Lesson #7
of GGA Director Colin Burns’
31 years | 31 Lessons
Collaborative Leadership
Lesson #6
of GGA Director Colin Burns’
31 years | 31 Lessons speaks to
how to provide inclusive hospitality
The GGA Partners 31 Years | 31 Lessons featuring Colin Burns continues with explaining how coming from a place of goodness will be remembered.
GGA Director Colin Burns, CCM, brings his print ad to life in a new video highlighting his beliefs about the role of an executive search consultant.
GGA Director Colin Burns, CCM, shares his Winged Foot Golf Club lessons learned about the member experience.
Managing a private club is not an easy task. It requires knowledge, stamina, fortitude, patience and a sense of humor. With each new year comes new challenges, opportunities and lessons to learn.
When GGA Director Colin Burns, CCM, joined the firm, he shared the lessons he learned over a lifetime in the hospitality industry, as an advocate for club management and his three decades as the general manager of Winged Foot Golf Club with our team. In hearing those lessons, we were reminded how success comes from doing the right thing every day.
We asked Colin to record his common sense and professional advise for us to share with you. Today we present the first of Colin’s 31 Years | 31 Lessons videos. We will be releasing all 31 on our LinkedIn page over the next several months in the hope you find these lessons helpful as you navigate your own path to success as a leader in our industry.
Our Club
Founded in 1916, Minneapolis Golf Club is a member-owned club located just seven miles west of downtown Minneapolis. The centerpiece of our Club is our Willie Park Jr./Donald Ross golf course, representing one of the finest tracks in the Upper Midwest. Our golf course provides an experience that has drawn the admiration of generations of golfers for its eminent playability, imaginative layout and supreme walkability.
The MGC golf experience also features a picturesque short game practice area, convenient driving range, indoor swing simulator, and perhaps most notably an inclusive, active and family-friendly membership who share a passion for golf and welcome players of all ages and abilities.
Beyond golf, MGC offers members, their guests and families a myriad of social activities along with indoor and alfresco dining options at the Grill and poolside and an Olympic-size pool and patio area that serves as the center of family sun in the summer.
Improvements & Future Plans
A comprehensive multi-million-dollar enhancement to the golf course, completed in 2020, replaced every blade of grass on our classic layout. The update added modern improvements, including new bent grass tees, fairways and greens, a state-of-the-art irrigation system, improved drainage systems on the greens, thicker rough, larger green complexes and inventive hole locations. This approach carefully balanced the original design integrity of the course with the evolving demands of modern players.
In 2021, the Club embarked on the development of a 5-Year Strategic Plan. This process involved a top-to-bottom examination of our market position, operations, membership structure, utilization, communications efforts and our finances to develop a set of strategic initiatives that serve as our guide to meet the needs of our existing members as well as those who will join us in the future.
Minneapolis Golf Club Overview
The General Manager Position
Reports to the Board and coordinates with the President of the Board on a regular basis. The General Manager implements the policies established by the Board of Directors and the Club’s bylaws. He/she develops operational policies and is responsible for the creation and implementation of standard operating procedures for all areas. This includes the preparation of the annual operating and capital budgets as well as management of operations to attain the desired results.
Coordinates all management functions and works in concert with committee chairs to assist them in the development of proposed policies, programs, events, etcetera.
Serves as the lead coordinator of programming and development of synergy among all departments. Overseeing the internal and external marketing strategies for membership growth and member engagement is a critical part of the position.
The General Manager should have a strong presence and seek to be highly visible to the membership and staff, setting the tone for consistently treating members with first class of hospitality. It is also the responsibility of the General Manager to communicate this expectation to the entire staff.
Important Individual Characteristics:
Candidate Qualifications:
Note: A pre-employment drug screen and background check will be required.
Salary & Benefits:
Salary is open and commensurate with qualifications and experience. The club offers an excellent bonus and benefit package.
Inquiries
Interested candidates should submit résumés along with a detailed cover letter which addresses the qualifications and describes your alignment/experience with the prescribed position by Wednesday, October 13, 2021.
Documents must be saved and emailed in Word or PDF format (save as “Last Name, First Name, Minneapolis Golf Club GM Cover Letter” and “Last Name, First Name, Minneapolis Golf Club GM Resume”) respectively to: execsearchus@ggapartners.com. Please email résumé with references.
For more information about the Club, visit www.minneapolisgolfclub.com
Beaconsfield Golf Club
The Beaconsfield Golf Club is the only private golf club on the island of Montreal, the second most populated city in Canada. Founded one hundred and seventeen years ago, it has played an important role in Canadian golf, having hosted many national and international golf events including two Canadian Opens, four LPGA events, and more recently, the Canadian Amateur Championship. The Club prides itself on the quality and setting of the golf course and its historic clubhouse. Beaconsfield is a family and business friendly club and an integral part of the West Island community. Club facilities include an 18-hole golf course, extensive practice facilities, pro shop and full clubhouse services. Its membership levels and financial position remain sound in an increasingly competitive marketplace.
To learn more about Beaconsfield Golf Club, visit here.
The Position: General Manager (GM)
Beaconsfield Golf Club is seeking a General Manager responsible to the Members of the Club and its day-to-day operations in accordance with the strategic, financial and operational direction set by the Board. The GM reports to the Board of Directors through the President. The GM is expected to play an important role in the continuing development and execution of the Club’s vision and strategic plan. The GM shall manage all aspects of the Club including activities and relationships between the Club and its members, guests, employees, community, government and industry.
Responsibilities:
Direct Reports:
Head Golf Professional, Golf Course Superintendent, Controller, F&B Manager, and all clubhouse operations. The Club employs 100+/- people during the golf season.
Candidate Profile:
Given the leading role this individual will play in achieving the strategic, business objectives and leading the continuing excellence of Beaconsfield Golf Club, it is essential that the successful candidate possess the following core competencies, experience, and attributes:
Leadership Skills:
Member and Guest Experience:
Interpersonal/Fit:
Business/Finance Skills:
Education:
Compensation:
The Club will offer an attractive compensation package, commensurate with experience, which will include a competitive base salary, bonus opportunity and benefits.
IMPORTANT: Interested candidates should submit resumes along with a detailed cover letter which addresses the qualifications and describes your alignment/experience with the prescribed position by Thursday, September 23, 2021.
Those documents must be saved and emailed in Word or PDF format (save as “Last Name, First Name, Beaconsfield Resume” and “Last Name, First Name, Beaconsfield Cover Letter”) respectively to: execsearch@ggapartners.com.
Lead Search Executives
Michael Gregory
Partner
GGA Partners, Inc.
George Pinches
Director
GGA Partners Inc.
execsearch@ggapartners.com