The GCMA Manager of the Year competition has been extended for 2015, with new categories, new sponsors and new prizes for outstanding managers of golf clubs, and the deadline for nominations is Sunday 31 May.
For the first time in its 10-year history, the awards will have three categories:
- Golf Club Manager of the Year
- Newcomer Manager of the Year
- Golf Club Team of the Year
The Newcomer Manager must have been at their club for a maximum of three years, whilst the Team of the Year will consist of the Manager, the Head Greenkeeper and the PGA Professional. Prizes include trips to Thailand and Rioja in Spain.
Anyone can nominate somebody or a team for the awards. Last year’s winner of the competition was Emma Clifford (pictured), and this year’s winners will be announced at the 2015 GCMA Conference on 16 November, at St George’s Park.
HowDidiDo, Europe’s largest golfing community, is sponsoring this year’s competition along with, for the first time, Fairstone Financial Management, which is currently helping golf clubs with auto enrolment of their employees to comply with the Pensions Act 2008.
Bob Williams, GCMA CEO, said:
The competition has grown exponentially in the decade since its inception and the time was right to expend it into three categories. I look forward to judging the nominations next year.
Discussing the Team of the Year category, PGA CEO Sandy Jones said:
On the course golf is not normally a team sport but the Ryder Cup proves the fact that teams can be important even in our game. Off the course there is the need for a team every day of the year. The Manager, Greenkeeper and the PGA Professional must work closely to ensure the successful operation of any club. I very much welcome that this has been recognised through the new Team of the Year award and I hope that there will be many clubs nominating their team to be recognised as the best in the business.
Jim Croxton, BIGGA CEO added:
One of the acknowledged keys to a successful business is having all members of the workforce focussed on clearly defined goals. Golf clubs are businesses and need all departments of their workforce to be joined up and focussed on meeting and exceeding their customers’ expectations. This is only possible when the key personnel work together as a team and the critical team in any golf club is the triangle of General Manager, Course Manager and PGA Professional. When all three play their part in a co-ordinated and mutually beneficial way, success will naturally follow.
Click here to nominate for any category before Sunday 31 May.
By Mike Hyde
