay focused on each other which will in turn create a culture at RBCC that truly is “must have” for all.

DEPARTMENT FEATURE:

WHAT IT’S LIKE BEING A PGA PROFESSIONAL

I often get asked the question what it is like to be a golf professional. Often many assume it means that I just get to play a lot of golf and hang out at the golf course. Although that may be true at times, I often say that I am a PGA professional, NOT a professional golfer. There is a big contrast between the two professions.

The Journey to PGA Membership

After working at local country clubs throughout high school, I decided to attend Clemson University where I was enrolled in their Professional Golf Management program. After 4.5 years of formal education and going on 4 different internships at various clubs (Woodmont CC, Grandfather Golf & CC, Rehoboth Beach CC, & Sleepy Hollow CC), I was elected to PGA membership in January 2014 and started working at RBCC shortly after.

A Multifaceted Role

Working as a golf professional, I often find myself wearing many different “hats.” From an instructor and coach to event planner and organizer and even just a mentor and friend, each day at the club brings something new But most of all, it is building relationships with Members and their guests, fostering a welcoming atmosphere is what I love the most. That doesn’t go without saying that some days are more difficult than others. Often, as a golf professional, during peak season means being at the club for long hours and sometimes the demands of working for a membership can be tiresome and lead to burnout. But, as the saying goes, work hard, play hard.

The Rewards

Despite some of the challenges, I find being a PGA professional to be incredibly rewarding. There is a unique satisfaction in helping a Member improve their game, celebrating their achievements and witnessing the joy (and sometimes distress!) golf brings to people’s lives. Additionally, the camaraderie within the golf community and fellow professionals as well as being able to travel the world and play amazing courses are significant perks.

Conclusion

I would not go as far to say that being a golf professional is for everyone, but there is no profession that I would rather have nor any other club I would rather be at than RBCC. As in all professions, I believe there must be a work-life balance. But, between the Membership and my fellow staff members as well as the local area we live in, I like to think that my life is pretty good!

George Bushby Head Golf Professional

Pebble Beach (CA) Hole 18

Ricky McCall Assistant Professional

COACHING THE GAME OF GOLF

With over two decades of experience as a golf coach, I have dedicated my career to nurturing talent and building a love for the game of golf. I take immense pride in introducing golf to beginners, guiding them through the fundamentals and watching their excitement grow as they discover the sport’s intricacies

My time as a college golf coach was particularly fulfilling, as I relished the opportunity to mentor young student-athletes Now, as I embark on my journey as an Assistant Golf Professional and golf instructor at Rehoboth Beach Country Club, I am eager to bring my passion and expertise to a new chapter, continuing to inspire and elevate golfers of all levels while deepening their appreciation for this wonderful game.

Coaching plays a pivotal role in transforming lives by providing guidance, motivation, and personalized strategies that unlock an individual’s potential. In the realm of golf, a coach helps players refine their skills, develop a deeper understanding of the game, and cultivate a positive mindset. This tailored support not only enhances their performance on the golf course but also fosters a greater appreciation for the game of golf. By addressing both the technical and psychological aspects of golf, coaching enables players to enjoy the sport more fully, embracing both the challenges and triumphs it offers.

UPDATE ON TUITION REIMBURSEMENT PROGRAM

Effective October 1, 2024, the tuition reimbursement program at RBCC has been phased out because there is an exciting new opportunity for our Talon Tribe to fund their continued education, both for themselves and their children. The 1925 Eagle Foundation is the non-profit organization started by RBCC Members to provide scholarships, hardship grants and holiday bonuses to the Talon Tribe. The scholarship program will also cover legal dependents of Talon Tribe members. More information about how to apply for a scholarship and/or hardship grant will be coming out in early 2025!

Talon Tribe Submitted Photos

OUTSIDE GOLF STAFF

TALON TRIBE QUARTERLY UPDATE

Tribe Vibe Quarterly Winner

BRANDON LEGATES

The Talon Tribe held its quarterly All-Employee Luncheon in September. We celebrated oneyear service anniversaries, learned ways to cope with stress such as making origami frogs, and celebrated our Talon Tribe Member of the Quarter: Brandon Legates.

Brandon was nominated for his ongoing display of the Talon Tribe Core Values, including Respect, Integrity and Tribework.

Some things Brandon’s coworkers said about him were:

“He's always got great attitude, and he goes out of his way to help other out!”

“I would like to nominate Brandon who has showed Tribework. He has a positive attitude, always smiling, always ready help anyone at the Club.”

“Brandon is always so warm and welcoming. If he sees you passing or around campus, he always says hello. When I was hastily trying to get things ready for a last-minute meeting, he immediately jumped to ask if I needed assistance. I told him I was okay, but he didn’t stop there and insisted on helping. Brandon then helped me with a few things prior to the meeting. It meant a lot to me that he just jumped in to help and didn’t take no for an answer. Brandon always displays respect and, in this instance, showed Tribework.”

TALON TRIBE EMPLOYEE SURVEY

Congratulations Culinary Department

CONGRATULATIONS TO THE RBCC CULINARY TEAM ON WINNING THE TROPHY THIS YEAR FOR THE DEPARTMENT THAT COMPLETED THE MOST EMPLOYEE SURVEYS! THE CULINARY TEAM RECEIVED A TROPHY, CAKE AND BALLOONS DURING A QUICK CELEBRATION, AND MOST IMPORTANTLY BRAGGING RIGHTS FOR THE YEAR! ��

EMPLOYEE SURVEY RESULTS

Thank you to everyone who completed the Employee Engagement Survey this year! We had the highest level of participation to date with 105 out of 215 active employees completing the survey.

Of the 105, 55 were full-time year-round, 12 part-time and 38 seasonal employees Most respondents are in their first 5 years of employment at RBCC. Over 85% of respondents felt like the staff at RBCC are treated either very fairly or fairly, and most of the Talon Tribe rated psychological safety in the workplace as high.

For the first time, the Club measured the employee net promoter score (NPS),

which is a measure used to gauge loyalty, satisfaction and enthusiasm about working at RBCC. The NPS calculated in this survey is a 46, which is a very good score. To compare to popular brands, Disney is 38, Nike 48 and Tesla 97

Most participants are interested in participating in at least two employee events. The top events included the annual holiday party, all-employee luncheons and on-site or off-site local events

Overall, the questions scored either the same or better in 2024 than they did in 2023 and the majority of responses are very positive

EMOJIS DESCRIBING BEING ATalon Tribe Member

What emoji would you use to describe being a member of the Talon Tribe? (If you don’t use emojis, how would you describe being a member of the Talon Tribe?)

GRAPHS SHOWING CHANGES 2024

VS 2023 IN SURVEY RESPONSES:

Rate how often the Core Values are displayed in your department.

Rate how often the Core Values are displayed at the Club as a whole.

Rate the following:

How satisfied you are with the following benefits at RBCC.

How satisfied you are with the following full-time benefits at RBCC

Top suggestions for improvement:

1. Clarity around employee golf privileges

2. Better communication within departments and club wide

3. More and cleaner bathrooms and a breakroom remodel

4. Better member behavior

5. Enhanced professional development and training, more discussion around career advancement

6. Medical insurance: better PPO plan and less expensive to add spouse/children/family to the plan

7. More employee events geared around sports

What are your three favorite things about working at RBCC?

SO NOW WHAT?

The leadership team has reviewed the survey results and of course there are so many details to dig into and ideas to brainstorm and research further, but here are the top two items that we felt should be addressed as soon as possible.

Clarity around employee golf

Employee golf is one of the great perks of being a member of the Talon Tribe! But, as we saw in the survey, without clear expectations surrounding the perk, it can also become a challenge.

Here are some guidelines to help your expectations align with the Club’s surrounding employee golf at RBCC:

October through April – you can expect to play almost as much as you’d like! The course is typically slower these months of the year and tee times should be abundant for staff on Monday and Tuesday afternoons. There will also be a 2nd Annual Employee Tournament in the Spring. May through September – these are the busy months. You should expect to be able to play a couple times during the in-season months, and the Golf department will do its best to accommodate you; however, keep in mind that they might not be able to fit you in.

Clubhouse breakrooms and bathrooms

We are currently working on a plan to price out a remodel of the breakroom, including redesigning the bathrooms, the flooring and adding air conditioning Once the project has an estimated cost, it will go for approval and hopefully we will have better breakroom conditions for the upcoming season.

Stay tuned for more!