Golf clubs come in many shapes and sizes, Golf clubs are built to either a standard or custom need and the skills required to run a private club correspond directly to the complexity of services offered through the club’s departments.
The common departments found in a private country club include the clubhouse and the recreational divisions of aquatics, tennis, and golf. In addition to these recreational departments, a private club also requires professionals in the areas of grounds and within the executive office.
The clubhouse is the main hub of all social activities that transpire at a private club. Given that the clubhouse is the social hub for the club, management must offer a wide array of food and beverage, and special catered events to meet the needs of their membership. It is this role that requires finely honed skills surrounding food and beverage preparation and management and culinary skills.
Perhaps the most influential person in satisfying members’ culinary tastes is the executive chef. The executive chef is charged with managing the food production and beverage services for all the club’s food facilities and beverage outlets.
Given the culinary flair that is expected at a private club, the executive chef is often trained by a culinary institute of great stature either nationally or internationally. In most cases, the executive chef is charged with budget development and monitoring, recipe development, costing of food products, vendor relations, purchasing of perishables and non-perishables, liquor purchasing, and wine selection.
In addition, executive chefs can offer seminars that are of interest to their members on a culinary or wine topic of interest. This type of service is above and beyond the normal dues structure, meaning that the members pay for this type of experience.
Another person that is critical to the delivery of quality service within the clubhouse is the assistant general manager, also known as the
clubhouse manager. The primary assistant general manager duties include enacting duties assigned by the general manager as well as managing the daily operation of the clubhouse. On the latter function, the assistant general manager is responsible for staffing, motivating, and terminating clubhouse staff (i.e., servers, kitchen help, etc.). The assistant general manager should hold a bachelor’s degree in a business-related discipline.
This professional manages in the absence of the general manager, approves budgets, hires, trains, terminates, oversees lodging room units, housekeeping, maintenance, and security department where applicable. This person also oversees club safety and security issues, but most importantly maintains contact with members and ensures optimal member satisfaction.
Commonly the aquatics director is knowledgeable of water polo, water ballet, snorkelling, and scuba diving. The duties of an aquatics director entail management of daily aquatic centre operations, maintenance of aquatic facilities, and supervision of aquatics staff. In some clubs, the aquatic director also assumes the duties of a fitness director. As a fitness director, this professional is responsible for fitness equipment maintenance, exercise program set-up and monitoring, and in some cases personal training.
The aquatics/fitness director should hold a bachelor of science degree or higher in a discipline related to physical fitness. The primary golf professional at a private club is called the golf director or golf pro. The golf pro should hold a PGA designation and have years of experience as an assistant golf pro.
The golf pro is responsible for developing the golf department budget as well as hiring, training, and managing all golf staff. The golf pro is commonly given the duties of designing, promoting, and directing all golf activities; prepares annual and monthly golf operation budgets; orders golf merchandise; supervises the maintenance of all golf equipment; supervises golf pro shop personnel; provides golf lessons; designs and conducts golf clinics; supervises all on-course staff; organizes golf tournaments; collects and accounts for all golf charges and fees; and enforces all policies surrounding golf play.
The grounds superintendent of a private club plays a critical role in the maintenance of the grounds and in staffing grounds personnel. The grounds superintendent should hold a bachelor of science degree in biology- or a chemistry-related program given the critical nature of applying herbicides, pesticides, and compliance with state and federal regulations. This person has budget responsibilities for all activities surrounding golf course maintenance. Furthermore, the grounds superintendent supervises the planting, fertilizing, turf management, shrub and lawn maintenance, nursery maintenance; supervision of all equipment maintenance personnel; maintains records concerning daily, monthly, and annual maintenance activities; maintains strict accounting of expenditures for variables and capital expenditures; selects and prepares fertilizers and other chemical applications to meet state and federal guidelines; maintains proper irrigation and drainage systems; keeps the golf course in optimal playing condition; and maintains active personnel records.
The tennis professional at a private club handles the daily management of tennis facilities which includes hiring, training, and performance appraisal of tennis staff. In addition, the tennis pro should have served as a tennis pro assistant and hold a sports-related bachelor of science degree. This person also has budgetary responsibilities for all tennis facilities and staff, conducts personal training, and monitors the repair of tennis equipment.
The last but not least to be mentioned is the club’s general manager. The general manager, or chief executive officer, of a private equity club plays a pivotal role in communicating operational concerns with the club’s board of directors. As such, the general manager is responsible for the daily management of the club. This general manager’s duties also include the staffing of the club’s departments, development of the annual operation and capital expenditure budget, general responsibility for club financial record oversight, and member relations.
As part of the basic duties assigned to him/her, the general manager: implements policies established by the board of directors; coordinates short-range and long-term business plans; establishes personnel policies that promote service quality; coordinates development of capital and operating budgets; serves as an ex-officio member of club committees where assigned; and constantly engages in the highest level of member relations as possible on a daily basis. Given the broad range of skills required, the general manager should hold a bachelor of science degree from a business-related program.
Golf clubs come in many shapes and sizes. Golf clubs are built to either a standard or custom need. Which one you choose depends on how often you play. For a tip on which one to choose, consider how often you play. If you play a lot, it is recommended to get a set of custom golf clubs. However if you play once in while, it would be best to buy standard golf club. golf lessons