‘I learned so much about myself’: Richard Jagger reflects on AMP Certificate in Leading and Managing People

29 October 2026

Brough Golf Club General Manager Richard Jagger reveals his key takeaways from the recent AMP Certificate at Moor Park

The GCMA’s Advanced Management Programme (AMP) gives managers opportunities to build their knowledge through practical learning experiences, covering key areas of golf club management and leadership.

The AMP offers courses covering topics such as food and beverage management, marketing, governance, finance and strategic planning, helping golf club managers develop a broad range of skills and knowledge to meet the evolving demands of their roles.

Officially recognised by the Chartered Management Institute (CMI), the programme offers 11 individual certificates across four areas of management, allowing participants to focus on the subjects most relevant to their professional development.

Richard Jagger, a GCMA Accredited Level 3 General Manager at Brough Golf Club, recently completed the AMP Certificate on Leading and Managing People over three days at Moor Park.

This interactive programme focused on developing leadership, people management and influence skills, which are needed to lead high-performing teams, deliver exceptional member experiences and work effectively with committees, boards and stakeholders.

With more than 25 years of experience in the leisure industry, including over eight years at Brough, Richard discusses his time at Moor Park, the lessons he learned and why he believes fellow managers should engage with the Advanced Management Programme.

How was the Advanced Management Programme on Leading and Managing People at Moor Park?

It was absolutely brilliant – probably one of the best pieces of learning and education I’ve done in the last five or six years.

It was really good to share a room with like-minded peers. There were open and honest conversations about self-reflection, leadership, and management. I learned so much about myself and how to improve my skills – in terms of managing upwards and downwards.

I shared that with a really good group of people, so I would recommend anyone to do it.

What were the highlights, and what did you take from it that will improve you as a golf club manager?

A section was on Insights (Discovery) and working out your Insights personality – in terms of colours. Understanding that helps you really think about the conversations you have in a golf club where you’ve got a lot of different personalities and different people to deal with.

We had good sessions on giving and receiving feedback. In a golf club, people are very keen to give feedback, but you also have to give feedback to your team members and to members as well. That was really useful in learning techniques to give good feedback.

How useful was the opportunity to spend time with peers?

One of the good things to come out of the course was that we have a WhatsApp group with everybody on it and you make new contacts and a support network.

During the course, it didn’t feel like a classroom. A lot of the time, we were sat in a circle discussing real-life environments, real-life scenarios, and learning how to apply what we learned through insights or giving feedback to that situation.

It was really good. When we finished, we all socialised, had a bite to eat afterwards, and strengthened friendships as well.

What would you say to members looking to expand their skills? Is the Advanced Management Programme something they should be looking into?

Absolutely. 100%. It will take you outside your comfort zone, but that’s the best place where you learn. You’re interacting with other people, with trainers and learning new skills.

I would definitely advise any manager to consider it and any board members, who are not sure whether it’s a good thing to support their team members, to go on that education.

Click here to find out more about the Advanced Management Programme, including course dates

Key takeaways

The Advanced Management Programme might take you out of your comfort zone, but that is where you can learn and grow
Understanding how to give good feedback to your team members is an important trait of club management
The Advanced Management Programme allows you to meet like-minded people who share the same work experiences and tackle the same challenges

By GCMA Content Team

More from Your Community

How Verulam Golf Club is securing its future water supply

29 Oct 2026By GCMA Content Team

With water security becoming an increasing concern for golf clubs,…

Photo from AMP certificate. Developing managers, building stronger clubs.

Developing stronger managers. Building stronger golf clubs.

23 Oct 2026By Natalie McColl

For managers and committee members considering where development could make…

How do you explain next year’s subscription increase?

22 Oct 2026By GCMA Content Team

How do you communicate? How do you answer difficult questions?…

John Steele

John Steele is a former professional athlete, sports coach, Olympic Leader and is the Executive Director of Sport at Loughborough University. He has been Chief Executive across a range of sectors. Drawing on leadership experience of nine different Olympic and Paralympic Games (including the amazing events at the Rio Games), John reflects on the lessons from this unique period in British sport and relays his fascinating views on creating high performing teams.

Indeed, inspired from PyeongChang 2018 Olympic Winter Games, by the most successful performance ever for Team GB, he has a whole host of new business and leadership insights into how this was brilliant performance was achieved and how it can translate back into your organisation.

John moved into the corporate world, before he enjoyed an outstanding career as a professional rugby player achieving international honours. After his playing career, he turned his hand to coaching and achieved the highest accolade for a British club coach by winning the European Cup with Northampton Saints. He then became Executive Director on the Saints Board during a period of unprecedented growth, and served on the England Rugby Board during the successful world cup campaign of 2003. It was no surprise that John’s talents were called upon to drive through a change and modernisation programme as CEO of the Rugby Football Union – a challenge that became controversial and ended in his departure from the post after only a year, but with his dignity and professional pride intact.

Headhunted by UK Sport, John took up post as CEO the day before London won the 2012 Olympic bid – and this promising start was sustained as he embarked on developing the UK’s high performance sport system, which he led for a six-year period of unprecedented success through the Beijing and London Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Post-London 2012, with the Olympic legacy in place and an obligation to continue inspiring a generation, John took up his post as Group Chief Executive of the Youth Sport Trust. He has also succeeded Steve Cram as Chairman of the English Institute of Sport, an organisation described as ‘the team behind the team’, which delivers a range of performance impacting solutions to over 40 Olympic and Paralympic sports and some non-Olympic sports.

This will close in 0 seconds

Dr Jo Salter MBE

Dr Jo Salter MBE is famed for becoming the first female fast jet pilot, having flown the Panavia Tornado ground attack aircraft during her services in the Royal Air Force. Joining the RAF aged 18, Jo has since taken Air Cadets into the skies as part of Air Experience Flights, become the Director of Global Transformative Leadership for PWC, and most recently become a Global Advisory of GenAI for PwC.

Jo has piloted flights in the Air Cadets Air Experience Flights and inspired countless budding armed service members to pioneer a male-dominated sector, having been the leader of an all-male squadron. Since leaving the military behind, Jo has established a strong business career working in roles such as Head of Technical Services for NetConnect, European Operations Manager for Automated Power Exchange and Managing Director of Saltin Ltd.

Having developed first-class expertise in leadership, analytical thinking and performing under pressure, Jo is now a highly sought-after public speaker to share stories from her time in the skies.

Jo is a passionate Trustee of The Royal Air Force Club and an Ambassador of the Global Angels charity, an organisation that gives communities around the world access to clean water, education, healthcare and encourages female and youth empowerment. Jo has also authored two books, titled Energy: 52 Ways to Fire Up Your Life and Become an Energy Angel and Energize: Spring Clean Your Mind and Body to Get Your Bounce Back Today and Every Day.

In recognition of her achievements throughout her career, Jo has also been named as one of the 50 Most Inspiring Women in the World by Harpers & Queen. She is now working as the Director of Global Transformation Leadership at PWC, after working in other roles such as Director of Risk Technology Strategy, Director Chief of Staff to Head of Technology & Investments and the Director of People & Organisations.

In 2022, Jo was invited personally by Tom Cruise to attend the premiere of Top Gun: Maverick. Most recently, Jo received an honorary doctorate of Arts from Bournemouth University.