Tag: Manager

Executive Search: Assistant General Manager at Savannah Yacht Club

Date:

 

ASSISTANT GENERAL MANAGER
SAVANNAH YACHT CLUB

The Club:

The Savannah Yacht Club is a private, family-oriented Club dedicated to member satisfaction through superior service and quality facilities.

The Savannah Yacht Club was originated on June 14, 1869, as the Regatta Association of Chatham County and the association was succeeded seven years later on June 7, 1876, by the formal organization of the Savannah Yacht Club.

The Club offers a variety of recreational activities including sailing, boating, tennis, swimming, and several dining options. The active member participation and enjoyment of the Savannah Yacht Club can be attributed to sound management and mindful planning by the Board of Stewards.  Operational flexibility and an annual review of the policies, practices, and planned projects will assure the membership of the Club for many years of continued success.

The Position:

The Assistant General Manager is considered the “go-to manager” for the General Manager/COO.  He/she manages and is responsible for all aspects of the food and beverage program as well as the upkeep and appearance of conditions throughout the Clubhouse.  This individual will plan and implement complex annual budgets for the food and beverage and swimming pool operations as well as hire, train, and supervise subordinates.  The Assistant General Manager is directly responsible for the catering department, all food and beverage outlets, as well as the pool complex and housekeeping.  He/she will be responsible for continuous improvements for the operations of all the food and beverage outlets throughout the entire Club.

The ideal candidate will be a self-motivated professional with a proven and stable record of food and beverage management at a reputable private club, restaurant, or hotel – knowledge of fine wines and a strong sense of pairing wine with food is imperative.

The Assistant General Manager will have a proven work history that demonstrates knowledge and a steady upward career track in successful operations.  This personable professional is a member of the Executive Staff and will work with other department heads to ensure that the expectations of members and guests are exceeded.  He/she will be genuinely people-oriented, “visible” and readily accessible, and responsive to the membership.

Operational Duties/Responsibilities:

  • Assures that effective orientation and training for new staff, and professional development activities for exceptional staff, are planned and implemented. Develops ongoing professional development and training programs for food production, service and bar production/service personnel.
  • Helps plan and approve external and internal marketing and sales promotion activities for the department. Works on keeping Club functions/promotions for all Food and Beverage activities fresh and appealing to membership.  Ensures that an accurate reservations system is in place.
  • Helps plan and approve the organizational chart, staffing, and scheduling procedures as well as job description/specifications for all Food and Beverage departments, Pool Facility and Housekeeping staff.
  • Monitors purchasing and receiving procedures for front of the house products and supplies to ensure proper quantities, quality, and price for all purchases.
  • Maintains contact with members and helps to ensure maximum member satisfaction.
  • Oversees bar operation, develops wine list and bottle/glass wine sales promotion programs in conjunction with the Food and Beverage Service Manager and Bar Manager.
  • Responsible for correct handling procedures to minimize china and glassware breakage and food waste. Ensures storage areas are neat and orderly.
  • Maintains appearance, upkeep and cleanliness of all Food and Beverage equipment and facilities. Initiates ongoing facility inspections throughout the Club to assure that cleanliness, preventive maintenance, safety, and other standards are consistently attained.
  • Addresses member and guest complaints/suggestions and advises the General Manager/COO about appropriate actions taken.
  • Assists in planning and implementing procedures for special Club events and banquets functions.
  • Functions as an administrative link between departments.
  • Occasionally works as a department head when needed.
  • Manages all aspects of the Club in the absents of the General Manager/COO.

Financial Duties/Responsibilities:

  • Assists in developing the operating budget for Food and Beverage department outlets, the Pool Facility, and Housekeeping. After approval, monitors and takes corrective action as necessary to help ensure that budget goals are attained.
  • Ensures that all standard operating procedures for revenue and cost control are in place and consistently utilized.
  • Approves/reviews all invoices before submitting them to the accounting department.
  • Manages physical inventory verification and provides updated information to the Accounting department. Responsible for beverage inventory.
  • Responsible to the proper accounting and reconciliation for point-of-sale system and member revenues.
  • Audits and approves payroll sheets on as needed basis.

Summary:

Manages and is responsible for all aspects of the day to day Food and Beverage operation, Pool Facility, and Housekeeping.  Plans and implements budgets; hires, trains and supervises subordinates.  Plans, assigns and directs work; appraises performance; disciplines as required; addresses complaints and helps to resolve problems.  Directly responsible for catering and Food and Beverage needs throughout the property.  Carries out supervisory responsibilities in accordance with the organization’s policies and applicable laws.  Assist the General Manager/COO in establishing and implementing long-range and annual plans, operating report, forecast and budgets.

More About Savannah Yacht Club:

1000 Members

$6M Gross Volume

$3M Annual Dues

$2M F&B Volume

100 Employees in-season

Average age of members is 57

Candidate Qualifications:

Given the active role this individual will be expected to play in the maintaining the standards of excellence of the Club, it is essential that the successful candidate possess the following core competencies, experience, and attributes:

  • A minimum of 5 years of progressive leadership and management experience in club, restaurant or hotel management environment.
  • A Bachelor’s Degree from an accredited college or university, preferably in Hospitality Management or Business.
  • Certified Club Manager (CCM) preferred or in active pursuit of designation.
  • Must be proficient in all Microsoft applications. Jonas experience is preferred.

Note:

A pre-employment drug screen and background check will be required. The position becomes available January 1, 2020.

Salary and Benefits:

Salary is open and commensurate with qualifications and experience. The club offers an excellent bonus and benefit package, including Club Management Association of America (CMAA) dues and education, a comprehensive medical insurance program according to Club policy, 401k program with employer matching contribution, vacation, and professional development.

Inquiries:

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 Friday January 3, 2020, and if possible, sooner. Those documents must be saved and emailed in Word or PDF format (save as “Last Name, First Name, Savannah AGM Cover Letter” and “Last Name, First Name, Savannah AGM Resume”) respectively to: pdelozier@globalgolfadvisors.com.

Patrick DeLozier
Director
GGA
(501) 258-2911

For more information on the Savannah Yacht Club: www.savannahyachtclub.org

Executive Search: General Manager at The Willows Golf & Country Club

Date:

GENERAL MANAGER
THE WILLOWS GOLF & COUNTRY CLUB

The Willows Golf & Country Club is looking for a General Manager to join us for an un-fore-gettable experience.

The Willows Golf & Country Club, a semi-private residential 27-hole golf course, is looking to hire for the position of General Manager. Reporting to Dream, the ownership group, the successful candidate will be responsible for all aspects of the Club. They will be the leader of our four departments: Golf Operations, Turf Care, Food & Beverage, and Administration. The General Manager is responsible to lead the team in delivering professional innovative service to our Membership and promoting a culture of excellence. The candidate must possess demonstrated leadership, financial, business, and strategic skills which are necessary to manage the facility.

The Willows is about to undertake the next phase of the residential build out and the General Manager will work with Dream to ensure a smooth transition for all stakeholders.

Wondering what this General Manager position entails?

As a General Manager you lead the entire team and set the tone for success at the Willows. Here are a few of the duties, we will discuss more in person:

  • Works closely with Dream to ensure responsible and focused governance, process/practices, efficient day-to-day operations in all departments, and adherence to short/long term goals.
  • Ensures the highest standard of quality, service, and member and guest satisfaction are met.
  • Develops and closely monitors annual budgets; manages facilities, course conditions, and capital projects.
  • Continually stays current on progressive management developments within the club industry and ensures the owners and Senior Management Team are informed of how such changes can enhance Club performance.
  • Directs the strategic planning process in conjunction with the owners.
  • Oversees creative, innovative promotions, and communications.
  • Proactively develops strategies related to the attraction and retention of Members.
  • Maintains a high level of presence at the Club during regular and special events, becoming well known and highly approachable to staff, Members, and guests.

Does that sound like you? Here are some of the qualifications we hope you bring to the table:

  • A proven track record as a Senior Manager/Supervisor at a premier facility.
  • A 4-year degree and/or CCM/CCE designation preferred.
  • Progressive leader with a strategic mindset; demonstrated ability to execute with a collaborative approach.
  • Excellent team leader with strong leadership and management skills with the ability to inspire staff.
  • A self-motivated, hardworking individual with a professional image.
  • A strong golf background, preferably with an excellent profile in the golf industry.
  • Excellent computer and presentation skills and ability to communicate at a very high level.
  • Ability to deliver extraordinary service to Members, guests and employees.

The Club will offer an attractive compensation package, commensurate with experience, which includes a competitive base salary, bonus, and other benefits.

Ready? Don’t just sit there – we wouldn’t want you to miss your opportunity to be part of The Willows team. Apply today.

Thanks for reading all the way through. We look forward to chatting with you!

Note:
The position becomes available in December 2019.

Inquiries:
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 Friday, December 20, 2019.

Those documents must be saved and emailed in Word or PDF format (save as “Last Name, First Name, Willows Resume” and “Last Name, First Name, Willows Cover Letter”) respectively to: execsearch@globalgolfadvisors.com and attention to Michael Gregory, Director.

Michael Gregory
Director
Global Golf Advisors Inc.
(416) 524-0083

For more information on The Willows Golf & Country Club: www.willowsgolf.com.

Murray Blair, Club and Branding Executive, Joins Global Golf Advisors as Director

Date:

Blair to expand the firm’s club and resort strategy, operations, transformation, and monitoring services

TORONTO, Ontario – Global Golf Advisors (GGA) – the leading authority on successful ownership and management practices for golf, private club, resort, and residential real estate businesses – has announced that respected club, resort, and branding executive, Murray Blair, has joined the firm’s Canadian office as a Director.

As a Director with GGA, Murray specializes in club and resort strategy, operations, brand building, transformation and performance monitoring. “The reimagination of club and resort businesses is in full swing with strategically crafted and nurtured brands driving value creation for savvy owners and operators,” explained Blair. “We at GGA are proud to support superior clubs and resorts around the world in developing and implementing the very best strategy and brand position in order to maximize club investment and lifestyle objectives.”

Murray will continue building upon GGA’s market-leading strategy and operations consulting services and leverage the firm’s robust research and analytics offerings to help clients transform their businesses and implement a game plan for long-term success and sustainability.

Derek Johnston, a partner in GGA’s Toronto office, provided insight into how the firm’s expanding team enhances its commitment to client success, “GGA’s mission is to help our clients solve their toughest problems. We are increasingly asked to remain involved in our club client’s projects on an ongoing basis; to monitor progress and, when needed, effectively evolve strategy to truly maximize performance over the long-term. Murray’s club leadership experience, history of managing premium brands, and dynamic charisma are perfectly aligned to deliver on these services. He is an incredible addition to our team and an invaluable resource for clients.”

Murray rejoins GGA after a successful eight-year stint leading transformations for a large retail brand and one of the top private clubs in the Greater Toronto Area.

“I am eager to rejoin the GGA family,” said Murray Blair, “I have remained in close contact with the GGA team during my time in club management and operations, and have enjoyed watching the firm grow and prosper. I have particularly enjoyed seeing GGA’s younger team members grow into industry leaders. I am thrilled to have the opportunity to work alongside such a dedicated and capable group again and contribute to the firm’s continued growth.”

Murray joins GGA to expand on what has already been a multifaceted career in the club and resort industries. Most recently, Murray was the General Manager at Granite Golf Club, one of Canada’s most innovative private family golf clubs, successfully rejuvenating the club’s brand and membership.

Prior to joining Granite Golf Club, Murray spent three years as Vice President at Joe Boxer, modernizing the garment brand for the Caulfield Apparel Group and leading Joe Boxer through an award-winning rebranding process that revitalized the brand, ultimately earning a 2014 Cassies Bronze medal.

Over the course of his career, Murray has also worked for the TPC organization as part of the opening team at TPC Scottsdale; spent four years with Marriott hotels in Arizona and Napa, California; ten years running the golf division for Fairmont Hotels, during which time he was ranked as one of the top 25 most influential people in Canadian Golf; and three years as a Vice President with ClubLink before his initial four years of consulting with Global Golf Advisors.

Through these experiences, Murray has been involved in the development and restoration of a number of great golf courses in North America including Banff Springs, Jasper Park Lodge, The Algonquin Resort, and Mayakoba in Mexico. Murray is active across the club industry serving on a number of advisory boards, including the Golf Ontario board, and delivers education sessions at various industry conferences.

About GGA

Global Golf Advisors (GGA) has provided industry-leading advisory services to more than 3,000 clients worldwide including private clubs, hotels, resorts, residential golf communities, developers, homebuilders, government agencies and municipalities, financial institutions, investors and lenders. Operating out of three global offices in Toronto, Phoenix, and Dublin, GGA is a highly specialized consulting firm focused on club and leisure related assets with a professional services heritage as the KPMG Golf Industry Practice. The firm’s expertise lies in its ability to effectively meld club management and operational expertise with highly capable professional strategists and experienced business analysts. GGA personnel include former club managers with experience leading exceptional clubs, along with alumni of Deloitte, Fairmont, KPMG, Marriott, Pulte Homes, PwC, and Scotia Capital. For more information, please visit www.globalgolfadvisors.com.

Media Contact

Derek Johnston, Partner at Global Golf Advisors
djohnston@globalgolfadvisors.com
905-726-0701

Murray Blair, Director at Global Golf Advisors
mblair@globalgolfadvisors.com
416-728-4186

Executive Search: General Manager at Dothan Country Club

Date:

GENERAL MANAGER
DOTHAN COUNTRY CLUB

The Club:

Founded in 1923 Dothan Country Club is a member-owned club in Dothan, Alabama. Dothan, located in Southeast Alabama, has approximately 60,000 residents and there are over a quarter of a million people living within a 50-mile radius.

One of the region’s most progressive cities, the Dothan community offers a mild winter climate, affordable housing, low property taxes, and a wide variety of products and services which include healthcare, education, shopping, and cultural entertainment. Located a few short miles from the state lines of Florida and Georgia, the area embraces the best that life has to offer, providing its residents the modern conveniences and amenities of much larger cities while also retaining the charm and friendliness of the South.

The Club’s golf facilities include a retail shop, an 18-hole course designed and renovated in 2001 by Bergin Golf Designs, driving range, chipping green, and putting green. The Tennis facility includes 7 clay courts, retail shop, and locker rooms. The Club has a Fitness facility featuring a weight room, locker rooms, and a group fitness room. The Pool complex includes the pool, snack bar and Cabana Bar. The Clubhouse consists of the administrative offices, kitchen, member dining areas, lounge and banquet facilities.

As a result of the 2017 Vision Capital Plan, the Club recently completed a $7.5 million renovation addressing the Clubhouse, Activities Building, Tennis Facility, and the Pool.

Dothan Country Club is home to the Future Masters Golf Tournament, one of the most traditionally rich junior tournaments in the world. An impressive list of golfing greats who have competed in the tournament continues to grow and includes past U.S. Open champions Hubert Green and Jerry Pate, Masters winner Larry Mize, PGA champions Bob Tway, Mark Brooks and Shawn Micheel, and British Open winner Ben Curtis. The Future Masters has become a proving ground for golf’s brightest junior stars, but it has never been only about golf. Rather, it is about the spirit of competition, friendships made, sportsmanship on the course, and the challenge of preserving 70 years of growing golf.

The Position:

The General Manager reports to the Board of Directors 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 in accordance with 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 and management of the operations to attain the desired results. The General Manager coordinates all management functions and works in concert with committee chairs in assisting them in the development of proposed policies, programs, and events.

The General Manager is the lead coordinator of programming and development of synergy among all departments. The development and execution of the Club’s 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 embrace highly visibility with the membership and staff. They are expected to set the tone for consistently treating members with first class of hospitality and communicate this expectation to the entire staff as well.

More About Dothan Country Club:

  • 685 members
  • $5.82M Gross volume
  • $2.10M Annual Dues
  • $1.75M F&B volume
  • 102 Employees in-season
  • 15 Board members
  • Average age of members is 52

Candidate Qualifications:

Given the leading role this individual will be expected to play in achieving the strategic objectives of the Club, it is essential that the successful candidate possess the following core competencies, experience and attributes:

  • A minimum of 5 years of progressive leadership and management experience in a private club environment. Current Assistant General Managers or Club Managers at well-recognized clubs, with verifiable records of achievement, will be highly considered.
  • A Bachelor’s Degree from an accredited college or university, preferably in Hospitality Management or Business.
  • Certified Club Manager (CCM) designation preferred.

Note:
A pre-employment drug screen and background check will be required. The position becomes available November 1, 2019.

Salary and Benefits:
Salary is open and commensurate with qualifications and experience. The club offers an excellent bonus and benefit package.

Inquiries:
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 Tuesday, November 26, 2019, and if possible, sooner. Those documents must be saved and emailed in Word or PDF format (save as “Last Name, First Name, Dothan GM Cover Letter” and “Last Name, First Name, Dothan GM Resume”) respectively to: pdelozier@globalgolfadvisors.com.

Patrick DeLozier
Director
Global Golf Advisors Inc.
(501) 258-2911

For more information on Dothan Country Club: www.dothancountryclub.com.

Executive Search: General Manager at Granite Golf Club

Date:

GENERAL MANAGER
GRANITE GOLF CLUB

Granite Golf Club:

Granite Golf Club is an exclusive 18-hole championship private golf course complete with practice academy, located in the Stouffville area, just thirty minutes from Toronto.  Built in 2000, the golf course and clubhouse offer the finest facilities and uncompromising service to our discerning membership.  We offer the best elements of a family golf and social club through varied programs and amenities.

The Position:

Reporting to the Club President and Board of Directors, the General Manager is responsible for leading and directing all long-term and day-to-day activities associated with the Club, including creating a member-focused environment by building and maintaining relationships with members, guests, employees and the Board of Directors.

Specific accountabilities include:

  • Work with the Board in the execution of the Strategic Plan, from the Strategic Plan, construct a Business Plan and a Marketing Plan that drives Club revenues and achieves the agreed upon financial results.
  • Effectively manage and oversee Club Operations. Senior Managers who report directly to the GM and are responsible for the day-to-day activities and processes. Although the GM will rely on the Senior Managers to operate the daily activities, the GM will be ultimately responsible for overall performance metrics and service.
  • Develop and implement an effective sales and marketing strategy to increase membership and awareness of Granite Golf Club
  • Promote Granite Golf Club within the local community and support our valued relationship with the Granite Club
  • Design, implement and maintain operating policies and procedures that align and support the Club’s policies as defined by the Board of Directors
  • Conduct an ongoing evaluation of Club programs and events to ensure the consistent provision of outstanding services to meet the needs and expectations of members, guests, and employees
  • Represent the Club to members, staff and external agencies. The GM is engaged in new member recruitment and onboarding.
  • Manage the development, implementation and ongoing monitoring of the annual operating and capital budgets and the Club’s overall financial results
  • Maintain effective communication with the Board on Club operations, financial reports, risk analysis, compliance, asset management, membership initiatives and capital projects

Candidate Profile:

Given the leading role this individual will be expected to play in achieving the strategic objectives of the Club, it is essential that the successful candidate possess the following core competencies, experience and attributes:

  • A dynamic leader with the ability to build strong teams by motivation and lead by example. Has the ability to provide direction and expectations, performance feedback and recognition that leads to positive outcomes;
  • A post-secondary degree in business or a related discipline is required;
  • A minimum of 5+ years’ experience operating at a senior level in a private golf club or other similar athletic/social facility;
  • Strong professional deportment with a clear commitment to member service through an open and transparent member/customer approach;
  • A strategic thinker with strong business acumen with the ability to “grow the membership” through traditional and innovative sales and marketing techniques;
  • A definite business presence complemented with personal drive, resourcefulness, maturity and sound business judgment, with integrity and ethical conduct in words and deeds;
  • A self-starter approach, results oriented work style combined with excellent communication and interpersonal skills;
  • An innovative and decisive professional who possesses a positive demeanor;
  • Experience reporting to a Board that has adopted a club governance structure and processes to lead the Club and GM to collaborative success;
  • A strong golf background, preferably with an excellent profile in the golf industry.

Note:
The position becomes vacant on November 15, 2019.

Compensation:
The Club will offer an attractive compensation package, commensurate with experience, which will include a competitive base salary and benefits.

Inquiries:
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 Sunday, November 17, 2019. Those documents must be saved and emailed in Word or PDF format (save as “Last Name, First Name, Granite Resume” and “Last Name, First Name, Granite Cover Letter”) respectively to: execsearch@globalgolfadvisors.com.

George Pinches
Director
Global Golf Advisors Inc.

For more information on Granite Golf Club: www.granitegolfclub.ca

GGA Careers: Associate

Date:

Associate

Global Golf Advisors (“GGA”) is expanding and we are looking for a highly motivated associate to join our firm and grow with our team.

Responsibilities:

Working alongside fellow Associates, and reporting to GGA’s Managers and Senior Leadership team, you will perform specialized research and advisory tasks as described below:

  • Collecting and analyzing financial and operational data from a variety of sources for specific client engagements;
  • Conducting in-depth market research for leisure related businesses around the world;
  • Assistance with report and presentation preparation while working with other team members;
  • Input and tabulation of data, monitoring industry statistics and following trends in the industry;
  • Calculation and analysis of financial information and operational metrics;
  • Managing multiple client deliverable deadlines.

The successful candidate will be hard-working with a high attention to detail and a passion for research and analytics.

Requirements:

  • Professional services experience with a major accounting or consulting firm;
  • Experience with golf, private club, residential real estate or resort businesses;
  • Minimum education is a Bachelor’s Degree in Business or Related;
  • Strong communication skills (i.e., interpersonal skills, telephone etiquette, etc.);
  • Strong analytical skills;
  • Proficient with Microsoft Office applications, including but not limited to Excel, Word, and PowerPoint;
  • Understanding of financial statements;
  • Must possess fluency in the English language;
  • Detail oriented; and,
  • Strong market research skills.

Start Date: As soon as possible.
Salary: Commensurate with experience.
Location: Toronto, Canada

All qualified applicants should apply to info@globalgolfadvisors.com with relevant applicant materials.

3 Attributes of an Outstanding Club Manager

Date:

What does it take to be an outstanding club manager? And for clubs seeking to fill this role, what attributes should they be looking for?

GGA’s new Executive Search Director, Patrick DeLozier, explains what it takes to be among the best private club managers.

It takes a particular type of individual to be a club manager.

Seldom is it a job with set hours and set responsibilities; it is more often a vocation which requires an unprecedented level of commitment and drive.

Rewarding? Yes. Challenging? Most certainly.

Throughout my time both at the sharp end of club management, as well as participating in national associations and state boards, one thing was abundantly clear – the role of the club manager is inextricably linked with the success or failure of a club.

It is, therefore, an appointment clubs cannot afford to get wrong.

But what makes an outstanding club manager?

1) Strong work ethic

High performing club managers are leaders with a relentlessly strong work ethic.

They are dedicated, committed and visible to the whole club – including both their membership and their team.

Beyond the general day-to-day requirements, the best club managers have a sense of when and where to be at all times. Not simply to be seen, but to demonstrate leadership and accessibility, consciously engaging with everyone they encounter in a meaningful and constructive way.

For team members this means being willing to mentor, offer guidance and invest time in their well-being and progression, whatever the role. For members, it is going the extra mile, ensuring exceptional service levels and a commitment to continuous high levels of satisfaction.

The club manager should be the face and voice of the club, not tucked away in a back office.

2) Forward-thinking

Effective managers do not stand still. They are always growing, always looking forward.

For them, success is just fuel to improve, and failure is an opportunity to learn and avoid repeat mistakes.

They are relentless when it comes to innovation: they recognize trends, the importance of future generations, and consider how to best position their club to take the opportunity they present.

As golf and particularly private clubs move ever more towards service and experience, the most forward-thinking club managers are tuned into three important things:

  • Continuous investment in the property (and the areas in which to invest)
  • Attracting, training and motivating the right people for their team
  • Perfecting operational execution to create the ultimate experience for members and guests

3) Welcomes accountability

A high performing club manager never waivers when it comes to being accountable and holding oneself to exceptional standards of integrity and honesty.

While moral and ethical accountability is of paramount importance, so too is business accountability.

Successful managers engage in business intelligence and the ability to root decisions in evidence and fact. They embrace performance targets, and motivate their team to meet them.

More broadly, outstanding club managers welcome the existence of a strategic plan to determine the direction of travel, underpin all that they do, and provide a vision for the future they can unite the entire club behind.

To perform such a complex and varied role, a club manager will need an armory of attributes – not just three. But these traits should serve as a good foundation for what it takes to be an outstanding private club manager and help to safeguard your club from choosing the wrong candidate.

Recovering from the missteps of inadequate leadership can be an enormous burden, so if your club needs guidance in the recruitment of a new club manager or leader, please connect with me for an informal discussion.

Connect with Patrick DeLozier

Executive Search: Chief Operating Officer at Scarboro Golf & Country Club

Date:

CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER
SCARBORO GOLF & COUNTRY CLUB

The Club:

Scarboro Golf & Country Club has a truly unique and prestigious history which dates back to 1912. The Club is a private member club in eastern Toronto, Canada and has an 18-hole golf course that is consistently ranked among the top 100 courses in Canada with a grand Edwardian clubhouse which opened in 1914.

The course was originally designed by George Cummings and was extensively changed in 1924 under the direction of A. W. Tillinghast. The golf course went through a further renovation in 2010 which was overseen by famed golf architect Gil Hanse. Mr. Hanse designed the golf course in Rio to host the 2016 Olympics. He has designed and worked on many other world-renowned golf courses and performed numerous Tillinghast restorations.

Scarboro has been proud host of the Canadian Open golf tournament four times. Past Champions include Sam Snead, Bobby Locke, Dave Douglas and Doug Ford. In hosting the 1958 Canadian Amateur Championship, a first-round casualty was an 18-year-old Jack Nicklaus. In 1961, the course was one of 25 that hosted the World Series of Golf matches between Masters and British Open champions, Gary Player and Arnold Palmer. In fact, Mr. Palmer was so taken with the golf course, he included Scarboro’ s signature par 3 Hole # 14 as one of his all-time favourite holes. Numerous other professional and amateur events have been conducted on the Club’s fairways over the years including the CPGA tour championship in 2012.

The Position:

We are looking for a Chief Operating Officer (/COO) reporting to the Board of Directors to oversee the Club’s operations. The COO has full responsibility for all aspects of operations including sales and marketing at the Club, effectively managing all resources to deliver a consistently excellent member experience. The COO, with oversight from the Board, will guide and assist the Board in the development and implementation of Club policies and programs.

The COO will be responsible for the following:

  • The consistent delivery of a member experience commensurate with specified member expectations as well as member recruitment.
  • The performance management for the Club’s financial results, sales, marketing, operating processes and senior management performance. Senior Managers who report directly to the COO and are responsible for the day-to-day activities and processes. Although the COO will rely on the Senior Managers to operate the daily activities, the COO will be ultimately responsible for overall performance metrics and service, member growth and retention and revenue growth.
  • Representation of the Club to members, staff and external agencies. The COO is engaged in new member onboarding.
  • The execution of the Scarboro Golf & CC Strategic Plan and resulting Business Plan, Membership Development Plan and overall marketing strategy.
  • The supervision of the entire Club operation including food and beverage operations, membership services, golf services operations, golf course maintenance, Club facilities and administrative services.
  • The execution of Board policy and strategy.

Candidate Profile:

The COO reports to the Board. Given the leading role this individual will play in achieving the strategic objectives of Scarboro Golf & Country Club, it is essential that the successful candidate possess the following core competencies, experience and attributes:

  • A leader with the ability to build strong teams by motivation and leading by example. Has the ability to provide direction and expectations, performance feedback and recognition that leads to positive outcomes;
  • Previous experience as a senior leader at a private club or other similar facility is desirable, experience in the hospitality industry beneficial;
  • A self-starter and results oriented work style combined with excellent collaborative, communication and interpersonal skills with all the Club’s stakeholders;
  • Strong professional deportment with a clear commitment to member service through an open and transparent customer/member approach, demonstrates integrity and ethical conduct in words and deeds;
  • A strategic thinker with strong business acumen to maximize revenue potential through aggressive member acquisition as well as effective retention programs;
  • Politically astute. Able to identify potential issues and deal effectively with them while exercising tact and diplomacy;
  • An entrepreneurial style combined with a background in all aspects of business management including business development, finance, information technology, human resources, risk management and performance management;
  • Readily accepts and responds to challenges. Directly confronts problems, seeks help when needed and is solution oriented;
  • Incorporates succession planning by preparing staff for key leadership roles;
  • Ensures compliance with all regulatory and matters affecting the Club;
  • Experience reporting to and collaborating with a Board that has adopted a club governance structure and processes to lead the Club and COO to success;
  • A post-secondary degree in business or a related discipline preferred;
  • A Certified Club Manager designation (CCM) is preferred.

Note:
The position is currently vacant.

Compensation:
The Club will offer an attractive compensation package, commensurate with experience, which will include a competitive base salary and benefits.

Inquiries:
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 Tuesday, July 2nd, 2019. Those documents must be saved and emailed in Word or PDF format (save as “Last Name, First Name, Scarboro COO Cover Letter” and “Last Name, First Name, Scarboro COO Resume”) respectively to: execsearch@globalgolfadvisors.com.

George Pinches
Director
Global Golf Advisors Inc.

For more information on Scarboro Golf and Country Club: www.scarborogolf.com

Executive Search: GM/COO at Shaughnessy Golf and Country Club

Date:

General Manager/Chief Operating Officer
SHAUGHNESSY GOLF AND COUNTRY CLUB

 

Shaughnessy Golf and Country Club:

The Club:
Founded in 1911 when Vancouver was just 25 years old, Shaughnessy Golf and Country Club traces its history back to the earliest days of golf on the West Coast. First located on Canadian Pacific Railway lands, the Club moved in 1960 to the ancestral site of the Musqueam Nation’s winter village. As one of Canada’s premier country clubs, Shaughnessy has served as the proud host of many prestigious events and notable figures in golf and tennis over these 100+ years; that tradition was continued when the Club hosted its fourth Canadian Open golf championship in 2011. Shaughnessy was the last championship-length golf course that A.V. Macan (1882-1964) designed in Canada. The Irish-born golf architect was highly regarded in the Pacific Northwest as a brilliant designer and an amateur golf champion in his earlier years.

Today’s Club features an award-winning clubhouse, highly-ranked and competitive golf course, indoor and outdoor tennis, fitness and a golf performance centre. The Club also owns and operates a public golf course in Richmond, BC.

The Position:
We are looking for a General Manager/Chief Operating Officer (GM/COO) reporting to the Executive, comprised of the President, Vice President and Past President, to oversee the Club’s operations. The GM/COO has full responsibility for all aspects of operations at the Club, effectively managing all resources to deliver a consistently excellent member experience. The GM/COO will guide and assist the Board in the development and implementation of Club policies and programs.

The GM/COO will be responsible for the following:

  • Prepare the annual operating and capital budgets and manage the Club’s combined financial results;
  • Establish and maintain relationships with all levels of government, Indigenous organizations, national bodies and club industry associations;
  • Attend all Board meetings and ensure that the Board is kept promptly advised of all activities of the Club and its financial progress;
  • Work with the Board in reviewing and potentially enhancing the Club’s strategic alternatives. After considering the Club’s strategic alternatives, construct a Business Plan and a Marketing Plan that drives Club revenues and achieves the agreed upon financial results;
  • Oversee the operation of the Club’s public golf course;
  • Ongoing course and facility improvements, and,
  • Such other activities as delegated by the Executive.

Candidate Profile:
The GM/COO reports to the Executive. Given the leading role this individual will play in achieving the strategic and business objectives of Shaughnessy, it is essential that the successful candidate possess the following core competencies, experience and attributes:

  • A dynamic leader with the ability to build strong teams by motivation and leading by example, has the ability to provide direction and manage expectations;
  • Previous experience as a senior leader at a private golf club or other similar entity, experience in the hospitality industry beneficial;
  • A self-starter and results oriented work style combined with excellent communication and interpersonal skills with all the Club’s stakeholders; including unionized employees at the Club’s public golf course;
  • Strong professional deportment with a clear commitment to member service through an open and transparent member/customer approach;
  • An entrepreneurial style combined with a background in all aspects of business management including business development, finance, information technology, human resources, risk management and performance management;
  • Demonstrates integrity and ethical conduct in words and deeds;
  • Experience reporting to a Board that has adopted a club governance model or COO governance model;
  • Experience managing national and international tournaments;
  • A post-secondary degree in business or a related discipline, a Certified Club Manager designation (CCM) is preferred, and
  • Experience in negotiating complicated contracts between the Club and all levels of government, Indigenous organizations, national bodies and industry organizations.

Note:
The position is currently vacant.

Compensation:
The Club will offer an attractive compensation package, commensurate with experience, which will include a competitive base salary and benefits.

Inquiries:
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 Tuesday, April 30th, 2019. Those documents must be saved and emailed in Word or .PDF format (save as “Last Name, First Name Shaughnessy Resume” and “Last Name, First Name, Shaughnessy Cover Letter”) respectively to: execsearch@globalgolfadvisors.com.

George Pinches
Director
Global Golf Advisors Inc.

For more information on Shaughnessy Golf and Country Club: www.shaughnessy.org

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Strategic Intelligence at Work

Date:

Guest author – Lonnie Lister, General Manager, Portland Golf Club

Lonnie Lister attended the University of Arizona for a degree in music education.  He worked on the wait staff at private clubs during his college summers and found that he was drawn more to club management than to a music career. Prior to joining PGC as its GM in January 2017, Lonnie was the GM at Skyline Country Club in Tucson, AZ where he spent 23 years working in various areas of the Club. Lonnie is active in CMAA and has served on the board of the Greater Southwest Chapter.

Portland Golf Club has a rich history, but like other private clubs it faces ongoing challenges.

The city of Portland has grown tremendously over the last decade, leading to dramatic shifts in both the market and demographics.

While this growth brings opportunity, it also brings about change.  For us that change impacts a number of areas – specifically around membership recruitment and retention; staff hiring and retention, and being able to control operating costs without compromising the service we provide to members.

With this in mind, the board of Portland Golf Club voted last year to adopt GGA’s Strategic Intelligence (“SI”) platform, which features several components: a Market Scan, a Member Survey, and an assessment of the Club’s “Operational Vital Signs” which compares our performance to clubs of similar stature both within our market and in other markets.

Selective targeting

The initial Market Scan, which revealed potential member households within a two to five-mile radius of the Club, was fascinating.  We learned that within a five-mile radius of Portland Golf Club there are more than double the number of golfing households than is typical for private clubs nationally.  That was a welcome surprise.

Though our Club is still very selective, the Market Scan revealed that there was much more potential for outreach than we’d been aware of before.

As membership recruitment and retention was our number one issue, what we learned inspired us to send a “welcome letter” from the Club to home buyers in our prime market neighborhoods.  This was not a recruitment package, but rather a gently informational welcome note – letting people who might be new to Portland know that this wonderful club exists nearby.

Taking the time to listen

As a club manager, one can often find themselves guilty of favoring (or at least focusing on) one ‘R’ over the other – namely, recruitment over retention.

But retention can fuel recruitment.

A Member Survey can inform what changes are necessary based on the actual needs that current members identify, which is vastly more effective.  And the satisfaction and sense of positivity this can create reverberates beyond the four walls of the clubhouse.

What was critical for us was surveying our membership in a way that was specific to the Club, not just a broad-brush approach.  This meant we could directly address concerns of our membership and maximize the effectiveness and insights of the survey.  Already this has delivered responses that are candid and honest, and provided a robust foundation to inform strategic decisions.

Reassuring the Board

The SI platform has also been incredibly helpful in reassuring the Board that the Club is operating efficiently.

We can see in the Operational Vital Signs report that in almost every measure Portland Golf Club is performing well.  Where we find anomalies, we can take a closer look to understand what these are, and we can then decide if they are something we need to act upon or factor into our strategic decisions.

One such anomaly we found at Portland Golf Club was that most golfers prefer to walk, explaining why our cart revenue is below national benchmarks.  This is not a trend we see changing, so rather than acquire more carts or attempt to upsell them at every opportunity, we decided to focus our efforts in other, more fertile areas for business development.

Going deeper

There’s no doubt Portland Golf Club has embarked on a journey which places strategic intelligence at the forefront of the decisions we make.

Now we are in the second year of our SI subscription and have engaged in a Market Analysis to take a deeper look into what we learned from the original Market Scan.

As analysis looks at trends, rather than simply a snapshot of the market, this will allow us to plan better in what is clearly a fast-changing region.

Portland’s metro region now numbers more than 2.4 million people.  Almost 50% of the adult population has a college degree, and in Portland Golf Club’s primary market areas that percentage is even higher.

Armed with this knowledge, we can embark on our membership recruitment and retention activity with a clear sense of who our prospective customers are and where they are situated in relation to the Club.

Empowering the manager

Given my history working in a number of different roles in the club environment, I have always felt very comfortable on the operational side of the business.  However, the three most important issues we face at Portland Golf Club are all byproducts of local market growth outside of our Club’s operations.

Strategic research is providing us with data and insights we need to address each of these issues and is helping the Club in both the short and long-term.

This journey is changing the way I think and the way our team strategizes.  It provides me with more data than I have ever had available to me at other clubs and is full of relevant information that we depend on daily.  Our management team and committees routinely refer to the intelligence reports, our budgeting process benefits from the availability of current data to support assumptions, and our Board meetings are more productive and efficient.

I now feel that there is a greater connection between the service we deliver on the ground to the level and breadth of service prospective members are looking for – because we are armed with the data and knowledge to have confidence to be more aware of market needs.

Moving forward

So, where do we go from here?  Whereas before we were a Club reacting to changes and adjusting plans for the following year, now we are a club looking 2, 3, 4, even 10 years into the future.

For a time, it felt as though the city of Portland’s growth was getting away from us.  Now, we are ready for how it will develop and who will move here, giving us the ability to refine the value proposition that this Club offers them both now and well into the future.

Learn more about Strategic Intelligence here. 

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