General Manager/Chief Operating Officer
Delray Dunes Golf & Country Club

“Delray Dunes Golf & Country Club’s Vision is to Perpetuate a Social Culture Where Members Can Entertain Guests, Nurture Families, and Enjoy Leisure Time Pursuits Among Enduring Friendships.”

The mission of Delray Dunes Golf & Country Club is to enrich the lives of its members, their families, and guests. With many golf and country club options in the area, Delray Dunes stands out due to its small, diverse membership, unique playing protocol, and fair amount of flexibility. The club offers an active, inviting, and enjoyable golf schedule for men, women, mixed groups, and juniors. Women golfers especially appreciate being part of the highly engaged women's competitions and networking events.

The atmosphere at Delray Dunes is natural, reflecting the surrounding beauty. Carlton Blunt, the Founder of Delray Dunes, envisioned a peaceful, pastoral community—a family club. Delray Dunes has preserved this character and charm, maintaining a standard of excellence for its residents. Financially healthy and privately owned, the club is situated on 337 acres with 323 home sites, including 200 single-family homes and 123 freestanding villas in seven distinct styles. Most homes offer views of the golf course or the lakes. Remarkably, eleven original homeowners from 1969 still reside here, and the community is enriched by multi-generational families. Delray Dunes is a guard-gated community with roving patrols.

What makes something special is when you keep returning time after time. What makes something uniquely special is when your legacy returns as well. Delray Dunes is unique for having many first, second, third, and even fourth-generation residents. Currently, there are over 41 Legacy Members, underscoring the club’s special appeal.

ABOUT THE CLUB

• Member-owned private club (mandatory membership with home purchase)
• HOA: separate entity
• Total members: 425
• Gross revenue: $10.5M
• Annual dues revenue: $7M
• Annual F&B revenue: $2.45M
• Annual rounds of golf: 30,500
• Full-time equivalent employees: 95

CORE VALUES

The following values represent the priorities that will drive leadership decisions:

• Friendship and high-quality social interaction
• Fun place to be a member or guest
• Exceptional staff service quality throughout the Club
• Honesty, integrity and professionalism in governance, management, and communication
• Leadership and governance with no personal or hidden agendas
• Financial accountability to the membership
• Unwavering commitment to excellence and continuous improvement

AMENITIES

• 26,000 square foot Florida-style clubhouse
• 18-hole championship golf course designed by Pete Dye
• Fully stocked Golf Retail Shop (owned by the Golf Professional)
• Main Dining Room
• Private Dining/Meeting Room
• Grille Room
• Loggia – new outdoor bar and dining area
• Fitness Center with state-of-the-art True equipment and a studio for fitness classes
• 2 Har-Tru Clay lighted tennis courts
• Resort style swimming pool.
• Children’s playground
• Men’s & Ladies Card rooms
• Men’s & Ladies Locker rooms
• Library

POSITION OVERVIEW
Delray Dunes General Manager/COO is responsible for leading and inspiring the entire team to consistently provide Members with the best all-around golf club and hospitality experience possible. This position oversees all operational functions of the Club including, but not limited to, Accounting, Communications, Guest Services, Events, Golf Course Management, Food and Beverage, the Golf Shop, Tennis, Wellness, Administration, and Housekeeping.

In each of these realms, meeting expectations means Members’ needs are proactively anticipated and delivered upon before they are ever verbalized. The General Manager/COO should set an expectation of excellence in every regard from the largest of visions to the smallest detail. This individual should exemplify each of Delray Dunes’ core values in every interaction with Members, guests, and Delray Dunes team.

It is essential that the General Manager/COO be able to communicate, build relationships with, and ensure common goals and objectives are met with the staff, Members, and Board of Directors. Although the GM/COO does not oversee the Homeowner’s Association (HOA), ongoing involvement and collaboration between with the Club (GM/COO, Golf Superintendent) and the HOA is essential.

KEY COMPETENCIES
To be successful in this role, you will need to demonstrate the following competencies. These same areas will be a focus for your performance evaluation, ensuring clear expectations and ongoing support.

Leadership - Interpersonal & Values & Promotes Diversity: A charismatic and emotionally intelligent leader with the ability to build strong relationships with members, staff, and board members. This professional demonstrates empathy, active listening, and effective communication to foster a collaborative, inclusive, and respectful environment.

Models Hospitality and Service Excellence: With a passion for exceeding expectations, this individual will set high standards for service across all departments. He/She will ensure staff are well-trained, empowered, and committed to delivering exceptional member experiences.

Club Governance & Strategic Management: Possesses a deep understanding of the legal and regulatory frameworks governing private clubs, member rights/responsibilities, and board structures. This leader will develop and execute long-term plans aligned with the Club's vision, mission, and competitive landscape. The GM/COO will set clear goals, allocate resources effectively, and measure progress towards strategic objectives.

Financial Acumen: Proven ability to understand and manage the Club's financial health. This includes overseeing the annual budgeting process, collaborating with the CFO, and ensuring financial stability.

Leads Change & Supports Innovation: Hands-on approach to champion innovative ideas and initiatives that improve operations and the member experience, effectively communicating and managing change processes. Strategic Planning.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Oversee all operational aspects of Delray Dunes, ensuring seamless member and guest experiences while fostering a high-performing and motivated team.
• Possess an understanding of the game of golf and translate that knowledge into action for exceptional member experiences.
• Foster open communication with the Board, Committee Chairs, and staff through regular meetings and updates, ensuring alignment with priorities and objectives.
• Build strong and meaningful relationships with members and staff, addressing their needs and concerns promptly and professionally.
• Continuously develop and empower the Delray Dunes team, fostering a culture of learning and career growth.
  Ensure the clubhouse and facilities are maintained to the highest standards, reflecting Delray Dunes' elegance.
• Leverage industry networks to identify and implement best practices and cutting-edge concepts while demonstrating continuous learning within the private club space.
• Lead with a service-oriented mindset, demonstrating confidence and composure while addressing challenging situations.
• Ensure all staff exemplify the Club's mission and take swift action when expectations are not met.
• Remain apprised of legal and legislative trends affecting the Club and work with the Board to ensure compliance.
• Represent Delray Dunes with professionalism and tact on and off-site, upholding the Club's values in all interactions.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS

• College degree and CCM or CCE certification required or in progress.
• 5 years of leadership experience at a premier private club.

REPORTING STRUCTURE
The position reports to the Board of Directors through the Club President.

DIRECT REPORTS
Director of Golf, Tennis Vendor, Executive Chef, Assistant General Manager, Dining Room Manager, Golf Course Superintendent, Membership Director, Controller and Administrative Staff.

COMPENSATION
Delray Dunes Golf Club will offer an extremely attractive compensation package, commensurate with experience, which will include a competitive base salary, bonus opportunity and benefits.

APPLICATION PROCESS AND DEADLINE
Interested candidates should submit a resume along with a detailed cover letter which addresses the qualifications and describes your alignment/experience with the prescribed position by August 15, 2024. The documents must be saved as a PDF (save as “Last Name, First Name, Delray Dunes Golf Club) and email to: execsearch@ggapartners.com.

Please direct any questions or inquiries to:

Michael Gregory
Managing Director & Partner
michael.gregory@ggapartners.com
905.475.4030

 

 

Eric Hutchison, MBA, Ph.D.
Director, GGA Partners, USA, LLC
eric.hutchison@ggapartners.com
614.271.9355