Burhill Team News March 2022
Colin Mayes Chief Executive I am starting to write this update in my office at Burhill and delighted to see a blue sky and the sun shining with the weather forecast for the next few days being one of record temperatures for this time of the year. However, as the weather this week has proven, that is yet to last. The clocks have jumped forward this month and hopefully golf will continue to grow in demand from both our members and independent golfers as we begin the main season. It’s only a couple of weeks away from the start of the Masters Championship in Augusta, USA which normally is the unofficial start of the UK golf season so let’s all hope this exceptionally fine weather stays with us as we enter April. Trading for the whole of BGL has been very positive for the 1st quarter of 2022 and whilst there are massive concerns about inflation, energy costs, the situation with supply chains throughout the business from food to heavy greenkeeping equipment and the war in Ukraine, we are managing to steer a steady path through all the chaos that surrounds us. One of the big lessons in life is when there are so many external distractions surrounding each and every one of us, the most important things is to keep focussed on the aspects of your life that
you can control. Most of this will centre around your personal and work life. Everybody’s priorities should be to keep themselves as healthy as they can, our wonderful NHS is still under huge pressures and I believe we all have a personal responsibility to look after ourselves as best we can, be kind to your family and friends and try and make a positive contribution at your workplace and in the community where you live. If you can tick all of those boxes, you will feel pretty happy with yourself and you will be making a difference to everyone around you. This month I have managed to get out and about our business and have witnessed some great work being done to improve many aspects of the businesses I have visited. We are investing heavily in all sorts of areas currently including some of the following: 1. Wycombe Heights where we have just finished refurbishing the food and beverage area of the clubhouse and further upgrades to the driving range facility with the installation of the new Trackman driving range technology. In total an investment of over £425,000. 2. £1.3m investment in our new Ninja Warrior UK business in Milton Keynes, which is trading above our initial expectation with our GM Wayne and his team doing a great job for us there.
CEO Update 3. At Burhill Golf Club we have been investing heavily (£175,000) in golf course improvements to refurbish bunkers, pathways, and significant improvements, again, to our driving range facilities. We are also about to start work on a complete refurbishment of two old cottages at a cost of over £200,000 that will house a new baggage storage area for our members of the club. Apart from the golf course improvements, the greenkeeping team are also starting their work on preparing the New Course for the forthcoming British Open Qualifying event that we will be hosting at the club in June. 4. We are also on site developing a new £1.3m Mr Mulligans indoor golf business in the centre of Worcester which we hope to have open by early June. 5. Our next Ninja Warrior UK venue will also be opening in Swansea and this week we have just started the strip out of the 21,000 sq ft building which sits on the busiest retail park in central Swansea. I am also delighted to report that this is now our second business in Swansea and represents a further investment in the city of £1.4m. We are also in discussions with the local council about the possibilities of opening a third business that might be an outdoor adventure golf venue. I am delighted our international business is doing so well!!! 6. There are also many other smaller projects happening all around the business that are helping each site improve its own situation / position in its local marketplace. All of these projects / investments are aimed at keeping our operational standards to the highest possible levels and ensuring our members and customers are kept happy with what we are offering them. Whilst our business has performed exceptionally well in the first quarter of this year, I am already starting to see some very strong headwinds in front of us and in some areas, we are already starting to see a slight softening of trading. It is also clear that the tragic war in Ukraine is having an effect in all business markets with costs of oil, gas and many
essential services rocketing in the past month. As yet we have not felt the full impact of all of this on the UK economy, but it is coming, so, with that in mind the board of directors and myself will be taking a fairly cautious approach to our business in the coming months until we can start to see some certainty materialising. You will all know that last year all of our businesses benefitted massively from the large number of people who actually were forced to stay in the UK over the prime summer holiday period and currently with travel restrictions now being lifted it is hard to judge just how many of our customers will be disappearing aboard this year. What I do know is that we will need to keep working very hard to ensure that we look after every single one of our customers to help encourage them to keep returning to us. Making our businesses a happy and safe environment for our members and customers to visit when so much of the Europe and the world is in turmoil will be very important. We have to remember we are in the hospitality and leisure business so it’s our job to make our members and customers feel good when they visit us. A great big smile and a friendly welcome when they visit goes a long way to starting their journey with us on the right path and I would encourage you all to remember this. Nobody wants to visit a place where people want to spend their leisure time and hard-earned money being with miserable unfriendly people!! A huge part of all of our jobs is to give all our members and customers a smile and a friendly welcome when they arrive and a thank you for visiting when they depart. Amongst all the horrendous stories coming out of Ukraine over the past month I, like many people, have also been thinking about what we can do to offer our support and help the brave people of that country. I am sure like many of you, you have been thinking “what can I do to make a difference and help these people?!” Well, I am going to help us all and have decided to do a sponsored
CEO Update bike ride from Burhill to Paris in early September (Friday 2nd – Monday 5th) to raise money for the Red Cross that will go directly to the Ukraine support fund. I want this to be a whole company effort and I am going to invite at least one team member from each of our businesses to join me in this endeavour and to try and help me and our business raise as much money as we can for people in need from Ukraine. Like all of you, I am sure you want to help in some small way, and help we will, by encouraging each business to support their chosen colleague to ride with me on this journey and to help them raise as much money as possible, with all your own ideas / contributions as we develop them in the coming weeks and months.
At recent meetings with our General Managers, I have been encouraging them all to make sure that when faced with problems / opportunities they listen to their inner self and always respond to things by just doing the “right thing”. Recently I saw a quote from a very respected British Military leader, and it was the following ….
‘Life for me is about doing the right thing, on a difficult day, when no one is looking. If you do something or walk by something that you know is not right, then you’re ultimately cheating and undermining your own self. If you do the right thing, no matter what the outcome, your confidence always grows. And you have a better life that way. So just make sure you are always honest with yourself. And make sure you always do the right thing.’ Lt Col Lucy Giles, The first female commander of Sandhurst Military Academy
Even if the war finishes soon, the people of that country will need a huge amount of support to help rebuild their lives and infrastructure and somehow, I am determined that BGL and all of us can play a part in helping with that effort. I will also be asking our board to help me by matching whatever money we raise by a similar contribution. If for example we raise £25,000, I hope to confirm the company will add another £25,000 thereby making a significant difference to our fundraising. I hope you will all find the time and spirit to support me on this project BGL Ride for Ukraine over the coming months and we make this a real BGL team effort and help make a difference to so many people that have found themselves homeless and their own lives just torn apart through no fault of their own.
We all know instinctively when we ignore or do not listen to our inner self / some would call it a gut feeling. I thought the above was very relevant for all of us both in our day-to-day jobs and also our personal life hence why I have shared it with you all. Delighted also to see that a woman is heading up such an esteemed place of learning for our new and upcoming military leaders of the future. Hopefully a tad of inbuilt compassion will be added to our armed forces because of it. One of the other projects we are working very hard at is developing our sustainability and environmental programme for the business with the aim of reducing our CO2 emissions to the lowest possible levels. Many of you will know we were the first golf group in the world to be formally accredited to the Golf Environmental Charter programme and each of our golf courses
CEO Update this year have all passed their annual inspections by that organisation and their individual reports will be published very soon for you all to read and become knowledgeable on. But we all know there is still much more we can do to help support our planet and become a more responsible business regarding environmental and sustainability issues. We now have a senior leadership group that is monitoring this programme chaired by myself and the other members are Guy Riggott, Operations Director for our Golf Business, Andrew Scholey, Operations Director for our AL/NL business, Simon Percy, Projects and Property Manager and Alec Mumford, AL/NL Project Manager and finally Bala Badiga, Group F&B & Procurement Manager. We have already engaged an environmental specialist to carry out an in-depth review of two of our largest businesses being Birchwood Park Golf & Country Club and our recently acquired Ninja Warrior UK venue in Southampton. This review will include looking at energy usage, heating, air conditioning, lighting, cooking equipment, how we dispose of waste etc, and will hopefully deliver some firm recommendations to what changes and new initiatives we should be considering so that we can target a zero emissions business in the years to come. This will be a journey that we will hopefully never finish.
Technology will help us, and we need to ensure that we activate a clear plan for both the short term 12-24 months, medium term 3-5 years and longer term 5-10 years. Our board of directors are determined to make a real difference in the coming years, and I am looking forward to keeping you informed of our progress as we work our way through the projects to improve our performance on environmental and sustainability aspects of running our business.
You will all be aware that the UK’s Covid -19 numbers are still remaining stubbornly high, and we are all beginning to learn to live with this very real threat to our health and wellbeing. I would therefore urge you all to still act responsibly regarding taking basic simple precautions to keep the virus at bay as we enter the spring and summer months. Stay safe all and thank you all for your efforts and hard work as we begin to build for what hopefully is going to be a very busy April, Easter and then hopefully a long and beautiful summer. Time is of the essence, and I had better get on with giving my bike a good spring clean and start getting some milage in the saddle to prepare for the BGL Ride for Ukraine in early September.
Colin Mayes Chief Executive
Easter Recipes Make Easter ‘egg-stra’ special with this spring recipe from our very own Head Chef Kevin Welch at Redbourn Golf Club (pssst.. it’s vegan too!
Spring Club Vegan Ciabatta
To make the Sandwich:
1 Medium Aubergine 20ml BBQ Sauce 20ml Olive Oil 20ml Soy Sauce 20ml Maple Syrup 1 tsp Smoked Paprika Pinch of Salt Pinch of Garlic Powder 1 x Ciabatta Loaf 1 Tbsp Hummus or Mayo Tomato Slices Onion Slices Lettuce Leaves
1. Cut your Ciabatta in half and bake for a few minutes in the oven to be served warm. 2. Spread the Hummus or Mayo onto both side of the ciabatta, add thinly sliced tomato on top of one half to cover the roll, followed by slices on onion and a handful of lettuce. 3. Add 6 slices of your grilled aubergine ‘bacon’ and top with the other half of the ciabatta. 4. Cut the sandwich in half and serve with crisps or French fries!
To make the ‘Aubergine Bacon’: 1. Preheat your oven to 130 degrees. 2. Mix the BBQ sauce, olive oil, soy sauce, maple syrup, paprika, salt and garlic powder together in a large bowl and set to one side. 3. Thinly slice your aubergine and brush both sides of the aubergine with a little oil and place on a baking tray with greaseproof paper. 4. Bake for 20 minuntes then turn the aubergine and cook for a further 10 minutes or until nice and crisp.
Why not enjoy a ‘cracking’ cocktail from our Mr Mulligans Birmingham GM, Matt Strange!
Considered Lass Cocktail 37.5ml Hendricks Gin 12.5ml Elderflower Liquer 50ml Apple Juice 12.5ml Lemon Juice 2/3 slices Cucumber 5-10 Mint Leaves 1. Muddle a handful of cucumber & mint in a cocktail shaker. 2. Add in the gin, elderflower liquer, lemon juice & apple juice.
3. Shake until thoroughly combined. 4. Double strain into a Martini glass and garnish with a crack of black pepper. Enjoy!
Easter Recipes Completing our Trio of recipes from our venues is Head Chef at Buthill Golf Club, David Hanlon’s Crème Brûlée with Lemon Shortbread. What a treat!
Crème Brûlée
1. Beat the butter, sugar and lemon zest until white.
Serves 6
2. Sieve the rest of the ingredients and add in the butter mix.
120g Egg Yolks 135g Granulated Sugar 640ml Double Cream 1g Vanilla Beans, split down the middle and seeds scraped 1/3 tsp Salt Muscovado Sugar (for sprinkling)
3. Mix just until it comes together. 4. Put the dough in between 2 sheets of parchment paper and roll out to roughly fit the gastro (1cm thickness). 5. Rest in the fridge for 30 min.
To make the Crème Brûlée:
6. Preheat the oven 180C dry, bake for 20 min until golden brown.
1. Pre-heat your oven to 100 degress
7. When ready, take it out of the oven, cut while still hot and sprinkle with caster sugar.
2. Whisk the egg yolks and sugar together in a bowl until pale yellow in colour. Meanwhile, heat the double cream, vanilla seeds and pod, and salt in a sauce pot on the stove and bring to a simmer; remove from heat and discard the vanilla bean pod. 3. Temper the egg mixture by whisking 300 ml double cream into it, add the egg yolk mixture to the rest of the cream mixture. 4. Divide the custard mixture among the baking dishes, about 120ml each. Bake the crème brûlée for 90 minutes or until firm 5. Sprinkle each with some muscovado sugar and torch until nicely caramelized.
Lemon Shortbread Makes 1 tray 360g Plain Flour 250g Butter 110g Caster Sugar 1 tbsp Baking Powder Pinch of Salt Zest of 1 Lemon To make the Lemon Shortbread:
Sarah Blunden: Women In Golf of experience I required to progress on that career path were severely limited, so I had to look at other options.” Throughout her time at university, Blunden continued to work various roles at Wycombe Heights, developing relationships with members, visitors, and staff at the club. Her first step towards management came in the form of a transition into the admin side of the business at the club. ‘’After spending some time working behind the bar, I made a move into the office to work in an administration role,” she said.
AS FEATURED IN THE GOLF MANAGEMENT MAGAZINE SPRING 2022 EDITION. Located in Buckinghamshire, Wycombe Heights Golf Centre is one of ten golf clubs in the UK owned and operated by Burhill Group Limited (BGL). And with a master’s degree in psychology, the club’s general manager, Sarah Blunden, has probably one of the most interesting career paths in golf management today. “My journey at BGL actually started completely by accident, back in June 2006 when I was a student at Plymouth University,” she recalls. “One summer, while travelling back home for the holidays, I drove past Wycombe Heights, which was quite local to my family, so I decided to try out for a summer job there. Fortunately, I was offered the job, so I took a role working in the bar until it was time for me to go back to university. “I finished university in the summer of 2008 having studied psychology, and gained a further master’s degree in the subject. At that time, my career path was very much pointing towards mental health and exploring neuropsychology. “However, the recession then took hold and finding work became increasingly difficult. The number of openings in the NHS to gain the level
“From there, I gained lots of experience into the inner workings of the club and was eventually offered the chance to move into the role of membership manager, a position that meant I oversaw all the membership renewals and administration surrounding club memberships. “I suppose during that time, I realised that I was growing increasingly fond of Wycombe Heights and working under the BGL umbrella. We had left the recession behind, so I no longer had that to blame for not pursuing a psychology career. “Despite gaining my master’s degree and gaining a bit of experience within the field, I just didn’t want to change what I was doing, and every time I had thought about a change in career path another opportunity arose for me to progress with BGL.” After spending four years as membership manager at Wycombe Heights, Blunden was presented with the opportunity to take part in a wider management training programme with BGL, with the goal of developing the next generation of general managers within the company. The programme involved various training elements and large segments of shadow work
Sarah Blunden: Women In Golf at particular BGL venues, including Birchwood Park in Kent, where she oversaw a large-scale renovation to the club’s swimming pool and gym as deputy general manager. She also spent time working at BGL’s flagship venue, Burhill Golf Club, and Hoebridge Golf Centre in Surrey. “Taking part in the management training programme was extremely beneficial to my personal development,” she admits. “I had the chance to work alongside existing general managers at numerous BGL sites, which gave me a great amount of exposure to the varying demands at different golf clubs. “l was given the opportunity to learn about all the elements required to be an effective general manager within a safe environment, while working with fantastic teams of people throughout “Once I had reached the end of my training period I found myself in a position where I was hungry to start the next part of my journey at BGL as a general manager. It was then, that the perfect role for me became available ... general manager at Wycombe Heights Golf Centre, and I’ve been there ever since. “I think it’s fair to say that I have devel oped and grown a lot, from the person that I was straight after finishing my training programme. You learn new skills and how to adapt within the workplace, while developing your own methods to effectively manage your venue. “I’ve also grown massively in confidence, mostly because each day when I come to work, I know that I have a team around me that is also committed to making a success of the club. One of the most important things that we have tried to instil around the dub is a friendly, welcoming, and inclusive environment - a new type of culture that can be adopted and enjoyed by everybody
“We want members and visitors to cherish the time they spend at Wycombe Heights, and by developing an appealing culture we feel that we are taking a positive step towards improving the overall experience at the club. “Changing the culture of a golf club takes time - we know that as the team has to buy into what you are trying to do. Luckily for me, my team has been a positive driving force in creating the environment that we want for our members. “It was an amazing opportunity for me to come back to a club that I know so well, when taking on my first general manager role within the group. Aged 35, Blunden forged her path to the GM role at Wycombe Heights through years of working various roles within the club, and by making the most of opportunities presented to her by her employer, BGL However, to this day, there still appears to be a lack of women in general management positions within the golf industry, a subject which she passionately believes needs addressing. “My initial reaction when I am asked about women in positions of power within the golf industry is one of anger, because I genuinely don’t believe this should be an issue or talking point in 2022. It is frustrating that we even have to have these conversations. “However, I think the fact that it does still anger me is a big indicator that it is something we should be discussing. It is important to note though, there are some really great initiatives out there for women who want to get into the golf industry.
“The GCMA, for example, run a Women’s Golf Leadership Group, which is a great platform to develop the skills required to move into a management position within golf. It’s also fair to say that there are a lot more women seemingly moving into great positions within golf. “I guess lt’s not just about women being in those positions, but about them being more visible when in those positions. Better networking would be a great way for female leaders to help each other become more visible and understand that it is not just a maledominated industry anymore. “Golf is a fantastic business to work in, especially as a general manager. It is becoming increasingly diverse and provides
new opportunities around every corner - I’d encourage anybody to be a part of it. “Across the BGL Golf portfolio, we have three female managers within a total of ten golf and country clubs, I have to say that within the company that I work for, opportunities are available for everybody, and I have never felt that there has been a male dominance. “BGL is a very progressive company that likes to develop its own people and present them with opportunities to further their careers, and I love being a part of that” We are proud to announce that Sarah has just recently accepted the role of General Manager at Hoebridge Golf Centre, commencing the 11th April.
Meet Aldwickbury’s New Pro side of golf and in creating effective solutions for the problems people face when learning new skills. His aim is to help all those that seek his advice to discover a better way to play and enjoy their golf more, through a less technical and more skills based approach to learning.
We are delighted to announce that PGA Professional Steve Barker, from the Newark Golf Club in Nottinghamshire, will be joining our Professional team. Steve has been a fully Qualified PGA Professional for 30 years and brings a wealth of knowledge and experience, in all aspects of the game, to the Club. He will be assisting Robin with the day-to-day management of the Pro Shop to ensure that members and guests continue to receive a first class service. Steve developed his distinctive coaching style as the Head Coach to the Cambridge University team, placing particular emphasis on the mental
His passion and commitment to golf holds no bounds. Steve is dedicated to the pursuit of continuing to learn about this great game, whether that be golfs rich history, equipment developments or the latest scientific research. You can also be sure to find him working on his own skills in preparation for both national and regional professional tournaments. Away from golf Steve is a lifelong Nottingham Forest fan. He endeavours to maintain a healthy lifestyle through the practice of yoga, mindfulness meditation and running. He ran in the inaugural London half marathon as part of the brain injury association “Headway’s” fund raising team. Steve is looking forward to meeting and getting to know everyone associated with Aldwickbury Park.
Meet the Team HOLLY: I love the interaction with other sites and the team at support office. It is always nice to reach out and sound ideas off of people or get ideas from them. BGL: What is your typical day like at Aldwickbury? HOLLY: I am a sucker for stationery and so I always start my day with my diary, planning out what needs to get done and any appointments I have. The rest of my day is a mix of calling clients, showing guests round, helping the team and looking at the forward book. BGL: What is your favourite highlight of Aldwickbury Park HOLLY: The team! I am lucky enough to be surrounded by a great group of people and I believe one of the most enjoyable parts of Aldwickbury is getting to work with them.
This month’s meet the team is: Holly Laird, Sales Manager at Aldwickbury Park Golf Club. BGL: What’s your current role and how long have you been with BGL?
BGL: What’s the best thing you have achieved since being here? HOLLY: My biggest achievement is being promoted to Sales Manager last year as this is a role I have been working towards since I left University.
HOLLY: I am the Sales Manager at Aldwickbury Park and have been with BGL since 2017.
BGL: What are some of your hobbies outside of work?
BGL: What was the journey to where you are now? Previous roles?
HOLLY: I am an avid gym-goer and it is something my husband and I have always done together. It gives us a bit of time to unwind from the day and gives us some quality time together. It also balances out the chocolate consumption!
HOLLY: I went to the University of Hertfordshire and gained a degree in Business and Event Management. After my graduation I was lucky enough to be offered a continued role at the company I worked for as a Wedding and Event Coordinator. Having always worked in hospitality my previous roles were within the hotel industry and this is my first time working in golf. BGL: In 3 words describe your job? HOLLY: Varied, busy, creative. BGL: What’s your favourite part about working in the BGL Group?
BGL: What would your “death row meal” be? Starter, Main and Dessert? HOLLY: Baked camembert with rosemary and garlic, followed by a ribeye steak with sweet potato mash and peppercorn sauce. Then for dessert, a sticky toffee pudding with clotted cream ice cream. All accompanied by a glass (or two) of wine!
Lewis Marlow - A Rising Star Lewis Marlow has recently taken the helm at Mr Mulligans, Cheltenham as the new General Manager. Lewis started as a team member with Adventure Leisure in September 2017 when we opened Cheltenham. Since then he has tirelessly worked his way up through the business from Supervisor, to Duty Manager and then General Manager. Lewis has worked very hard on his own development completing a company sponsored apprenticeship programme with distinction and was part of the only team that scored 100% in the BGL Food and Beverage audit. Lewis has been holding the General Manager position since October 2021, and under his stewardship Cheltenham won the Operational Profit Performance and Food and Beverage Sales Performance.
“It has taken a lot of hard work and dedication to get to where I am now. But it does prove no matter what anything is possible. Aim for the top and you will get there” Please join us in wishing Lewis every success in his new role whilst supporting him as he starts this new challenge.
• • • • • • • •
Hospitality Team Member Level 2 / Hospitality Supervisor Level 3 / Hospitality Manager Level 4 Production Chef Level 2, Commis Chef Level 2, Chef De Partie Level 3, Senior Chef Level 3 Business Administrator Level 3 Retail Team Leader Level 3 / Retail Manager Level 4 Event Assistant Level 3 Sales Executive Level 4 Golf Greenkeeping Level 2 / Advanced Golf Greenkeeper Level 3 / Golf Course Manager Level 5 Marketing, Finance, Payroll and more!
5 Questions to Guide Your Career Choices Careers evolve and unfold over many years. So how can you be sure that you’re on the right path and you’ll achieve your definition of success? Ask yourself the following five questions: 1. How fulfilled do I feel? This is often about whether you’re able to express your values at work. Identify what’s most important to you and then consider, “On a scale of 1-10, where 10 is the ideal, how well am I able to express this value in my job?” 2. How am I learning and growing? To what extent are you building competence or expertise in your sector or function? What competencies do you want to develop further in the year ahead? 3. Am I headed toward a long-term goal? While everyone hates the question “Where do you want to be in 10 years?” stepping back to figure out a broad vision can help you pursue opportunities more proactively, versus reactively.
Learning & Development - Janice Moore
4. What seeds can I plant today that will benefit me tomorrow? Career success is often the result of the cumulative effects of small, regular actions.
Lewis is a prime example of Burhill Group’s commitment to development and internal promotion.
5.What relationships do I need to build to help me realize my vision? You can’t do it alone, no matter what the “it” is. Given your goals, who are the people who can help you get there?
Whichever department you work within, funding is available for your development. Nationally recognised qualifications that are available to you include:
Speak to your Manager today to find out how you can accelerate your performance and your career through learning.
Latest News NPS Champions We love to celebrate our superstars here at BGL. This month we are celebrating Tegan Fordham from Mr Mulligans Birmingham. Tegan managed to receive 10, 10 star NPS ratings within just five shifts! Her amazing customer service and wonderful approach to her work have contributed to Mr Mulligans 89% NPS rating in 2022. Join us in saying a big WELL DONE to Tegan and the Mr Mulligans Birmingham team!
Do you know of any service superstars? Help us recognise them & let us know!
Congratulations!
Sustainability & Bugs!
The BGL team is growing!
The Golf Division GM meeting held at Thornbury Golf Centre this March focused on sustainability and what it meant to our individual actions at work and at home, including considering alternative forms of protein!
A massive congratulations to Burhill Sales Manager Stacey Richardson, and her partner James as they welcome their first baby. Their daugher, Grace was born on 01/02/22 weighing 8lbs 1oz. Mother and baby are both doing well.
Great thanks to the Thornbury team for coping with 7 members of their team self-isolating. Take a peak at those alternative protein options:
Adventure Leisure & Ninja Leisure General Managers Meeting. Adventure Leisure & Ninja Leisure’s General Manager Conference kicked off on Wednesday 16th & Thursday17th March.
Marlow (Cheltenham), Martin Goodwin (Sheffield) and two support office team members escaping first!
GM’s were invited to Abbey Hill where the conference kicked off with presentations from Colin, Jim, Claire and Team Marketing. GM’s were also presenting research and findings in teams across a variety of subjects including: hospitality, leisure, NPS & party & groups experiences.
The second day saw presentations from Andrew Scholey & Victor Gomes. The GM’s were then back in teams to compete in the final elements of the day: A Ninja Obstacle Course at our newest Ninja Warrior UK Adventure Park and a putting championship at Mr Muligans Indoor, MK.
Later that evening the GM’s raced against the clock in another leisure based activity: Escape Rooms. Hosted by Locked In A Room MK (or locked in a box according to Victor!), With Lewis
All Activities were scored and the winning team was: Amanda Johnson, Wayne Davies, Pascal Longhurst & Richard Byrne well done guys!
Pup Corner Welcome to pup corner! Where we feature the cutest members of the BGL family! This month meet Jasper!! A very bouncy and energetic Cocker Spaniel, Jasper was adopted by Ashley Watts, Group Financial Accountant and his partner Chloe. Jasper loves playing with his toys and splashing in water. Now five months old he is training to become an emotional support animal for children, the elderly and in hospitals. Isn’t he adorable!! Have a pup or pet you want to feature? email your GM today!
Burhill Welcomes a New GM “As an approachable person who is passionate about what I do, for me, it’s all about supporting and developing the club team, along with delivering regular, straightforward member communication. Having again returned to play both courses, I can see the progress that has been made and I intend to build on this by working with Rob and his team. I am looking forward to meeting our new golf club captains, Andrew and Linzi, and working in partnership with the committees. Golf has been my passion for many years. Of recent I’ve not played as much as I would wish, consumed by refurbishing our new home in Hampshire where I live with my wife, Kirsty. My membership journey started at Tylney Park Golf Club near Hook, via Broadstone Golf Club in Dorset and over the last few years at North Hants Golf Club in Fleet. Knowing golf from the members perspective will I hope help guide me in my new role.
We are delighted to announce the appointment of Nick Moran as General Manager of Burhill Golf Club.
May I wish you all well and good form going into the golf season and I look forward to meeting you in person shortly.”
Nick brings a wealth of commercial and operational experience spanning 25 years working in golf, hospitality, travel and leisure businesses. This, aligned with being a keen golfer and long standing golf club member, means that he has an excellent understanding of what is required for Burhill Golf Club and its members.
Nick will join Burhill in the middle of May, in the meantime, Course Manager Rob Surgey , Head of Clubhouse Operations Stuart Barr and Head of Golf Operations Darren Wood will assume responsibility whilst working closely with Guy Riggot to keep Burhill providing their usual excellent service to members & visitors alike.
“I am extremely proud and privileged to join Burhill Golf Club and to continue the great work that Dubravka Griffiths and her team have been delivering for many years.”
Improvements at Ramsdale Park! For years we had to face a crater in the ground on the 9th Tee. The pond would fill with water, wildlife would come – then drain steadily through the weeks. This was never really on my radar until the first lockdown happened. On my very lonely course walks I made with Mr and Mrs Duck. Throughout that lock down I would go everyday to feed them – watching the water level drop more and more each day until Mr and Mrs Duck disappeared. It was a weird time for everyone – but that was the last straw for me! We have improved the whole area with a full renovation and fountain to boot! Once the grass has bedded in and the bushes become established, this is going to be the gem of the golf course. I am hoping Dave and Doris return to Ramsdale too! Theresa.
Congratulations We’d like to say a huge congratulations & thank you to our amazing BGL team members who are celebrating 5+ years with us this March! It wouldn’t be the same without you. Anthony Bizzel, Sidcup Family Golf, 21 Years Catrina Mcarthur, The Shropshire, 18 Years Debra Hemmings, Abbey Hill GC, 17 Years Robin Turley, Aldwickbury Park, 15 Years Edward Barrow, Hoebridge GC, 14 Years Steven Cordery, Burhill GC, 14 Years Hannah Smalley, Birchwood Park, 13 Years Timothy Elliott, Hoebridge GC, 8 Years Michael Clarke, Wycombe Heights, 7 Years Toby Berkovitch, Wycombe Heights, 7 Years Craig Betts, Aldwickbury Park, 7 Years
Carl Lea, Hoebridge GC, 6 Years Nicola Burrill, Thornbury GC, 6 Years Karen Haywood, Support Office, 6 Years David Baker, The Shropshire, 6 Years Brian Bailey, Ramsdale Park, 6 Years Michael Duplock, Aldwickbury Park, 6 Years Kevin Kidman, Hoebridge GC, 5 Years Julie Martin, Support Office, 5 Years Michael Heard, Hoebridge GC, 5 Years Russell Mcree, Birchwood Park, 5 Years Suzanne Watson, Bitchwood Park, 5 Years