Welcome from the CEO

THE OFFICIAL JOURNAL OF THE

GOLF CLUB MANAGERS’ ASSOCIATION GCMA Bristol & Clifton Golf Club, Beggar Bush Lane, Failand, Bristol, BS8 3TH Tel: 01275 391153 | hq@gcma.org.uk CHIEF EXECUTIVE Tom Brooke - tombrooke@gcma.org.uk GOLF MANAGEMENT RESEARCHER Jim Cunning - jim@gcma.org.uk FINANCE ADMINISTRATOR Lianne Banks - lianne@gcma.org.uk COMMUNICATIONS EXECUTIVE Marie Taylor - marie@gcma.org.uk MEMBERSHIP SERVICES Julie Knight - julie@gcma.org.uk PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT MANAGER Gavin Robinson- gavin@gcma.org.uk BUSINESS PARTNERSHIPS MANAGER Craig Cotterill - craig@gcma.org.uk PRESIDENT JR (John) Jones 2020/22 CAPTAIN Dave Carlisle BOARD OF DIRECTORS Brad McLean, Amy Yeates, Andrew Rankin, Judy Barker, Stuart Leech, Gareth Morgan, Ed Richardson THE GOLF CLUB MANAGER IS PUBLISHED BY: SPORTS PUBLICATIONS LTD 2 Arena Park, Tarn Lane, Scarcroft, West Yorkshire, LS17 9BF, UK Tel: 0113 289 3979 | info@sportspub.co.uk PUBLISHER Tom Irwin - t.irwin@sportspub.co.uk CONTENT DIRECTOR Dan Murphy - d.murphy@sportspub.co.uk EDITOR Steve Carroll - s.carroll@sportspub.co.uk CHIEF DESIGNER Andrew Kenworthy - a.kenworthy@sportspub.co.uk DESIGNER Emmi Parry - e.parry@sportspub.co.uk

Every effort has been made to ensure accuracy, but the publishers cannot accept responsibility for omissions and errors. All material in this publication is strictly copyright and all rights are reserved. The views expressed in The Golf Club Manager do not necessarily represent the views of the company or the editor. Every care is taken in compiling the contents but the publishers assume no responsibility for any damage, loss or injury arising from participation in any offer, competition or advertising contained within The Golf Club Manager.

THE GOLF CLUB ISSUE 41 | NOVEMBER 2020 MANAGER

THE OFFICIAL JOURNAL OF THE GOLF CLUB MANAGERS’ ASSOCIATION

SPECIAL FOCUS: WE TAKE AN IN-DEPTH LOOK AT THE FUTURE OF GOLF CLUB GOVERNANCE

GCMA LIVING IN A VIRTUAL WORLD HOW OUR PRINCIPLES COURSE IS THRIVING ONLINE

GRASS ROOTS FIRE, FLOOD AND PESTILENCE THE CLUB THAT BURNED DOWN LAST YEAR AND IS NOW REBUILT

THE INTERVIEW ‘IT’S GOING TO BE A CAREER HIGHLIGHT’ MATT PARSLEY ON CONWY’S COVID-DELAYED CURTIS CUP

EDUCATE | INFORM | INSPIRE

ON THE COVER: Conwy’s Matt Parsley

WELCOME

ISSUE 41 | NOVEMBER 2020

Welcome to the last edition of this year’s The Golf Club Manager. With golf courses in England and Southern Ireland now closed until early December, it looks like we’re in for a very tough winter, both socially and economically. We wish our colleagues in Wales all the very best of luck in preparing to reopen on 9th November and, of course, we’ll keep a close eye on developments in Scotland and NI, where golf at present remains open. I’ve had several conversations with GCMA members about the fantastic level of service and value the GCMA team, and our community as a whole, has provided during this time and that is great to know. We will continue to put every effort in to providing our members with all the support needed for as long as this challenge continues.

With the huge increase in the number of golf rounds played this year, it really is important we recognise the challenges this is placing on ourselves as club managers, as well as our teams - thinking specifically about greenkeepers as an example, and the additional pressure that is being placed on them to keep up with course maintenance.

With winter settling in, it’s going to be even more of a challenge to manage the expectations of club members and visitors with regard to course conditions if usage remains as high as in recent months. I had an interesting chat with a member recently, who calculated that between mid-May and the end of September, there had been 180 MILLION more footsteps on his golf course than during the same period in 2019!

The launch of the new World Handicapping System has certainly not been without its moments and we’ve worked with each of the four home unions to ensure advice and guidance has been made available to our members. We’re very aware there have been a number of complications throughout the process and be assured we will continue to represent the opinions and concerns of members and bring these issues to the attention of the Home Unions.

Our last edition focused on Professional Development and we have some very exciting plans which will be presented over the next few months. We’re also in the process of developing a GCMA specific Wellbeing Programme and we’ll be in touch soon with further details. I am also very pleased to announce we will be going ahead with plans for the GCMA Conference in November 2021, which is something to really look forward to, in the hope we are back to some normality and are able to socialise in person again!

Tom Brooke – Chief Executive

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