From governance and finance to golf course management, employment law and visitor experience, the latest GCMA Principles of Golf Club Management Certificate gave delegates an intensive insight into the many demands of modern club management.
TFive days. More than a dozen expert-led sessions. One shared ambition: to develop the next generation of Golf Club Managers.
The latest GCMA Principles of Golf Club Management Certificate brought together a group of aspiring and developing managers at the stunning Hillside Golf Club in Southport for a week of learning, discussion, practical workshops and networking – with a memorable visit to Royal Birkdale included along the way.
And while the breadth of subjects covered was impressive, one message came through particularly clearly: modern Golf Club Managers need to be experts across a remarkably wide range of disciplines.
“What does it actually take to be a great Golf Club Manager?”
That was the question posed by GCMA Professional Development Manager Gareth Morgan, as he opened the programme on Monday.
The answer, as the week unfolded, proved to be anything but straightforward.
From leadership to life balance
The opening day combined leadership and professional development with a look at one of the most important responsibilities facing any club manager: keeping people safe.
Steuart Fotheringham delivered an engaging session on Health & Safety, using real-life case studies to bring the subject to life, before Gareth returned to the theme of the manager themselves – sharing lessons from his own career around work-life balance, setting boundaries and avoiding some of the pitfalls of club management.
The day also highlighted one of the defining features of the Principles programme: learning doesn’t stop when the classroom door closes. Over dinner, delegates continued sharing experiences and discussing their careers and the wider industry.
A crash course in club management
Day Two demonstrated the sheer variety of responsibilities that sit within the modern manager’s role.
Jerry Kilby explored Governance & Strategy, followed by Sam Poole of Aquila Golf on Golf Club Marketing and Ian McCairns on Food & Beverage.
Three very different subjects, but three areas that can have a major impact on a club’s success.
“The breadth of knowledge required to become an effective Golf Club Manager was on full display.”
By Wednesday, the delegates had reached the halfway point – but there was no shortage of questions.
Jimmy Braithwaite opened delegates’ eyes to the complexity of producing and maintaining a great golf course, before Carolyne Wahlen tackled the potential minefield of Employment Law.
Alice Cox-Cooper then turned the focus to the customer, exploring how clubs can create a world-class visitor experience and make better use of data to understand and improve that experience.
Lessons from one of golf’s biggest stages
Day Four brought another change of pace.
After a practical session on finance and management accounts with Craig Billington of GCMA Partner Tee to Green Accountancy, delegates travelled to Royal Birkdale Golf Club.
With the club preparing to host the 2026 Open Championship, Royal Birkdale Secretary Richard Weeks provided a fascinating insight into what it takes to lead a club preparing for one of the biggest sporting events in the world.
Delegates toured the club before hearing about the challenges, pressures and lessons involved in preparing for The Open – and the importance of bringing a team together to deliver when the spotlight is at its brightest.
Richard then joined Gareth Morgan for a Q&A exploring his career journey, the lessons he has learned and the challenges delegates themselves are currently facing.
The GCMA would like to thank Richard and everyone at Royal Birkdale for their warm welcome and for providing such a memorable experience.
“The opportunity to learn directly from experienced managers and apply those lessons to delegates’ own challenges is one of the real strengths of the programme.”
Finishing with self-awareness and team insight
The final day brought the week to a close with Keith Maynard of Progrezo leading delegates through Insights Discovery, a practical and engaging exploration of personality preferences, communication and working relationships.
Using the accessible four-colour Insights Discovery model, delegates considered their own preferences and how these can influence the way they communicate, make decisions and interact with others. The session also encouraged them to think about how their behaviour may be perceived by colleagues and how greater self-awareness can help build stronger and more effective teams.
It was a fitting way to conclude five days focused not only on the technical knowledge required to manage a golf club, but also on the people and leadership skills needed to bring that knowledge together.
“Each of us has strengths, and each of us has things to learn.”
More than a course
Away from the formal sessions, the week also provided something equally valuable: a network of peers.
Conversations over dinner, questions between sessions and discussions around the challenges delegates face at their own clubs helped build relationships that will extend well beyond the five days at Hillside.
And that may be the greatest strength of the Principles Certificate.
It isn’t simply about learning how to manage a golf club. It is about understanding the people, finances, strategy, operations, customers and challenges that make each club unique – and developing the judgement, self-awareness and confidence to bring all those elements together.
Congratulations to all of our delegates on completing the GCMA Principles of Golf Club Management Certificate – and thank you to all of the speakers, hosts and partners who helped make the week such a success.
The next generation of Golf Club Managers left Hillside with new knowledge, new connections and plenty to take back to their clubs.
By Mark Shanley
