The GIG Podcast

Send us a textIn this inspiring episode of The GIG Podcast, host James Cronk sits down with Tiffany Gordon, Vice President of the PGA of Canada and soon-to-be first female president of the organization. Tiffany shares her remarkable 35+ year journey in the golf industry, from her early days as one of only a few female golf professionals to her current leadership role. She offers valuable insights on the evolving landscape for women in golf, both as professionals and players.Tiffany discusses how the industry is gradually becoming more inclusive, with female membership in the PGA of Canada growing beyond the current 8%. She emphasizes that success comes to those who work hard regardless of gender, while acknowledging that creating welcoming environments for women remains crucial for the sport's growth. Listeners will gain practical advice on fostering diversity at their facilities, leveraging the unique skills women bring to leadership roles, and embracing the social aspects of golf to attract new players. This episode provides both inspiration and actionable strategies for golf professionals looking to grow their business through greater inclusivity.To learn more about Golf Industry Guru, and to gain access to online golf business education from the world's most successful business, golf, & hospitality industry leaders, visit us at www.golfindustryguru.com.

Send us a textIn this industry-focused episode of The GIG Podcast, host James Cronk speaks with performance coach Tim O'Connor on strategies that can revolutionize coaching methodologies for golf professionals. Tim, author of "Getting Unstuck" and "The Feeling of Greatness: The Moe Norman Story," brings a unique perspective shaped by his experiences as a caddy, journalist, and coach who has worked with the ManKind Project for over 20 years.The conversation explores how integrating holistic coaching - addressing technical, physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual elements - can differentiate instructors in an increasingly competitive and technology-driven environment. Drawing from influences like Fred Shoemaker's Extraordinary Golf, Tim offers practical frameworks for conducting more effective lessons, emphasizing how golfers can swing with freedom, overcome self-interference, and access their innate talents.  Golf professionals will gain actionable strategies to enhance their coaching toolkit, create more value for their students, and future-proof their teaching careers against technological disruption. This episode provides essential guidance for instructors looking to elevate their professional practice and deliver transformative results that keep students coming back.Listeners interested in learning more about Tim's holistic coaching approach can connect with him in several ways. Tim O'Connor is a Golf Instructor at The Golf House in Guelph and co-hosts the Swing Thoughts podcast with Humble Howard. For regular insights, follow his blog at toconnor.substack.com or visit his website at www.oconnorgolf.ca. Tim is the author of "GETTING UNSTUCK: Seven Transformational Practices for Golf Nerds" and can be reached directly at 519-835-5939. And for those curious about his creative side, Tim is also a bass player in the Guelph punk band C.I.D.To learn more about Golf Industry Guru, and to gain access to online golf business education from the world's most successful business, golf, & hospitality industry leaders, visit us at www.golfindustryguru.com.

Send us a textIn this insightful episode of The GIG Podcast, host James Cronk welcomes Paul Dank, a leading expert in member vetting from Kennis Member Vetting, to discuss the critical role thorough background checks play in preserving and enhancing club culture. Through compelling real-life examples, Paul reveals common gaps in traditional vetting processes and outlines why relying solely on member nominations and basic checks leaves clubs vulnerable to serious risks. Paul delves into how advanced fact-based vetting techniques uncover critical insights that protect clubs from potentially harmful members, sharing practical strategies clubs can implement immediately. Listeners will gain a deeper understanding of the importance of rigorous member evaluation to safeguard their club's reputation, improve member satisfaction, and avoid costly legal and social repercussions.To learn more about Golf Industry Guru, and to gain access to online golf business education from the world's most successful business, golf, & hospitality industry leaders, visit us at www.golfindustryguru.com.

Send us a textThis episode of The GIG Podcast features an enlightening discussion with Laurie Martin, also known as "Trauma Mumma," who brings over three decades of experience in risk deterrence and crisis/trauma education to the table. With a history of responding to major global crises like 9/11 and the Oklahoma City bombing, Laurie offers profound insights into the necessity of crisis preparedness in the club industry. Host James Cronk and Laurie delve into practical strategies for building emotional resilience and managing unexpected events effectively within club settings. Listeners will learn the importance of proactive crisis management and the benefits of establishing robust support systems for club employees and members. The conversation covers real-life crisis responses and the crucial steps in fostering a culture of safety and preparedness that can significantly enhance operational stability and emotional well-being in clubs. Benefits of Listening By listening to this episode, club owners, operators, and their teams will benefit by learning: - Advanced Crisis Management Techniques: Laurie shares from her extensive experience dealing with high-stakes environments, providing listeners with advanced skills in crisis readiness.- Emotional Resilience Training: Insights into fostering emotional strength essential for leadership and team effectiveness, especially during crises.- Real-world Applications: Examples of crisis management from Laurie's own experiences, offering relatable and actionable guidance for club managers.- Safety and Support Systems: Strategies to enhance the safety and emotional support structures within clubs, which are crucial for handling both minor incidents and major emergencies. This episode is a must-listen for those looking to improve their ability to handle crises and build a more resilient club environment.To learn more about Golf Industry Guru, and to gain access to online golf business education from the world's most successful business, golf, & hospitality industry leaders, visit us at www.golfindustryguru.com.

Send us a Text Message.In this episode of The GIG Podcast, James Cronk interviews Jake Gordon, CEO & Co-Founder of Noteefy, a groundbreaking tee time-reservation and booking platform designed to optimize revenue for golf course operators. The discussion explores Jake's path from discovering his passion for golf as an adult to co-founding Noteefy, a company that has swiftly grown since its inception. We also get into Jake's journey as an entrepreneur, highlighting his experiences and insights entering into the golf industry over the past two years. The conversation covers a range of topics, from personal growth and leadership to the challenges and innovations shaping the future of the industry. Key Discussion Points: 1.    Discovering and Leveraging Strengths: Jake emphasizes the importance of self-awareness and leveraging one's strengths in both you personal and professional life. He shares anecdotes about how recognizing his strengths has helped him navigate the entrepreneurial landscape. 2.    Mentorship and Continuous Learning: The value of mentorship and learning from others is a recurring theme. Jake discusses how guidance from experienced professionals has influenced his career and the growth of Noteefy. 3.    Innovation and Industry Adaptation: The conversation touches on the need for innovation in the golf industry, particularly in adapting to new technologies and changing consumer expectations. Jake talks about how Noteefy is contributing to these changes by providing solutions that enhance communication and customer engagement. 4.    Facing and Overcoming Challenges: Jake candidly discusses the challenges he has faced in building a startup and how resilience and adaptability have been crucial in overcoming obstacles. He provides practical advice for business professionals in any industry facing similar challenges. 5.    Future Trends in the Golf Industry: The episode concludes with a forward-looking discussion on the future of the golf industry. Jake shares his thoughts on emerging trends and how golf courses and businesses can prepare for the evolving landscape. Listeners will gain valuable insights into the entrepreneurial journey, particularly within the golf industry. They will learn about the importance of self-awareness, mentorship, and innovation in achieving success. Jake's experiences and practical advice offer a roadmap for navigating the challenges of building a business, making this episode particularly valuable for entrepreneurs and industry professionals looking to stay ahead of the curve.To learn more about Golf Industry Guru, and to gain access to online golf business education from the world's most successful business, golf, & hospitality industry leaders, visit us at www.golfindustryguru.com.

Send us a Text Message.In this insightful episode of The GIG Podcast, we sit down with James Wilkinson, the innovative Founder and Managing Director of Albatross Digital, to explore the transformative changes in golf marketing that are currently happening around us. As the golf industry continues to evolve, staying ahead of the curve is crucial for club owners and operators. This episode delves into the cutting-edge strategies and technologies reshaping how golf clubs engage with members and attract new audiences.Listeners will gain a deep understanding of how artificial intelligence is revolutionizing marketing tactics, from personalized member experiences to data-driven decision-making. James shares his expertise on leveraging AI to enhance customer engagement and streamline marketing efforts, ensuring clubs can maximize their outreach and retention rates.The discussion also highlights the significant impact and importance of high-quality content creation in the digital age. James emphasizes the power of cinematic content, drone footage, and social media campaigns in capturing the essence of a golf club's unique offerings. He provides practical tips on how clubs can differentiate themselves in a competitive market by producing compelling visual content that resonates with both current and prospective members.By tuning in, golf club managers and owners will discover actionable strategies to navigate the post-COVID landscape, where the demand for outdoor activities has surged. James discusses the lessons learned during the pandemic and how clubs can capitalize on the renewed interest in golf. From optimizing paid social ads to understanding the importance of consistent branding, this episode equips listeners with the tools needed to thrive in today's dynamic market.Join us for "Navigating the New Era of Golf Marketing" and uncover the secrets to elevating your club's marketing game. Whether you're looking to attract new members, retain existing ones, or simply stay ahead of industry trends, this episode is packed with valuable insights and practical advice that will benefit any golf club manager or owner.To learn more about Golf Industry Guru, and to gain access to online golf business education from the world's most successful business, golf, & hospitality industry leaders, visit us at www.golfindustryguru.com.

Are you ready for a mind-blowing revelation? The unexpected truth about boosting your golf coaching business's profitability and efficiency will leave you in awe. Get ready to discover a game-changing approach that's surprisingly effective in increasing your income and the satisfaction of your students. Curious to know more? Tune in for some eye-opening insights that will revolutionize your golf coaching career. Christofer Nassil, a golf enthusiast and seasoned business coach, has made significant strides in the golf coaching industry with his innovative model for helping golf instructors scale their business and make more money. Originating from the north of Sweden and drawing on his background in coaching salespeople, Christofer has implemented a unique sales strategy and system within the golf coaching realm that's generating real results for golf professionals. Through his Golf Coach Academy online learning platform, Christofer has introduced a pioneering approach, enabling golf coaches to emphasize the “sale of scores” to clients, resulting in improved profitability and elevated value for their students. His unconventional methods have positioned him as a notable figure in the industry in Europe, sought after for his expertise and achievements in enhancing the business of golf coaching. In this episode, you will learn about:Mastering a New Business Model for Golf Coaches: Learn how to maximize your profitability and efficiency as a golf instructor, taking your coaching career to the next level.Unlocking Secrets to Improving Golf Scores without Changing Swing: Discover innovative techniques to help your clients achieve better scores on the course, without needing to overhaul their swing mechanics.Golf Coach Academy Success Stories: Hear inspiring stories of golf coaches who have achieved remarkable success and learn how you can apply their strategies to elevate your own coaching journey.Engaging Students During Golf Lessons: Explore effective ways to captivate and motivate your students during golf lessons, creating a more enriching and satisfying experience for both you and your students.Embracing the Head Coach Method in Golf Instruction: Uncover the benefits of adopting a head coach approach in your golf instruction, and how it can lead to increased income and client satisfaction.The resources mentioned in this episode are:Search for Golf Coach Academy online to access the e-learning platform and business support community for golf instructors. The platform offers access to all the information, trainings, and books for a low monthly fee, with the option to cancel anytime.Find the book Shoot Lower Scores on Amazon, which serves as a handbook for golf coaches to use in their coaching methods. The book provides 25 steps to shooting lower scores, focusing on strategic improvements rather than swinging technique.Follow Christofer on social media for updates and insights into his coaching methods and business support for golf professionals and clubs. Direct message him for any questions or inquiries.Reach out to Christofer for personalized support and guidance in implementing the head coach method and improving the business model for golf coaching. He offers direct messaging and video support to assist with any queries or challenges.Consider joining the Golf Coach Academy platform to gain access to valuable resources, support, and guidance for golf clubs and professionals. The platform aims to fill the void in the golf coaching community and help clubs become more profitable while enhancing the quality of life for coaches and players.To learn more about Golf Industry Guru, and to gain access to online golf business education from the world's most successful business, golf, & hospitality industry leaders, visit us at www.golfindustryguru.com.

Do you want to revolutionize the way crisis management is handled in your club and improve communication? Get ready to uncover solutions that will enhance crisis management and communication within your club. Get ready to amplify your crisis management abilities and effectively communicate within your club.Our special guest is Corey Saban.Corey Saban is an Emmy-nominated journalist and crisis management expert with years of experience in the club industry. As the founder of CS Media Works, Corey focuses on providing leadership and communication guidance to clubs, emphasizing the significance of crisis management, effective communication, and marketing plans. With his real-world expertise and insightful approach, Corey brings a wealth of practical knowledge to help club managers and leaders navigate challenging situations and enhance their crisis management abilities. His engaging storytelling and practical strategies ensure that clubs are well-prepared to handle various crisis situations with confidence and clarity.In this episode, you will be able to:Understand crisis management techniques for clubs and stay prepared for any situation.Learn how to build strong relationships with the media to effectively communicate your club's message.Find out how to navigate challenging scenarios confidently as a club manager and maintain a positive environment.Recognize how to enhance diversity, equity, and inclusion within your club through specialized training.Better harness the power of storytelling to elevate your club's brand and engage members effectively.Mastering Crisis Management in ClubsCorey Saban's insights exemplify the crucial role of proactive crisis planning in the club industry. Less than ten percent of clubs have a comprehensive crisis management strategy, often neglecting potential crises such as theft or harassment. Corey's key advice involves creating crisis teams, preparing holding statements for media inquiries, and recognizing the significance of effective communication in shaping the narrative during a crisis.The resources mentioned in this episode are:Connect with Corey Saban on LinkedIn by searching for his name and sending him a message expressing your interest in his services or expertise.Visit Corey Saban's website, csmediaworks.com, to learn more about his services and to reach out to him via email or by filling out a contact form.Consider reaching out to Corey Saban for a consultation or to discuss your specific challenges in the areas of crisis management, storytelling, communication, and diversity, equity, and inclusion.Explore the possibility of having Corey Saban as a speaker for your event or organization by contacting him through his website or LinkedIn.Take advantage of the opportunity to receive free advice from Corey Saban by initiating a conversation with him about your business needs and challenges.To learn more about Golf Industry Guru, and to gain access to online golf business education from the world's most successful business, golf, & hospitality industry leaders, visit us at www.golfindustryguru.com.

Join us as we delve into the world of golf with Nacho Giraldo, a philanthropist and advocate for Park Golf. Park Golf is an exciting initiative to bring the game of golf to new generations of young golfers. Park Golf will give kids an opportunity to experience the thrill of golf by breaking the barriers of access, cost, time, and intimidation.  On this episode of the GIG Podcast, discover the barriers to golf participation and the innovative solutions needed, but be prepared for a shocking revelation that leaves the future of the game in uncertainty. Tune in and brace yourself for the unexpected twist in the world of golf.   Our special guest is Nacho Giraldo. Nacho Giraldo, a passionate advocate for expanding golf's accessibility, brings a unique perspective to the industry. Hailing from Colombia, his early experiences with golf were limited by the sport's elitist nature. His dedication to breaking down participation barriers led him to champion initiatives like Park Golf, reflecting his commitment to making the game more inclusive. With a background encompassing philanthropy, investing, and strategic planning, Nacho's multifaceted approach offers an insightful contribution to the dialogue surrounding golf's growth and diversification. “Where are those people coming from in 30 years? Make sure you're getting them today”. - Nacho Giraldo In this episode, you will be able to: Overcome Golf Participation Barriers: Unlock the secrets to making golf more accessible for everyone.Embrace Park Golf as an Inclusive Solution: Discover the innovative approach to making golf enjoyable for all.Emphasize Importance of Diversity in Golf: Explore the benefits of a diverse and inclusive golfing community.Shape the Future of Golf and Preserve the Game: Uncover the strategies to ensure the longevity and relevance of golf.Addressing the Five Barriers to Golf Participation: Learn how to tackle the obstacles preventing broader golf engagement. Overcoming Golf Participation BarriersThe path to widespread golf participation demands a focus on breaking down barriers. This involves addressing issues of access, intimidation, diversity, time commitment, and expense. By tailoring solutions to the needs of the target demographic, golf can become a universal sport that appeals to wider, more diverse audiences. The resources mentioned in this episode are: Visit park-golf.org to learn more about the Park Golf movement and how it can benefit your local community and the golf industry.Consider donating to support the Park Golf initiative and help bring this innovative and inclusive golf experience to neighborhoods across the continent.Explore ways to break down the barriers to golf participation at your own golf club or facility, such as offering free junior golf programs, creating accessible and welcoming environments for diverse communities, and promoting a positive and inclusive golf experience.Connect with Nacho Giraldo and the Park Golf team to discuss potential partnerships, collaborations, or volunteer opportunities to support the growth of the game and the Park Golf movement.To learn more about Golf Industry Guru, and to gain access to online golf business education from the world's most successful business, golf, & hospitality industry leaders, visit us at www.golfindustryguru.com.

The importance of inclusivity in the golf industry cannot be overstated. Fostering an inclusive environment is not only important when trying to be an employer of choice, but it also helps to create a welcoming atmosphere that allows all individuals to enjoy and participate in the sport. By promoting inclusivity, clubs can inspire positive change and ensure that everyone, regardless of their ability, has an opportunity to connect, learn and grow through the game and business of golf. From Todd Kierstead's and Jeremey MacRae's perspective, inclusivity is the right thing to do for both ethical and practical reasons. Todd, as the Founder of Paragolf Canada, is passionately committed to breaking down barriers for individuals with disabilities in golf, while Jeremey, as a club manager, understands firsthand the benefits of creating an inclusive environment that not only benefits the club, its members, and its employees, but also makes a meaningful impact on the lives of those often marginalized due to their disabilities. In this episode of The GIG podcast, host Scott Masse talks with Todd Kierstead and Jeremey MacRae about the importance of inclusivity in the golf industry. Kierstead is the Founder of ParaGolf Canada, an organization dedicated to promoting inclusivity for individuals with disabilities in golf. MacRae is the General Manager/COO at Bayview Golf and Country Club in Toronto. “It's about changing the mindset of the individual, of showing them that yes, they can play golf, but it's also now changing the mindset of the industry.” – Todd Kierstead. Here's what we cover with Todd & Jeremey on this episode: Explore the growing importance of fostering inclusivity within the golf industry.Delve into the unique obstacles disabled golfers encounter and potential solutions.Be inspired by the triumphant tales of inclusivity breaking barriers in golf.Unearth various initiatives aimed at advancing inclusive practices in golf clubs.Recognize the need for proactive efforts towards establishing inclusive golf environments. About Todd Kierstead & Jeremey MacRaeMeet Todd Kierstead, a passionate PGA member and the driving force behind Paragolf Canada, an organization committed to inspiring golfers of all abilities to reclaim their love for the sport, no matter their unique circumstances. Todd's unwavering dedication to giving a voice to individuals with disabilities is felt throughout the industry, making him a respected advocate for change. Alongside Todd, we are joined by Jeremey MacRae, the esteemed GM/COO of Bayview Golf and Country Club. Jeremey's extensive experience in the private club sector has led him to champion inclusivity in his workplace, making Bayview a shining example of a truly inclusive club. On this episode of The GIG Podcast, we'll show you the real impact of inclusivity in the golf industry and how to create a welcoming environment that truly attracts a diverse community of players and team members to your club. Don't miss out on the opportunity to make a difference and elevate your club to new heights of success!To learn more about Golf Industry Guru, and to gain access to online golf business education from the world's most successful business, golf, & hospitality industry leaders, visit us at www.golfindustryguru.com.

Does any of this feel familiar? You're frustrated from constantly having to repeat yourself and not being understood.  You have anxiety from not being able to effectively express your ideas and having them fall on deaf ears.  You feel powerlessness from trying different tactics to communicate your message, and not seeing the results you desire. In a world of quick gratification, it can be difficult to effectively communicate as a leader. Poor communication can lead to confusion, frustration, and even discord in the workplace. Colin Cox, a leadership coach, knows all too well the importance of effective communication. Having served as COO of Demonware, and having begun work at Electronic Arts by the tender age of 15, Colin has developed a tremendous amount of experience in executive communication. On this episode of The GIG Podcast, Colin shares with us his expertise on how to craft effective digital, verbal, and written communication and how to lead with the conclusion in order to capture the attention of your audience. So, if you're looking to improve your leadership communication skills, then this episode is for you! "Having a key message and leading with your conclusion are two things that I've observed that help communication be a lot better received." – Colin Cox Here's what we cover with Colin Cox in this episode:How Colin's passion for video games and sports lead to his early career success at just 15 years old.What the importance of the "Bookending" technique is in effective communication.What the power of listening to the "environment” is, and how can it be used to craft a message for an audience. About Colin Cox Colin Cox is a leadership coach and former COO of Demonware, the online studio for Activision. He has worked in the tech and gaming industry since he was 15 and is an expert in communication, leadership, and executive coaching.  Colin Cox was a high school dropout who found himself in a government funded program to help troubled teens. Through this program, he managed to get a work placement at Electronic Arts which changed his life. Through his passion for video games, ice hockey, and technology, he developed his interpersonal skills and found himself leading a team at EA by the age of 17. Through this experience, Colin developed key communication skills, such as getting to the point quickly, leading with a conclusion, and bookending. He has since used these skills to gain attention from a panel of judges for a prestigious industry award and to explain complex topics to his audiences. He believes that the most underutilized superpower of communication is actually the skill of listening. If you're seeking to achieve precise, articulate communication in your leadership, then don't miss this episode of The GIG Podcast! Be sure to join us as we provide the means for you to accomplish your goal of effective communication.  Listen now! BONUS!  Colin as created a 20% discount code for GIG Nation for his Communicate Like a Pro online course.  The code is GIG, and you can manually apply it via the website linked above, or access these direct checkout links with the code applied for USD and CAD buyers.To learn more about Golf Industry Guru, and to gain access to online golf business education from the world's most successful business, golf, & hospitality industry leaders, visit us at www.golfindustryguru.com.

As employers in the hospitality industry, it can be hard to find and retain employees and doing so is essential for any hospitality-based business to succeed. It can also be difficult to create a workplace environment that is inviting and enjoyable for all team members. On this episode of The GIG Podcast, James sits down with Robin Turnill, Founder & Managing Consultant of Pivot HR Services. Robin is an HR expert with experience in the golf and hospitality industry and has been working in the field of HR for over 20 years. Tune in as Robin shares her tips on becoming an employer of choice to attract and retain employees and listen as Robin speaks to the need to create an inclusive and diverse workforce.  Robin also discusses the importance of providing unique perks and opportunities for learning and career development, and dives into the three most important factors for employees that make an employer of choice: feeling valued and recognized, seeing learning opportunities, and feeling fairly compensated.  Robin also emphasizes the importance of and outlines the “how-to” of creating a workplace culture where employees feel valued, recognized, and respected.  "If you're an excellent employer, if you're an employer of choice with a strong brand, with a reputation of treating people really well, then I think that word gets out and travels quickly." – Robin Turnill Here's what we cover with Robin Turnill in this episode:How to create a workplace culture that makes you an employer of choice in the modern age.What strategies can be used to ensure an inclusive and diverse work environment.How to navigate the balance between respecting employee individualism and meeting member & customer expectations. About Robin Turnill Robin Turnill is the Founder and Managing Consultant of Pivot HR Services, an HR expert with experience in the golf industry with 20 years of experience in human resources. She specializes in leadership development, employee relations, and creating inclusive and diverse workforces. Robin has a Masters Degree in Human Resources Management from York University, a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Psychology from the University of British Columbia, and a Post-Diploma in Human Resources Management from BCIT. She has a Diversity and Inclusion Certification from Cornell University and is a Certified Professional Coach (CPCC) through the world renowned Co-Active Training Institute. Robin holds her designation in the United States from the Society for Human Resource Management as a Senior Certified Professional (SHRM-SCP) and has been conferred the highest designation in HR in Canada as a Fellow Chartered Professional in Human Resources (FCPHR). Are you failing to find and retain great team members to take care of your club's members and guests?  Are you struggling to create a diverse, equitable, and inclusive workplace environment? Join us to hear how Robin is helping clubs just like yours thrive with her expertise. Listen now!To learn more about Golf Industry Guru, and to gain access to online golf business education from the world's most successful business, golf, & hospitality industry leaders, visit us at www.golfindustryguru.com.

On this episode of The GIG Podcast, we are talking to Ben Lorenzen, the Creative Director, Chief Memory Officer, and Director of Vibe at Champions Run in Omaha, NE. Ben has been in the club industry for nearly a decade and has also become a popular public speaker where his purpose is to inspire people to be greater than they thought they could ever be! On this episode, Ben shares his unique approach to club marketing which is based on creating magical moments and memories for members, as well as understanding how to successfully communicate with different generations of members within the club. Through the art of storytelling, Ben has helped triple the revenue at Champions Run and, on the podcast, Ben details many of his best practices which have been instrumental in creating experiential connections for the members of Champions Run. So, if you're a club manager wondering what the most effective tactics for driving revenue and creating memorable member experiences are, stay tuned as Ben Lorenzen reveals all. "My job is just to create magical moments and memories for our members. I mean, in a sense, all I'm trying to do each and every day is just create magical experiences." - Ben Lorenzen In this episode, you will learn about: How Ben was inspired to become a public speaker by a regular contributor to GIG, and what he does to create magical experiences for club members.How Ben communicates to different generations of club members, and the importance of planning for the future.How Ben finds inspiration for creative events and activities by borrowing ideas from social media. About Ben Lorenzen After starting out as a lifeguard and a bag boy at a private club, Ben eventually used his skills in video production and marketing to become a creative driven marketing leader at Champions Run in Omaha, NE.  Ben focuses on creating magical moments and memories for their members, and he has implemented things like the successful use of social media, text alerts, and the art of storytelling to improve the connection and communication with their members. Through inspiring ideas that he receives from TikTok and Instagram, Ben has developed numerous programs which have led to a positive response from members and guests and ultimately more memberships for their club. Club managers have a lot to consider when it comes to driving revenue at their club. By understanding Ben Lorenzen's powerful tactics that he uses, club managers can ensure that their club is staying ahead of the competition and maximizing its potential. With the help of Ben's tips, you can create a unique, inviting atmosphere at your club that will keep your members coming back for more. Remember, you have the power to create magical moments and memories for your members - and with hard work, dedication, and these tactics, you can achieve the same success as Ben Lorenzen. On this episode of The GIG Podcast, Ben proves that even traditional clubs can have success with creative ideas.  Be sure to tune in now!To learn more about Golf Industry Guru, and to gain access to online golf business education from the world's most successful business, golf, & hospitality industry leaders, visit us at www.golfindustryguru.com.

Would you believe that the Club Management industry is one of the most challenging and difficult industries to succeed in? It takes a special type of person to thrive, and Tom Wallace is one of those people. With a career that spans from a young 14-year-old shoe shiner to his current role as a partner at one of the most respected consulting firms in the golf industry, Tom Wallace has seen it all. On this episode of The GIG Podcast, Tom reveals his secrets to success and how he has successfully transitioned from a club manager to a consultant. He also outlines the traits that are critical for successful club management in this day and age, and how to find and work with great mentors. Be sure to tune in as Tom takes us through his career journey and provides some excellent insight into the world of Club Management. "I always tell young people, if you're somewhere where you're not learning and you're not growing, you need to leave." - Tom Wallace In this episode, you will learn about:  ·      Developing a Career in the Golf Industry: Learn from Tom Wallace's journey from club manager to consultant and his advice for young professionals on how to find a mentor and approach networking.  ·      Club Management Traits for Success: Understand the importance of self-awareness, mentorship and the necessary skill sets for successful club management in today's world. ·      The Role of a Club Manager: Discover how to be a “thought partner” for the members of a club and the importance of being creative, forceful, and respectful in disagreement. About Tom Wallace Before joining KOPPLIN KUEBLER & WALLACE in 2014, Tom served in club management at some of the country's most recognized private clubs. Tom's club management career spans over 25 years in the private golf, country, and community club industry. Most recently Tom served as the General Manager/Chief Executive Officer for The Club at Mediterra in Naples, FL. He also applied his leadership skills for a decade as the General Manager/Chief Administrative Officer at Oakmont Country Club in Oakmont, PA, where the club, under his guidance, hosted three major championships in a seven-year period, including the 2010 U.S. Women's Open, the 2007 U.S. Open and the 2003 U.S. Amateur. The USGA regarded the 2007 U.S. Open Championship as the “Gold Standard Open” for the modern era. Prior to that Tom spent fourteen years at The Country Club in Pepper Pike, OH.In 2007, Tom received the Excellence in Club Management Award as the top performing manager, presented annually by McMahon Group, Club + Resort Business, National Club Association, and voted on by a panel of industry experts.He has also been active in the Club Managers Association of America (CMAA) including numerous committee roles locally and nationally and served as the Pittsburgh Chapter President in 2010.Are you a Club Manager looking to find a way to achieve career development success, but feeling stuck? If so, this episode is for you!  Discover the traits of successful club management and how to develop a career in the golf industry with Tom Wallace on this episode of The GIG Podcast. Gain insight on how to be a thought partner for club members, the importance of self-awareness, mentorship and networking, and the essential skill sets for success.  Tune in now!To learn more about Golf Industry Guru, and to gain access to online golf business education from the world's most successful business, golf, & hospitality industry leaders, visit us at www.golfindustryguru.com.

Are you a club manager struggling to create an irresistible brand for your facility? If so, you're not alone. With an estimated 38,000 golf courses on the planet, it's difficult to differentiate yourself and capture your customer's attention. On this episode of The GIG Podcast, we sit down with Gair Maxwell, a storyteller brand strategist and self-described history junkie who has shared speaking stages with icons such as Richard Branson and Gene Simmons. His book, BIG LITTLE LEGENDS, explores how everyday leaders build irresistible brands. Be sure to tune in as Gair shares his strategies for creating an unforgettable brand and if you're ready to transform your club's business and increase your bottom line, get ready to take some notes. "Attention equals currency, which means any business leader today has got to be asking the question, how are we going to inspire people to pay attention to us?" "Once you have their attention, then you can make a connection. Make a connection. Build a relationship. Build a relationship. You build trust. If you earn their trust, you earn their business."  In this episode, you will learn about:  1. The strategies Gair Maxwell used to help a small business in a highly competitive category become a $50 million enterprise. 2. How brand identity helps build an irresistible brand and how it will affect your marketing efforts. About Gair Maxwell Gair Maxwell is a storyteller, brand strategist and self-described history junkie who marvels at the sight and sound of a well-struck drive off the tee. A frequent-flying keynote speaker, Gair has shared speaking stages with icons such as Richard Branson and Gene Simmons, and was named Speaker of the Year by TEC Canada, the country's largest CEO organization. Gair is also the author of BIG LITTLE LEGENDS which is a book about how everyday leaders build irresistible brands, which is exactly what we're going to talk about on this episode of The GIG Podcast! Discover the secrets to Irresistible Branding! Tune into this episode of The GIG Podcast with Gair Maxwell to find out how it's done.To learn more about Golf Industry Guru, and to gain access to online golf business education from the world's most successful business, golf, & hospitality industry leaders, visit us at www.golfindustryguru.com.

Are you looking for ways to make your golf club the safest place it can be for your employees, members, and guests? Safety and compliance are often overlooked components of running a successful golf club, yet they are essential - and Ben Gibson of The Toolbox Team knows this better than anyone.On this episode of The GIG Podcast, Ben Gibson explains the importance of safety and compliance within the golf industry and how The Toolbox Team is helping golf clubs around the globe create a culture of safety and compliance. With his extensive background in management and leadership, Ben Gibson is the perfect resource to help golf clubs become the safest and most compliant places they can be. Tune in and learn how to create a culture of safety and compliance within your golf club. "Great leadership leads to great staff, great systems, great culture, and great compliance." - Ben GibsonIn this episode, you will learn about: 1. How Leadership and Management Skills Apply to Safety and Compliance 2. The Role of Communication and Engagement in Compliance and Safety Ben Gibson is the founder of The Toolbox Team, an organization providing resources, support, training, and education to golf clubs around safety and compliance. With a background in business management, environmental science, and business leadership, Ben has a passion for helping people keep teams safe and reduce stress.Ben has always been passionate about helping people and after high school, Ben decided to pursue a business management degree. Through his work in finance, he learned the importance of having systems in place and great leadership and how important they were to the success of a business. This led him to pursue a master's in business leadership and ultimately start The Toolbox Team, which provides resources and training to golf clubs to help them keep their employees and guests safe. Ben's team helps clubs to build an understanding of safety and compliance into the DNA of the club, create a culture of safety and compliance, and provide evidence of risk assessment and control. They also provide software, an app, and resources that are tailored to the legislation of each club's region. Want to be ahead of the curve on safety and compliance? Get essential tips & resources in this episode of The GIG Podcast with Ben Gibson! Tune in now!To learn more about Golf Industry Guru, and to gain access to online golf business education from the world's most successful business, golf, & hospitality industry leaders, visit us at www.golfindustryguru.com.

Does any of this sound familiar? You're trying to increase inclusivity/eco-friendliness/year-round operations in your golf business, but you're not seeing results. You've been told to take action X, but it's just not working and you're feeling the pain? On this episode of the GIG Podcast, innovative golf course owner and operator, Leonard Gendron, shares his secrets to success in attracting new business, becoming eco-friendly, and making his course a community hub. "I think that for us here anyway, I think it's really about the leadership. So, it kind of comes from myself down to my managers, and then down to the employees…and they're super supportive."In 2005, Leonard Gendron took over his family's golf course, which the property it sits on had been in his family since 1884. Since then, he has been working to make his own mark on the business. In 2019, he partnered with a local brewery to open the first craft brewery on a golf course in Canada. This was just the beginning of his efforts as he then took steps to make the golf course more ecologically friendly and inclusive to the community. In 2020, he started working on a TV show about the golf course, as well as adding on-site accommodations called Jupes. Highlights from this episode of The GIG Podcast that you don't want to miss include: The property that Hammond Golf Club sits on has been in the Gendron family since 1884, and its owner/operator, Leonard Gendron, has been at the helm for 17 years.The Club has recently added a brewery, Jupes (a glamping-style accommodation), and a TV show to its repertoire in order to become more inclusive to the community and less dependent on weather-related golf revenues.Gendron credits his success to the team effort of his partners and employees, and advises others to find like-minded individuals to help achieve their business goals. Looking for innovative solutions to your golf business challenges? Look no further than this episode of The GIG Podcast!To learn more about Golf Industry Guru, and to gain access to online golf business education from the world's most successful business, golf, & hospitality industry leaders, visit us at www.golfindustryguru.com.

In this episode of the GIG Podcast, we explore how to leverage the opposite summer seasons of Australia and Canada through an exchange program that imports golf course personnel between both countries. The goal is to make it easier for Canadian golf courses to recruit Australian-based grounds staff and vice versa. EnvoyGolf in Australia and Fresh Golf Solutions in Canada are recruitment firms who specialize in golf. Together, with the endorsement and promotional support of the CGSA and NGCOA Canada, a new reciprocal working visa program for golf is being launched in Canada. All logistics, such as screening candidates, working visas, insurance, and travel arrangements will be professionally managed by EnvoyGolf, with support from Fresh Golf Solutions. The primary focus will be upon seasonal Grounds Staff. EnvoyGolf has had previous success implementing this same program between Australia and Scandinavian countries. Highlights from this episode of The GIG Podcast that you don't want to miss include: ·      Find out what specifically are the labour challenges facing the industry?·      Learn about EnvoyGolf and what they are doing to help with this labour shortage issue?·      Hear about the numerous benefits of the cross-border program to the employees that participate in it.·      Understand the benefits of the cross-border program to the clubs that decide to get involved.·      Find out about how the visa process works for Canadians.·      Hear about some of the success stories relating to past participants from other countries in this program.·      Understand what the key factors one should consider when deciding if this is right for them? About David BurtonBefore joining EnvoyGolf, David was the General Manager at New South Wales Golf Club from 1996 to 2020.He is the Past President and Life member of Golf Management Australia, past Director on the Board of the Australian Golf Industry Council, past Director on the Board of the Golf Management Australia (NSW Division) as well as a past Director of another company outside of golf.Through 24 years as a club manager, David has seen firsthand the difficulties that clubs face in finding resources in all areas of their operation. This has been exacerbated by the increase in club activity and course rounds resulting from the Covid 19 pandemic. David also understands the need to make resourcing a seamless and cost-effective process for management.With a wealth of experience, David will be of great assistance to clubs using the EnvoyGolf resourcing services.About Scott KolbStarting as a PGA of Canada member in 1992, Scott has been involved with all facets of the Canadian Golf Industry.  He has worked with most of the golf associations including as a Board member of the Canadian Society of Club Managers, PGA of Canada, PGA of BC, NGCOA provincial committee and the Camosun College advisory committee of the Professional Golf Management Program.Scott has been awarded provincially and nationally.  He has won the Merchandiser of the Year for Golf Shop of the Year from PGA of Canada, Club of the Year from the Canadian Society of Club Managers, Inaugural winner of the Executive Professional of the year for PGA of BC and the Fore Seasons winner of the NGCOA/PGA of BC award.To learn more about this unique and innovative program, visit https://www.envoygolf.com or https://www.freshgolf.ca/envoygolf.

Creating a loyalty program for your club is a major endeavour, but at the same time it can be a game-changing opportunity if created with care and precision.  Just ask our guest on this episode of The GIG Podcast, Luke Nieuwland, Co-Owner of Whisky Run Golf Club in Port Colborne, Ontario!  Luke is also a Co-founder at Birrdi Inc., a Golf Tee Sheet software that fully integrates with Square.  One of Luke's goals is to ensure golf courses are empowered with all the latest technology that's available to help them grow their business, which is exactly what Luke has been able to do in a big way at Whisky Run thanks to the successful implementation of killer loyalty program that's helped the business do a complete 180! Highlights from this episode of the GIG Podcast that you won't want to miss:- Learn about the new loyalty program at Whisky Run, it's features and benefits, and how they benefit their customers.- Find out how Whisky Run “pays” for all the loyalty that they provide and ultimately find out if their bottom line has improved.  Were they able to increase profits…or are they just giving out loyalty rewards on revenue that they already had?- Hear specifically how the profitability of their business has improved since they implemented their new loyalty program.- Understand what the consumer behaviours / activities are that they are trying to drive with their loyalty program.- Find out about the mistakes they were making before and what the errors are that Luke sees other clubs making now when trying to create a loyalty program for their club.- Luke tells us about the technology component they use to support and deliver their club's loyalty program.- If you are a club manager that wants to start a loyalty program at your club, find out what you should do first. To learn more or to connect with Luke directly, please connect with him on LinkedIn.

The Golf Kitchen concept was initially born at a meeting at Sebonack Golf Club in Southampton in 2010. With some solid ideas, Diana DeLucia, created her first book and proof of concept titled Golf Club World, Behind the Gates which published in 2013. The recipes and culinary stories proved to be very popular and thus the Golf Kitchen book concept was realized. DeLucia traveled the USA and the world to uncover some of the finest Private Golf and Country Club and Resort teams.  The first Golf Kitchen book was launched at Winged Foot Golf Club in Mamaroneck, New York and hosted by Executive Chef Rhy Waddington and a star-studded line up of Private Golf and Country Club Chefs from the USA and abroad cooking a food and wine tasting menu for the members and guests that will always be a night to remember. A similar event quickly followed at Cassique at Kiawah Island Club, South Carolina which was hosted by Executive Chef Doug Blair and once again included a collaboration of an elite group of chefs from Private Golf and Country Clubs from the USA and abroad.  It was at Cassique that the magazine concept was born, and Golf Kitchen Magazine is now in its second year.Golf Kitchen Punta Mita, a four-day golf and culinary extravaganza was hosted in Punta Mita, Mexico - which boasts both Four Seasons and St. Regis resorts on the property and two renowned Jack Nicklaus Signature-designed golf courses, Pacifico and Bahia – on April of 2018 and 2019 with the help and support of Punta Mita, Golf Kitchen participating chefs and clubs, friends of Golf Kitchen chefs, residents and guests. Golf Kitchen Magazine is now a luxury, biannual collectable magazine and 2022 will be it's fifth year in production.  Highlights from this episode of The GIG Podcast that you don't want to miss include: Diana tells us about her journey from food photographer to CEO of Golf Kitchen.Find out what attracted Diana to feature golf clubs as opposed to yacht clubs or city clubs.In all her travels putting together your Golf Kitchen publications, find about Diana's favourite place or experience.Learn about some of the common traits Diana finds in the Chef's that she has interviewed.In Diana's opinion, what makes for a world class Chef.Hear about what Diana thinks are the challenges are facing this unique industry.Find out what a small club with a few staff can learn from a world class club and chefLearn about how a Club can qualify for the Golf Kitchen Culinary Excellence Awards.  About Diana DeLucia ​Diana DeLucia is an internationally acclaimed Australian photographer and journalist who now resides in Stamford, Connecticut, U.S.A. Diana's passion for highlighting talented Chefs in the Golf world has inspired a culinary movement across the world at golf clubs and resorts. As she challenges these golf destinations, she knows that awareness of enhancing the golf culinary lifestyle can bring more enjoyment to the game – and help sustain the growth of golf and travel worldwide.Diana has since created Golf Kitchen Magazine, a luxury biannual print publication and a second book in the Golf Kitchen series is in production titled Golf Kitchen America.  Diana has held two successful events in conjunction with Punta Mita, Mexico and established the Golf Kitchen Culinary Excellence Awards in 2018 at Edgewood Country Club in New Jersey,  in 2019 at GlenArbor Golf Club, Bedford Hills, New York. To learn more or to connect with Diana directly, please visit www.golfkitchen.com.

On this episode of The GIG Podcast, we were joined by Rob Selley, Executive Manager, New South Wales Golf Club, located in Sydney, Australia.  Ranked #33 on Golf Digest's list of the ‘World's 100 Greatest Golf Courses' and known as one of the World's great golf experiences, New South Wales Golf Club overlooks Botany Bay where Captain James Cook first sailed into Australia on the SS Endeavour in 1770.  Designed by Dr. Alister MacKenzie, the course is a wonderful combination of undulating fairways, beautiful scenic vistas, and a spectacular clubhouse which is a magnificent combination of traditional architecture and five-star comfort. In this episode, we discussed the following questions with Rob: How do you help a new employee understand the culture of your club?When faced with two equally qualified candidates, how do you determine whom to hire?How do you encourage creative thinking amongst the leadership and front-line teams at NSWGC?In your opinion, what is the biggest challenge facing leaders in the club industry today?What is one leadership characteristic that you believe every club manager should possess and what advice would you give someone going into a leadership position at a club for the first time?What are you doing to ensure you continue to grow and develop as a leader?What advice would you give to a GM who does not have alignment and unity with their board about how to achieve that type of connection? Rob Selley has a Bachelor of Commerce degree, PGA qualification, and 20+ years of General Manager/CEO experience at some of the world's premier private members golf clubs, golf resorts, and golf estates. Over an extended period, he has established a proven track record of achieving significantly improved outcomes for the clubs he has managed, particularly where there has been an ambition to position or reposition a club and bring about positive progress. Be sure to spend this hour with us, and then return to your golf business with new tools and tangible plans for improving operations.  You're also going to learn from Rob about how to level up your approach to leading your team and learn some new techniques and tactics when it comes to the development of the team at your club.  There's no better way to learn from one of our industry's best, and this must-listen episode will surely help position you and your team for greater success going forward!

Winged Foot has a storied history of hosting national championship golf on their two A.W. Tillinghast-designed courses. Winged Foot has hosted six U.S. Opens including the 2020 United States Open Championship which saw Bryson DeChambeau win his first major title, the 1940 U.S. Amateur, the 1949 Walker Cup, and a PGA Championship on their West Course.  Their East Course has been the site of two U.S. Women's Opens and the inaugural U.S. Senior Open. The 2004 U.S. Amateur was played over both courses. In 1991, Colin Burns joined the storied Winged Foot Golf Club as General Manager and today he is the longest serving GM in the history of the club.  Colin's longevity in this role speaks volumes to his commitment to a club that he reveres, as well as his keen management style and unparalleled ability to guide and nurture a staff of over 150 employees.  On this episode of the GIG Podcast, Colin joined us to share his thoughts, expertise, and unique perspective on leadership, team building, and a variety of trends that are shaping the golf industry as we continue to progress through the 2022 golf season in North America.Specifically, we discussed the following questions with Colin:What does good governance at a club look like to you? In your opinion, what is the biggest challenge facing leaders in the club industry today?How do you achieve a work/life balance?What can a “normal” golf course who is hosting their year-end club championships learn from your experiences hosting majors?What are your favourite places/restaurants/clubs and as such, how do you create a great member experience? What do you look for in a mentor? How do you be a great mentor? Be sure to tune in and then return to your golf business with new tools and tangible plans for improving the operations at your club.  You're also going to learn from Colin about how to level up your approach to leading your team and you'll learn some new techniques and tactics when it comes to the development of the team at your club. There's no better way to learn from one of our industry's best, and this must-listen episode of the GIG Podcast will surely help position you and your team for greater success going forward!

Welcome to another episode of the 19th Hole Series of The GIG Podcast with F&B industry Guru Matt Rolfe!As founder of Results Hospitality and Westshore Hospitality Group, Matt Rolfe is a coach, speaker, and entrepreneur who mentors the top ten percent of the hospitality industry toward unlocking their true potential.The 19th Hole Series of The GIG Podcast focuses on everything that happens at your club after your members & guests putt out on the 18th green!  Inside this series of episodes, on each show we host a peer-based conversation between Matt and an actual F&B operator from the club industry.  Each time you tune in, we'll dive deep into the episode guest's F&B operations at their club and discuss the various challenges & opportunities that they are currently facing.  These episodes are designed to promote the sharing of various industry best practices while also uncovering real solutions to real challenges facing actual industry operators which will help you accelerate your clubs F&B success going forward.On this episode of The GIG Podcast, we are joined by Luke Nieuwland, the proud owner/operator of Whisky Run Golf Club in Port Colborne, Ontario.  Luke's family has been dedicated to their facility for over 30 years which is why it's such a big part of his life. As the Owner/Operator of Whisky Run, his duties include managing all aspects of the day-to-day business, but his focus has really shifted towards the F&B side of the operation more recently which is why his participation on this episode of The GIG Podcast is so timely.Highlights from this episode of The GIG Podcast that you don't want to miss include:Why it's important to know how your operation is going to “win” this season? And how to figure that out.Hear about how 17% of hospitality jobs in North America are vacant and the catastrophic effects that is having on our industry when 2 out of 10 jobs on your roster are not filled.How to use the concept of the net promotor score to measure the happiness of your F&B staff team.Why vision, data, and measurement can be powerful tools when building and designing your menu which will benefit your guests and your businesses bottom line.Learn how to design and implement a 3-step service strategy process that's easy to get buy in from your team on, and that's easy for them to execute consistently.Learn about the importance of having your team members deliver a prompt and enthusiastic welcome when guests enter your restaurant…and what the not so obvious benefit of that will be.Find out why it's so important for your servers to be story tellers that make passionate recommendations on your products with every guest and learn what the benefits are to the server and to your bottom line.Hear about why you should want your team members to “end” the experience with your guests at your club by giving them a reason to return.Understand the power of having an effective loyalty program and how implementing one can improve your business in a huge way.About Matt RolfeMatt Rolfe is a coach, speaker, and entrepreneur who mentors the top ten percent of the hospitality industry toward unlocking their true potential.As founder of Results Hospitality and Westshore Hospitality Group, he has worked with hundreds of leadership teams throughout North America.Beginning his career with companies like Bacardi and Labatt/Anheuser Busch, Matt has become an industry expert dedicated to helping leaders examine the human element of their businesses and execute effective team-building strategies unique to their needs.Over his 15+ years leading Westshore Hospitality Group, Matt has studied hundreds of operations and identified what the top ten perce

How to win at executive job interviews is something that George Pinches knows more than a thing or two about.Having worked as a private club GM/COO, and now as an executive search specialist, club governance consultant, and management coach as a Director with GGA Partners, George has watched many industry professionals work hard to unlock the door to an opportunity only to make fundamental mistakes, before, during and after their interview.The truth is, having the necessary skills and experience for the position in question doesn't guarantee an offer or progression to the next stage – you have to have a strategy for success, and you need to take proactive control of the interview process from start to finish.Questions posed to George on this episode of The GIG Podcast that you don't want to miss include:There seems to an increase in GM Executive Searches the past two years. What is driving this? Has Covid impacted that?Has the average tenure of a GM changed?Regrettably, many GM's are terminated or do not get their contract renewed. Do you have any insight on how to keep a GM position?What are the most important skills that Boards today are looking for?Are there things that club industry people can do to prepare for getting a GM position?Which is most beneficial to your career: 1) The pedigree or ranking of your previous clubs, or 2) The positions and level of responsibility in your work history regardless of the club's rank?What should your resume include to get an interview?What can ‘win' or ‘lose' you the job in the interview process?Is there life after club management? Are a Club GM's skills transferable?How GGA continues to be the leader in so many areas of club consulting, including job placement.About George PinchesPrior to his work with GGA Partners, George was an extremely successful private club GM/COO who managed five clubs in three Canadian provinces – including Hamilton Golf & CC, Point Grey Golf & CC, Royal Mayfair Golf Club and The Royal Glenora Club. He was also involved with both the Canadian Society of Club Managers (CSCM) and the Club Managers Association of America (CMAA). George served as President of two branches, has been National President and a session leader and guest speaker at branch, national and international industry events. He also received the Score Golf ‘Manager of the Year Award' in 2007.George previously taught in the Golf Management Program at Grant McEwen University in Edmonton, and he currently instructs Golf Club Governance in the Business of Golf and Resort Management Program for McMaster University and for the PGA of Canada Training Academy. He has also taught sections of the Business Management Institute (BMI) courses, a certification requirement for CMAA.To learn more or to connect with George directly, please visit https://ggapartners.com.

Welcome to another episode of the 19th Hole Series of The GIG Podcast with F&B industry Guru Matt Rolfe!As founder of Results Hospitality and Westshore Hospitality Group, Matt Rolfe is a coach, speaker, and entrepreneur who mentors the top ten percent of the hospitality industry toward unlocking their true potential.The 19th Hole Series of The GIG Podcast focuses on everything that happens at your club after your members & guests putt out on the 18th green!  Inside this series of episodes, on each show we host a peer-based conversation between Matt and an actual F&B operator from the club industry.  Each time you tune in, we'll dive deep into the episode guest's F&B operations at their club and discuss the various challenges & opportunities that they are currently facing.  These episodes are designed to promote the sharing of various industry best practices while also uncovering real solutions to real challenges facing actual industry operators which will help you accelerate your clubs F&B success going forward.On this episode of The GIG Podcast, we are joined by Karen Morgan, Director of Food & Beverage at Morgan Creek Golf Course, located just outside of Vancouver, BC.  Karen is one of our industry's most talented leaders confirmed by a highly successful 10+ year career at Vancouver's premier high-end daily fee facility.  In addition to great golf, Morgan Creek has a very strong focus on providing exceptional culinary experiences to their guests both in their restaurant and by way of hosting a large number of events like weddings and golf tournaments.Listen as Matt and Karen discuss the process of transitioning from operating in F&B during the pandemic, to now moving forward with the new normal for F&B operations at clubs. Highlights from this episode of The GIG Podcast that you don't want to miss include:Listen as Matt and Karen discuss the challenges with finding the right people and hiring in 2022, and the steps you can take to address this so that you have success this year when it comes to recruitment & retention.Learn about the importance of creating employee avatar's and how they can help you solve your recruitment & retention issues.Listen to Karen discuss the use of inter-departmental cross training that Morgan Creek will be focused on in 2022 to address some of the vacancies that they have in certain departments.Understand how to get creative in how you hire & what you look for in people so that they can do more at your club than just fulfill one role.Learn about the importance of making sure each of your employees know exactly what is expected of them so that they can help lead the F&B business at your club into its new chapter.Find out why being “curious” around the ‘new' wants & needs of your guests and then providing them with options as you deliver the guest experience at your club will serve you well in these times.Get insight into the benefits of vulnerability-based leadership and how it can help you build stronger bonds in the workplace and improve the relationships between manager and employees.Learn about the ‘Avatar Worksheet' to help you can get clear on your 3 employee avatars to put focus on what you want & need and then share that information in the interview process which will help you with your recruiting efforts.To learn more or to connect with Matt directly so that he can help you and your leadership team grow and scale your club's F&B business, please visit www.mattrolfe.com.

As the article written by Rick Young of ScoreGolf states, three hours after ParaGolf Canada went live the visionary behind the ground-breaking adaptive online golf initiative, Todd Keirstead, received the following message:“My spouse, an extremely avid golfer, recently became paralyzed from the waist down and feels they will never be able to golf again. I am hoping by connecting with you the passion will be discovered and the opportunity to play again might again be achieved.”They reached out to the right person. No one in this country is more capable of improving this individual's quality of life in the wake of tragic circumstance better than Keirstead.The globally recognized golf trick shot artist supplanted his career by becoming an advocate for the adaptive golf space and a leading voice for inclusion and diversity. The PGA of Canada member is currently working with individuals with physical disabilities and sensory disabilities, including vision impairment, plus those with spinal cord injuries, wounded veterans and first responders.On this episode of The GIG Podcast, we sit down with Todd Keirstead to learn all about this ground-breaking initiative that is creating a pathway for Canadians of all abilities to advance in golf.  Highlights from this episode of The GIG Podcast that you don't want to miss include:As a speaker and motivator, learn about the key messages Todd is communicating to his audience.Hear about what motivates Todd as an able-bodied person to have a passion for others who are challenged with physical sports like golf.Learn about who ParaGolf Canada aims to help?Discover what some of the biggest misconceptions about golf and inclusivity are.Find out what Todd thinks will be the biggest challenges he'll face with this endeavour.Hear about what Todd wants the golf industry to know about the opportunities that exist to be more inclusive.Find out how an owner/operator/club manager make their facility more inclusive.Listen to Todd share some real-life examples of how golf can have a tremendous impact on the lives of people who are not able-bodied.Learn how you and your club can support and get in touch with ParaGolf Canada.About Todd KeirsteadAs a long-standing PGA Member, Todd wants to help any and all individuals with disabilities to become actively engaged in the social structure of their community, and to derive the health benefits that enhance the quality of life. “My vision is to ignite the passion in individuals and to transcend personal boundaries both on and off the fairway”, says Keirstead. “Until now, there has not been a dedicated organization with a sole focus to promote full inclusion towards the sport of golf in Canada.”Todd has also become one of the world leaders in the inclusion and diversity. He has inspired thousands with his vision that anyone can play golf, no matter what their circumstance. He has spoken to 32 National PGAs on the importance of the involvement of individuals of all abilities to the game of golf.Todd Keirstead also is one of the world best golf entertainers in the game. Todd has been voted Trick Shot of the Year on the Golf Channel and has been on CTV Sports Plays of the Year. With the amazing shots that Todd is able to execute he has been also featured on ESPN, Sports Illustrated, ESPN, TSN and TMZ.To learn more about how you and your club can get involved with ParaGolf Canada, please visit https://paragolfcanada.com/paragolf-canada-day/ and https://paragolfcanada.com/junior-integration/.

Welcome to the 19th Hole Series of The GIG Podcast with F&B industry Guru Matt Rolfe!As founder of Results Hospitality and Westshore Hospitality Group, Matt Rolfe is a coach, speaker, and entrepreneur who mentors the top ten percent of the hospitality industry toward unlocking their true potential.The 19th Hole Series of The GIG Podcast focuses on everything that happens at your club after your members & guests putt out on the 18th green!  Inside this series of episodes, on each show we host a peer-based conversation between Matt, James, and an actual F&B operator from the club industry.  Each time you tune in, we'll dive deep into the episode guest's F&B operations at their club and discuss the various challenges & opportunities that they are currently facing.  These episodes are designed to promote the sharing of various industry best practices while also uncovering real solutions to real challenges facing actual industry operators which will help you accelerate your clubs F&B success going forward.On this episode of The GIG Podcast, we are joined by Chris Herron, Director of Food & Beverage from Play Golf Calgary.  Highlights from this episode of The GIG Podcast that you don't want to miss include:4:48 – Learn about what Play Golf Calgary's biggest F&B win in 2021 was and what Chris is most proud of when it comes to their F&B operation.6:54 – Hear about what was PGC's “why” for doubling down on creating better experiences for their guests?9:56 – Find out what's currently top of mind and what the #1 challenge is that Chris sees for their F&B operation for 2022.13:35 – Learn about why thinking that there aren't enough people “out there” to hire and staff your F&B operations is just a psychological block.14:52 – Chris talks about his team member training strategies from 2021 and how successful his team was with the delivery of memorable guest experiences.16:19 – Matt introduces what he thinks the 3 steps are that every F&B operator should take now as you prep for the 2022 season.16:47 – Find out why you need to host a “reconnection meeting” with every single one of your team members as they re-join your team for the 2022 season.22:14 – Understand how to make your ‘Service Strategy Design' simple just like how Disney does it!26:40 – Learn how to build a recognition-based culture at your club and understand what that means & what it looks like as we integrate Gen Y and Gen Z team members into the F&B operations at our clubs.About Matt RolfeMatt Rolfe is a coach, speaker, and entrepreneur who mentors the top ten percent of the hospitality industry toward unlocking their true potential.As founder of Results Hospitality and Westshore Hospitality Group, he has worked with hundreds of leadership teams throughout North America.Over his 15+ years leading Westshore Hospitality Group, Matt has studied hundreds of operations and identified what the top ten percent do that's fundamentally different from the rest of the industry.Asking the question, “What do they do that makes them stand out from the competition?” Matt has developed concepts that have been tested, challenged, proven, and continuously improved. Everything he coaches and advocates for is based on experience, successes, and failures.To learn more or to connect with Matt directly so that he can help you and your leadership team grow and scale your club's F&B business, please visit www.mattrolfe.com.

How well a club adapts to ever-changing membership and marketing trends can make or break them, so keeping an eye on the latest developments is essential to remaining at the top of your game.  It's time to look ahead at what we can expect in 2022.In this episode of The GIG Podcast, Melissa shares 5 membership trends for you to focus on that will shape the private club industry in 2022. Highlights from this episode of The GIG Podcast that you don't want to miss include:6:52 – Trend #1 is all about up-Levelling your technology.  The shift to digital will continue to accelerate and help you provide an overall better experience for your members and guests.9:47 – Learn about how to improve your new member onboarding experience with micro-sites.12:26 – Find out why personalization matters and how you can create personalized experiences for your perspective and existing club members.15:42 – Hear about how Melissa uses personalized gifting to create a major WOW factor with new members and why it's a great way to start things off on the right foot.16:34 – Find out how to not bombard your members with too many weekly communications, but still ensure they find out about everything they're interested in.19:05 – Learn about the rise of the ‘Membership Experience Manager' role that is now being employed at many of the top clubs in the US.21:52 – Melissa discusses how the growing popularity of social media has encouraged most clubs to have a powerful online presence which also allows you to work with local influencers in your area to create engaging content.24:40 – We talk about the fact that the human population trusts influencers and peers before they trust any marketing messages which is why sharing your testimonials and endorsements are key.About Melissa HansenMelissa Hansen is a private club membership and marketing educator that provides resources to industry professionals who are striving to get creative and think outside the box. Melissa provides clear strategies for membership success and offers personalized education tailored to fit the current needs of the club all while taking the membership department to the next level.To learn more or to connect with Melissa visit www.melissahansen.com

COVID-19 has challenged club managers, and their teams to suddenly adjust to a new work environment – for example, social distancing, remote working, taking on the jobs of absent workers, and being able to respond quickly to changing needs and to make smart decisions to keep the business of the club running. Team members were asked to step in and take on new responsibilities, even if they did not have the skill sets for those jobs.Now, as clubs are settling into a “new normal” routine for doing business, savvy club managers have a better feel for what skills are crucial to maintaining operations and staying in business. Many of these skills are “soft” skills related to interpersonal connection, informed and confident decision making, and the ability to communicate more effectively in a post COVID world.In this episode of The GIG Podcast, we are joined by the Australian based corporate trainer Steve Herzberg, Managing Partner of NRG Solutions as we talk about many relevant topics club GM's are faced with in this day and age including how to coach, guide, and communicate with your millennial team members, top tips for GM's on how to effectively communicate online when presenting to your board and team members, the importance of being present when communicating with others, and how to deal with the unnecessary and ridiculous complaints you've received from members and guests during these most challenging times of running a club.Highlights from this episode of The GIG Podcast that you don't want to miss include:7:37 – Hear Steve's thoughts on the state of the industry right now in Australia where they've just come out of lockdown.13:35 – Find out the differences in the conversations that are being had at clubs by GM's today in comparison to before the start of the pandemic.22:14 – Listen to how to coach, guide & communicate with Millennial team members, and help them to develop into “people” people.24:54 – Learn about the first thing Steve warns GM's about when communicating online and delivering team member training and board presentations via live video.31:12 – Get Steve's top tips for presenting virtually to your membership or team members when you're the GM.39:23 – Hear an “Above & Beyond” story that illustrates the importance of being in the moment and why that is so important today when you're the GM of a club.46:57 – Learn about the acronym R.A.I.L. and how you can use it to remember people's names when you meet them for the first time.53:29 – Hear Steve's advice for any club manager for how to deal with the unnecessary and sometimes ridiculous negativity that members and guests express from time to time during these most challenging times of running a club.About Steve HerzbergSteve Herzberg has been working as corporate trainer since 2000, establishing his own company, NRG Solutions in 2005. In March 2020, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, NRG Solutions added the option of secure online delivery, via Video Conferencing, for all their programs.  NRG Solutions clients come from a range of industries including Golf, Hospitality, Technology, FMCG, Professional Services, Publishing, Pharmaceuticals, and more.  Steve assists the clients he works with closely in one of 3 ways:Leadership DevelopmentPresenting With Confidence ProgramSales and Sales Management Coaching  Through clear thinking, developing relationships, and providing appropriate follow up, Steve assists his clients to achieve better results for themselves and their staff, sooner than they may have expected.  Be sure to connect with Steve directly if you are interested in exploring fresh ideas to develop your future

We've all heard the adage that people don't leave bad companies, they leave bad leaders. So, for young and aspiring club managers to succeed, building effective leadership skills needs to be a top priority. For Rob Roxborough, relationships are the currency of how he conducts business, and his leadership style focuses on building and nurturing authentic relationships with not only his team but with everyone that he meets along the way.  The human element of leadership is even more essential during today's unprecedented times than ever before which is why Rob's ‘making a difference' leadership style results in him being continually recognized as one of Canada's most exceptional club industry leaders.Highlights from this episode of The GIG Podcast that you don't want to miss:4:55 – Learn about how Rob was chosen for the role at Magna Golf Club and what attracted the ownership group to him and led them to bring him on board.12:31 – Find out what inspired Rob to take on his current role at The Pulpit Club and how it compares to his other stops.19:55 – Uncover the qualities and traits that Rob believes define his leadership style.28:22 – Hear about if Rob learned to be a leader from being exposed to other great leaders, or if it just came to him naturally.37:45 – Get Rob's thoughts on accountability and why it's an important part of being a great leader.48:03 – Find out what structured ways there are to communicate the vision of your club to every single member of your team.54:20 – Learn about the differences between how you manage your “bosses” versus how you manage your team.59:45 – What advice Rob has for all the future leaders working in our industry today.About Rob RoxboroughRob is a 25 Year Member Class “A” Executive Professional of the PGA of Canada and has been the General Manager at The Pulpit Club in Caledon, Ontario since May 2020.  Rob was honoured to be awarded the 2020 Executive Professional of the Year by the PGA of Ontario, and was a finalist for the 2020 Dick Munn, PGA of Canada Executive Professional of the Year Award.Other career highlights and milestones include:2015 – 2020: Executive Director, The National Golf Club of Canada, Woodbridge, ON.2013-2015: Chief Operating Officer (COO), Hamilton Golf & Country Club, Ancaster, ON.2001-2013: General Manager & Executive Professional, Magna Golf Club, Aurora, ON.1999-2001: Director of Golf, Deer Creek Golf and Country Club, Ajax, ON.Played events on the Canadian Tour, provincial / sectional events, and PGA of Canada Championships.Jacksonville State University, NCAA, 4-year varsity letterman. Alumni member of the JSU College of Business, and Gamecock Club Athletic Association.Organized, directed, and facilitated fundraising event featuring President Bill Clinton, Clinton Foundation, Magna Golf Club 2001.Organized, directed, and facilitated the inaugural Tiger Woods Invitational, Magna Golf Club 2005 (made for tv event).Organized, directed, and facilitated several Scotiabank Charity Challenges 2006-2009, annually featuring Annika Sorenstam accompanied by Natalie Gulbis, Lorie Kane, Alena Sharp and Morgan Pressel and the nation's top ranked junior girls (all made for tv events).Organized, directed, and facilitated three Golf Town charity matches, all made for television events 2008-2010 featuring, David Toms, Sergio Garcia, Ernie Els, J.J. Henry, Tom Watson, Bernhard Langer (all made for tv events).2014- Present, Board of Directors, Mike Weir Foundation mikeweirfoundation.com1999-2000 built from a start-up the Jim McLean Golf Academy at Deer Creek, the #1 ranked golf school program in C

How does your club measure up to the competition? Are you performing above the industry standards or below? Are you achieving the objectives necessary to continue to grow and operate successfully? In order to answer these questions, club managers must have a way to track performance. Evaluating the progress of individuals, projects, and specific departments is important, but you also need to have the ability to take an in depth look at the club as a whole. Using proper KPI's allow clubs to benchmark their financial and operating performance against their peers in all key areas of club operations including administration, golf operations, course maintenance, food & beverage, and clubhouse. Club managers and committee members utilising the proper KPI's, and benchmarks will be better informed about their club's financial and operational health and are able to utilize this knowledge to make better, more informed decisions.  As Jeff Blunden says, when you know more about your business you can make better decisions about its future.Highlights from this episode of the GIG Podcast that you don't want to miss:5:10 – Listen to Jeff's thoughts on what the golf industry is going to look like when the COVID-19 pandemic is over once and for all.6:54 – Learn about how Jeff helps club owners & operators improve their businesses.8:38 – Hear about why the numbers matter, but why what you do with them matters even more.11:25 – Suggestions from Jeff for club managers when your board is dysfunctional and not able to run effectively.14:50 – Learn about the subscription-based online benchmarking platform Club Benchmarking which Jeff's company oversees in Australia, and how it allows clubs to benchmark their financial and operating performance against their peers.20:17 – What the most important numbers to focus on are when taking a temperature check of the operational and financial performance of your club.24:24 – From an operations standpoint, learn about the KPI's to focus on most.29:36 – Listen to Jeff's thoughts on pricing strategies & philosophies at a club.37:36 – Find out the one thing that you can do today to maximize the opportunity presented to every club owner & operator because of the recent boom in golf. About Jeff BlundenJeff Blunden, the Managing Director of GBAS, managed the Golf Advisory Business Unit for Ernst & Young from 2001 to mid-2006, before spending some time in roles with both Golf Australia and an international management company prior to formally creating his own advisory services company in late 2008.  Jeff has worked with over 170 clients over his advisory career including golf clubs, resorts, councils, administration bodies, private owners, developers, banks, and legal firms. Invaluable assistance and insight have been provided in many areas of the golf industry, including club and facility operations, new developments, project and membership structuring, hospitality services, strategic planning and market and consumer research.Jeff is also the author of many of the major industry reports that have been published in recent years evidence of the level of industry insight held by the company. The beneficiary of this knowledge are the clients of GBAS.To contact Jeff and his team to discuss how they can help you and your club, please visit their website at https://www.golfbas.com or email him directly at jeff@golfbas.com.

When you click on the ABOUT US page of Ricky's website (www.rickyleepotts.com), it ONLY displays Ricky's results from his Clifton Strengths Finder test. That in itself exemplifies the uniqueness and diversity of THE Ricky Potts. Not only is Ricky L. Potts, Jr. the Assistant General Manager at Valencia Country Club in Santa Clarita, CA, he is also a lover of golf, craft beer, electronic dance music, and so much more!  In addition, Ricky is the host of The Wednesday Match Play Podcast presented by MemberText, a fun and engaging podcast on everything and anything to do with golf. In this episode of the GIG podcast, James reverses the tables and does the question asking, finding out some of the best practices for golf clubs that Ricky has learned over his years in the business.  This knowledge has been garnered from the hundreds of guests who have been on his program, and previously as one of the young up and coming leaders within Troon Golf, the world's leading club management company.Highlights from this episode of the GIG Podcast that you don't want to miss:3:39 – Start off by finding out a little bit about Ricky's journey so far in the golf industry.8:01 – What Ricky thinks is the reason why Troon Golf has had so much success.12:42 – The biggest takeaway that Ricky has received as a participant in the ‘Troon Leader Program'.16:06 – Hear about if Ricky thinks there is a challenge in the industry when it comes to people committing to training.18:46 – Find out about what motivated Ricky to start a podcast.26:02 – Learn about the consistencies in traits & abilities amongst Ricky's podcast guests.31:20 – Ricky's thoughts about the state of the industry and from his perspective what the next decade looks like.39:27 – As a club manager, or membership director, how to get the rest of the team to be as passionate about member experiences as you are.46:25 – The advice Ricky has for any young person in the industry with big career goals who is looking to unleash their infinite potential.About Ricky Lee Potts, Jr.Ricky Lee Potts, Jr. is an experienced, results-oriented, membership sales and marketing professional and a leader in member and guest satisfaction.  He has a proven track record of effective networking, team building, managing major marketing campaigns, and evolving leadership. Ricky is a self-motivated team player with experience in driving high value results through strategizing, planning, prioritization, collaboration, effective time management and execution. In his previous role, The Fountaingrove Club was awarded the prestigious Distinguished Club award, as determined by the annual Distinguished Clubs award program conducted by BoardRoom magazine. BoardRoom magazine is the official publication of the Association of Private Club Directors and The Distinguished Clubs.To connect with Ricky Lee Potts, Jr., please visit his website at https://rickyleepotts.com.

As Chef Chuck Currie says, menu structure drives sales and profits…no if's, and's, or but's about it!Unfortunately, many F&B operators at clubs beat their head against the walls of labour cost and inventory control, simply because they do not know how to structure their menu. That being said, we must understand that when it comes to F&B we are in the sales business first, and then immediately after that we are in the inventory control and people training business.  Remember, a good menu structure drives the sales, controls the inventory SKU's, and reduces the number of people you need to train, along with the difficulty of the tasks that your team members are required to complete.This episode of the GIG Podcast is all about reviewing the basics of menu rejuvenation and it's for you if you're interested in learning how to:Increase your average checkRealize an immediate sales increaseAchieve an increase in marginLower your labour costsLower the amount of food inventory items you carryLower the dollar value of the inventory level you carryHighlights from this episode of the GIG Podcast that you don't want to miss:- 7:25 – Hear about what Chuck views as the area of greatest need that F&B operators have when it comes to getting help with improving the performance of their F&B business.- 11:40 – Find out what some of the things are that an operator can consider when trying to find ways to improve the efficiency and profitability of their golf club F&B operation.- 13:08 – Hear about how Chuck gets “buy-in” from the team members at the facilities he audits when he presents the solutions that they need to adopt to improve and achieve superior results.- 17:05 – Understand the importance of getting the menu structure right and why actual dollars to the bottom line are way more important than the food cost percentage that you might be achieving.- 21:45 – Find out how to create an environment within your F&B operation where your team can become accepting of change and be open to a new way of approaching how the kitchen is going to be operated.- 23:59 – Learn about the areas of the business that Chuck is most frequently called in to provide help with for his clients.- 29:15 – Uncover the most important numbers and metrics to watch out for to improve the efficiency & profitability of your F&B operation. About Chuck Currie Chuck's specialty is making money for his clients!  Concept positioning, strategic growth, menu analysis, kitchen design, recipe development, purchasing rationalization, training programs, and productivity analysis have increased sales and profits for every client. They include Kraft Foods, Save-On-Foods, Tractor Every Day Healthy Foods, Good Bowl, 7-Eleven, Freybe Meats, Centennial Foodservice, Intercity Packers, Gourmet Chef, Cactus Club, Joeys, White Spot, Novo Neapolitan Pizzeria, the Canadian Produce Marketing Association, Garland Commercial Ranges, Vanderpols Eggs, and Mahony & Sons. All of the restaurant clients have won multiple menu awards.Chuck was a founder and the Concept Leader of Earls Restaurants. Graduates of the programs he instituted now run every chain in Western Canada and the Business Development teams of both major Food Distributors.He is the only restaurateur to receive the BC Provincial Apprenticeship Award and the BC Foodsafe Award.To connect with Chuck to discuss having him help your club make more money from F&B, please feel free to connect with him directly on LinkedIn.

Do you need a more reliable way to forecast, manage, and measure your restaurant labor cost?  Is your team having a difficult time articulating to you what, why, or how the results are what they are?  Do you need to optimize your profit model to recover or grow post COVID-19? After over 20 years in hospitality management, Jim Taylor realized that there is a gap in the development of management understanding and business optimization strategy and it became clear to him that now more than ever, the F&B industry needs better systems to dig its way out of the hole that it finds itself in.Through working side by side with executives, analysts, and on-premises management, Jim has created a system that works called “The Benchmark 60” and today he is working with restaurateurs, owners, and management teams to educate them from the top down on how to optimize productivity in their businesses, make results more predictable, and results easier to understand.This episode of the GIG Podcast is for you if you are a senior leader, and you are:Tired of getting the same result you have always been getting.Wishing there was a way to ensure your team was more productive and able to produce more consistent results.Searching for a way to predict, train, and measure productivity in your restaurants.Highlights from this episode of the GIG Podcast that you don't want to miss:6:35 – Hear about how one of Canada's most successful restaurant groups has recreated the way of looking at restaurant and F&B profitability.8:40 – What some of the core fundamentals are relating to profitability that every club manager needs to focus on and be aware of.11:10 – What some of the steps are that F&B operators can take to make their operation more productive.14:13 – The standards that clubs can follow to improve the productivity of their F&B business.16:34 – What the factors and influences are that identify when your F&B business is the least and the most productive.20:51 – Find out if these concepts can be applied to small F&B operations at a golf club or if they are only appropriate for large, multi-million-dollar F&B businesses.22:03 – Jim's thoughts on the pressures that the F&B industry continues to face relating to the upward pressure of rising wage costs and how some businesses have used them to improve their operations overall.This GIG Podcast episode is all about learning how to make your F&B business more predictable, making it easier to forecast than it has been in the past, and ultimately positioning you to see better results on the bottom line.If you want to learn more about ‘The Benchmark 60' system and ways to add to your restaurant bottom line in as little as 60 days…sometimes even less, please contact info@benchmarksixty.com and speak to an advisor. This could change your profit model forever.www.benchmarksixty.com

On this episode of the GIG Podcast, tune in to learn from Colin Weston the host of the #4 rated golf podcast worldwide ‘The ModGolf Podcast' which is all about exploring the future of golf through conversations with the visionaries and influencers that are shaking up the sport.There's lots to learn which you can apply to your role at the club inside this episode as you hear first-hand about the many of the lessons Colin has learned from the discussions that he's had with the golf industry's brightest & best in the first 100 episodes of the ModGolf Podcast.The ModGolf Podcast talks with golf's top influencers, entrepreneurs, innovators and disruptors about their vision and solutions to re-imagine, transform, and grow the game. The ModGolf Podcast has been ranked #4 on 2020's most comprehensive list of “Top 25 Golf Podcasts”, based on their quality and consistency of posts, industry expert reviews, and social media influence/popularity. Please subscribe to The ModGolf Podcast to help them continue to grow and move up the rankings!About Colin WestonGolf Innovator, entrepreneurship community builder and innovation junkie: Colin's passion is to re-imagine sport to make the experience more diverse, engaging, relevant and shareable for fans, athletes, and brand sponsors. As a founding partner, asset developer and experience designer at REVIVER Sport Entertainment, Colin loves being part of the community-building process. Building a vibrant community around the Future of Golf is his inspiration for creating and hosting The ModGolf Podcast.Colin has spoken at and moderated several golf industry and business leadership events. Contact him by email if you would like to explore the possibility of Colin sharing his stories and insights at your club or next educational event.colin@modgolfpodcast.com

On this episode of the GIG Podcast, tune in to hear from fellow Canadian and golf industry icon Jim McLaughlin of Troon as he discusses his time in the golf industry and shares with the audience several valuable lessons that he has learned along the way.  We also talk about Troon, his role there, and how the professional golf club management powerhouse believes that creativity, planning, and flexibility all remain imperative for hospitality management as we move forward.Troon started as one facility in 1990 and has since grown to become the world's largest professional club management company. They provide services to 585+ locations and 630+ golf courses, while also managing various amenities, such as tennis, aquatics, fitness, food & beverage, lodging and more.In order to successfully operate the clubs and facilities we all manage, Troon believes that during these trying times we as club owners and managers need to focus on these three key points.Deliver a valuable experience despite restrictions.Instill trust in health and safety.Utilize the power of technology to enable connection.About Jim McLaughlinJim McLaughlin is a Canadian PGA member who launched his career at the prestigious Shaughnessy Golf Club in Vancouver under the tutelage of his father – Canadian Golf Hall of Fame member Jack McLaughlin.After high profile professional positions at East Sussex National in England and Westwood Plateau Golf and Country Club in Vancouver, Canada, he moved to Phoenix in 2002 as a regional VP with Intrawest Golf. Jim rose within Intrawest Golf to become Senior Vice President responsible for operations of 38 facilities within its North American portfolio.In 2006 McLaughlin moved over to Troon to oversee the private club division, Troon Privé, which grew from a handful of clubs to over 70 facilities during Jim's tenure. Today, Jim is the President of True Club Solutions and brings with him a wealth of knowledge in the private golf club market, operations and 40 plus years of experience in the club and golf industry to Troon's Advisory Services clients.Highlights of this episode that you won't want to miss:11:51 – How Troon views the state of the industry today versus before the COVID-19 pandemic began, and what Troon's response has been to the impacts that have been felt.18:42 – The messages that Jim would give to club owners and operators to ensure that they make the most of the opportunities that the pandemic has presented us with.23:10 – What the formula to follow is when trying to improve the guest experience at your club and what the elements to focus on are.27:37 – Jim's thoughts on motivating and leading team members today versus before the COVID-19 pandemic arrived and how that relates to creating a great culture in a club.33:25 – The qualities that Jim believes have helped him the most in being so successful in this industry.Jim brings with him a vast knowledge of the industry which allows him to make an immediate and positive impact as a guest on this episode and we guarantee there will be some excellent takeaways for everyone who listens to the episode.Enjoy!

Profit margins can be boosted drastically in your F&B department with the sale of wine, but only if your servers are confident with selling the wine you're offering to your members and guests.  That being said, this episode of the GIG Podcast is all about getting your team members comfortable with doing just that.With profit margins low on meals, beverages from the bar are key to boosting those F&B profits at your club. The wine list can be intimidating for some servers, and without confidence in selling wine, that may lead to lower wine sales overall. This is why taking the time to teach your team members how to sell wine is crucial.On this episode of The GIG Podcast, we welcome Ashli Komaryk from Komaryk Communications and Beyond The Wine to talk about some of the details you might be missing at your club that are preventing you from fully leveraging all your sales and member engagement opportunities when it comes to wine.  The ideas and best practices discussed will allow you to do an assessment of your operation and then tune-up to ensure you're firing on all cylinders and not leaving sales on the table.About Ashli KomarykAshli Komaryk, MBA is the founder of Komaryk Communications and Beyond the Wine. She offers a unique blend with her sommelier studies from Italy, her MBA studies from Canada and her international training and coaching business.Ashli Komaryk earned her Level II sommelier certification, both in Vancouver, (ISG) and in Parma, Italy (AIS), where she lived for 14 years. Ashli is definitely passionate about wine, but she may be even more passionate about developing the human connections that can be forged through breaking bread or raising a glass together.Ashli works with individuals and teams in wineries, clubs and other organizations, from front-line ambassadors to the executive leadership team (or board) to help build teams that are engaged, cohesive and driven! Her workshops, seminars and coaching programs provide tools and skills to build and lead high-performance teams.Ashli earned her Bachelor's degree in art history from the University of Parma (taken entirely in Italian) and she also holds a Master's Degree in Business Administration from Royal Roads University in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada with specialization in Communications and Public Relations Management.Highlights you won't want to miss:10:30 – If you feel like the wine program at your club is falling short, learn what the first steps to take are to immediately start improving the wine experience you're offering.12:01 – Learn about what Ashli refers to as ‘Petulant Pairings' which is an expression that came to mind when Ashli was thinking about unorthodox match-ups, pairings that may not be considered “proper pairings” to some because they don't adhere to the traditional rules for pairing food with wine, or because they're new.14:09 – Where to start with providing basic wine knowledge to your servers.18:20 – What tools a club should have, and what best practices they should follow when enhancing the wine experience at their club.24:02 – If wine isn't a major focus at your club today, these are some of the things that members & guests might be looking for from your club when it comes to wine.25:59 – Here are some of the things that a club manager can do to help their team get engaged and be confident with wine.If you'd like to learn how to cultivate your team's wine knowledge with the same care and attention that a winemaker uses to cultivate their vineyard, then you won't want to miss this episode of The GIG Podcast.

Are your food and beverage operations draining profits?  In the foodservice industry, it's a truism that you cannot cut your way to profitability but failure to control costs will reduce your bottom line. Some operators focus much of their effort on boosting the revenue side of the equation, taking the expense side as more or less fixed. But tweaking the expense side can yield higher profitability, and often is easier to adjust than revenue. On this episode of The GIG Podcast, we welcome Michael Holtzman, the President of Profitable Food Facilities Worldwide to talk all things F&B at clubs where the business isn't achieving the levels of profit that it should.  We discuss how focusing on costs, efficiencies, and guest satisfaction, while making changes to the expense side of your business, can boost margins without hurting service and allow your club to achieve greater foodservice profitability. Mike and his firm specialize in captive market restaurant locations including Private Country Clubs, City Clubs, Yacht Clubs, High End Daily Fee Golf Courses, Golf Resorts, Ski Resorts, Water Parks, Theme Parks, and Casinos.  Over the past 29 years, Mike and the PFFW team has generated tens of millions of dollars in profits for their clients with services ranging from consulting engagements, to kitchen design, to full implementation of designs / recommendations.  Check out these stats! 690+ Profitable Food Facilities and counting!$200,000,000 Profits generated for their clients! Tune in to learn: The differences between running a “restaurant” and a “golf restaurant”.How poor kitchen design and layout can drastically effect your ability to be profitable.About Mike's system and approach which has helped Clubs make millions of dollars in F&B profits. Highlights you won't want to miss: 4:50 – The three standards that McDonald's has which should also be the three standards that you should have for your Club.5:31 – The biggest things that are holding back restaurants at golf clubs and what you can do about them.9:58 – The phone call Mike loves getting from private club board members and why the Club's problem is never solved by finding a new Chef or F&B Manager for that Club.13:44 – The common disconnect between how the menu is engineered and how the kitchen is laid out – and the problems that this causes.15:41 – As a Club Manager, these are things that you and your Chef can do right now to increase the efficiency of your kitchen and in turn drive more profitability.17:21 – What the process of reorganizing your kitchen should look like to create more efficiency and profitability.21:03 – What are some specific aspects of the business including KPI's that owners and operators should be looking at to improve their F&B department's profitability.25:07 – The #1 challenge that comes with the F&B business that no Club can avoid.28:47 – The most important thing you need to focus on if you're going to be successful in F&B at your Club. If you could use some support to improve the profitability of the F&B department at your Club, then you won't want to miss this episode of The GIG Podcast.

If you've ever wanted to learn more about the golf business in Asia and all the exciting industry opportunities that exist in that part of the world, then this is a must listen!On this episode of The GIG Podcast, we're pleased to welcome Canadian Expat, and Global Golf Executive, Patrick Bowers who joins us to talk about his exciting career and meteoric rise in the global golf industry where he has found international success over the past 30 years. Don't miss this fun and interesting conversation between Patrick and James where they pull back the covers on Patrick's career and share numerous entertaining stories and pearls of wisdom.About Patrick Bowers Patrick is the Founder and CEO of Vantage Pointe, an Advisory Firm based in Singapore that provides Strategic Advisory, Collaborative Advisory, and Specialist Consulting services.  In addition, although having lived overseas for some 20 years, Patrick is still to this day a proud Class A Member of the Professional Golfers' Association of Canada (PGA).Throughout his career, Patrick has partnered and collaborated to deliver world-class developments, consulting, and events, with global powerhouses like:IMG/WMEDusit ThaniTiger WoodsTourism WhistlerDubai GolfOmegaBMWHSBCHyatt InternationalFour SeasonsWATGEuropean TourAmong Patrick's many accomplishments, he successfully introduced, negotiated, and led the first joint venture between Dusit Thani and Laguna National Golf & Country Club, in Singapore, as the cornerstone of the USD $150M luxury golf and resort hotel development, set to change the hospitality landscape in Singapore and Southeast Asia.He is also very proud of his previous planning and advisory involvement with successful branded resort and golf properties in; Dubai (Park Hyatt + Dubai Creek Golf Club), Fiji (Intercontinental Fiji Resort & Spa + Natadola Bay Golf Club), Mauritius (Shangri-La Le Touessrok + Ile aux Cerfs Golf Club), Shanghai (Kempinski Hotel Suzhou + Jinji Lake Golf Club), Vietnam (Four Seasons NamHai + Montgomerie Links Golf Club, Danang). Highlights you won't want to miss:6:30 – The advice that Patrick would give to a young person looking to take their career “overseas” to areas like the Far and Middle East.9:25 – Talk about the opportunities that exist for knowledgeable golf industry leaders in his part of the world.12:20 – The one unexpected but mandatory piece of equipment needed while building a Colin Montgomerie signature golf course in Vietnam.14:39 – If you try and do “this” as an expat abroad in many of the eastern oriented nations, then you're likely to not see success as a leader in the golf industry.16:55 – What lessons learned in dealing with other cultures does Patrick think could help Club Managers in the Western World to become better leaders.19:56 – Patrick talks about his business relationship with Tiger Woods which resulted from his time at IMG and the project they worked on together which was Tiger Woods Dubai.25:23 – Patrick's fond memories and impressions from the time he has spent with one of the best professional golfers in history.27:03 – His fantastic business relationship and friendship with an unlikely and perhaps surprising World Golf Hall of Famer.If you've ever considered taking your career to the Far East, or just want to learn more about the business in this exciting part of the world, then you won't want to miss this entertaining and informative episode of The GIG Podcast.Enjoy!

Walk into any McDonald's, order a Big Mac, and the person on the other side of the counter will surely ask, “Do you want fries with that?”The reality of that exchange is that each affirmative answer adds $1.39 or more to that particular sale. If just a fraction of McDonald's' 69 million daily customers said yes to that question, that would result in millions of extra dollars in the Hamburglar's pocket!The same strategy is important for Golf Clubs. The golf industry is a low margin business, so you need to coax as much money as possible from each member or guest who is with you each day to tee it up. It's the old story: A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.  Simply put, if you can boost the dollar value of your average sale, then you boost your cash flow and most importantly improve bottom line.On this episode of The GIG Podcast, we welcome back retail sales expert Rick Maddison, who will discuss how you can bring in more of those sales and get more out of each visitor to your Golf Shop.  Guess what…it's easier than you think!How To Get Higher Transactions Per Round with Rick MaddisonTune in to learn about battle tested techniques modeled after world class organizations like Disney and Four Seasons that really do work such as:Have a weekly staff meeting that showcases one aspect of selling.Have a sales process that is clear and detailed.Monitor sales for number of units per transaction and reward employees who excel.Use mystery shops to see if after providing training, your associates are up-selling and cross selling as trained. About Rick MaddisonRick Maddison is owner of the Sales Ninja Academy, a company that delivers online video training programs that teaches front line sales staff how to be better at selling! His program has helped increase sales for over 300 retail businesses that sell world class brands like Hugo Boss, Lazy Boy, Mercedes, Polaris, Honda, Norco, and Tacori Jewelry. Rick is also a broadcaster, published writer, humorist, business consultant, and highly sought-after speaker.Highlights you won't want to miss:2:48 – The importance and benefit of your staff realizing that they're always “on-stage”.6:34 – The two key concepts you and your team members need to embrace in order to keep your members & guests coming back for more of your products and services.12:04 – Where your focus as a Manager should be when it comes to the retail experience at your Club.15:36 – A unique way to be different and separate your retail experience from the competition.17:54 – The one thing your retail experience is most likely lacking.18:53 – Why Robert DeNiro would be a better salesperson than Al Gore :).25:20 – What you can start doing to make your retail experience legendary and iconic, regardless of who designed your course or how much your rack rate fee is.If you want to see the retail program at your Club have better numbers, and improve your guest experience at the same time, then you won't want to miss this episode of The GIG Podcast.  By using tactics like these to master the art of supersizing your sales, your bottom line is guaranteed to improve!To work directly with Rick, he can be reached at rick@tempestmedia.net or visit his website at https://salesninjaacademy.net

For some, there is optimism that life will begin to return to some degree of normalcy in the not-too-distant future.  However, many golf course owners and operators still find themselves in the unique circumstance of trying to strike the right balance between having genuine concern for everyone's well-being and the need to keep their business alive.On this episode of The GIG Podcast, we welcome Andrew Wood who is known as the world's leader in golf, resort & destination marketing.  Among other things, Andrew will discuss what he thinks is important to consider in the immediate future if you haven't already when it comes to marketing your Club in a new world.Marketing In A New World with Andrew WoodTune in to learn:How to communicate with your members and guests during these unique timesHow to re-strategize and focus your marketing effortsWhy you can't stop creating contentWhy you shouldn't decrease your marketing budget or your commitment to customer service & hospitalityAbout Andrew WoodBorn in Oxford, England and having grown up in the midland county of Shropshire, Andrew Wood immigrated to America in 1980. Andrew is the Author of over 40 books including The Golf Marketing Bible, The Golf Sales Bible, The Golf Marketing Manual, The Hotel Marketing Bible, Confessions of a Golf Pro and many more. He is considered the world's leading expert in golf, resort and real estate marketing and spoken to thousands of audiences worldwide on this and other topics from his books.Highlights you won't want to miss:6:04 – What Andrew thinks is going to happen with the demand for golf over the next few years.12:07 – What clubs should be doing now with their marketing in order to maintain the momentum they had during the 2020 season.12:49 – A unique strategy that Private Clubs can implement to support their members who are business owners during these difficult economic times.22:25 – Andrew's thoughts on Facebook as an organic tool to communicate with your members and guests.23:07 – Why now is a really good time to use Facebook as an advertising platform.25:11 – How frequently you should be posting each day to properly market you Club on social media.25:35 – An absolute “no-brainer” for Private Clubs according to Andrew.27:27 – Two other marketing tactics that Andrew is really big on right now that every Club should be doing.If you want to use the opportunity the pandemic has provided to strengthen your business model, fine tune your processes & procedures, improve your branding, be a leader in your community, and prepare for the brighter days ahead, then you won't want to miss this episode of The GIG Podcast. To work directly with Andrew, he can be reached at andrew@legendarymarketing.com or visit his website at www.andrewwoodinc.com.

Do you feel like sometimes it just seems impossible to get it all done?  Do you also feel like you have to choose between either your career and being a great leader or your personal fitness and exercising every day to stay fit?We get it. For many people, time is a resource more precious than gold. Between full-time jobs in this demanding industry, kids' activities, and chores around the home, time is at a premium. With all these things going on, many Club owners and operators struggle to find the extra time they think is needed to maintain a healthy lifestyle.Well, the truth is…you can get it all done – if you know how. Learn how to regain your energy, feel great, and do it without a big-time commitment on this episode of The GIG Podcast.  Business leader, ultra-distance athlete, mountain climber, and kayak competitor Hugh Culver is back to share his ideas on everything you need to improve your health and fitness even when you are short on time.About Hugh CulverHugh co-created the only private airline in Antarctica, was a professional guide, ironman and marathon competitor, and university professor. He is also a recovering over-achiever who loves sharing better ways to create results that matter, at work and in life.Hugh has spoken to over 250,000 people, his blog is read by 12,000 people, and he's the proud father of two, and husband to one.Hugh Culver MBA is the author of the national best-seller, Give Me a Break – The Art of Making Time Work For You and has been featured on Mixergy, Michael Hyatt, Smart Passive Income, Beyond the To-Do list, and the Eventual Millionaire. Some facts about Hugh:Presented over 1,000 speeches and seminars, including (most were repeat invitations): Telus, RBC, Fortis, Shoppers Drug Mart, UBC, Canfor, and Suncor.Canadian best-selling author (Give Me a Break)Ultra-distance athlete, mountain climber, kayak competitorPresented to faculty at four universities and three collegesCo-created the world's most expensive tour company (in Antarctica)Certified Professional Speaker (one of only 40 in Canada) and a Certified Facilitation Professional (one of 80 in Canada)Highlights you won't want to miss:3:53 – Hugh teases the first two things that are really important for people to focus on as they get older, as they take on more responsibility, and as time becomes more precious.7:01 – Is your mind is still a “Porsche” but your body is now a “Mini-van”?8:03 – The invisible architecture of life that will change how you behave as it relates to improving your health & fitness.10:33 – How to get one extra bonus week per year just for you that other people don't have.15:13 – An easy way for you to regularly make and keep a commitment to your health and fitness.16:48 – The importance of redefining what fitness means to you today.18:30 – The way to build your will power for staying committed to your health & fitness.25:45 – Why what we did in the past doesn't always serve us well in the future. Keeping fit can feel like a time-consuming task. But if you are ready to make several simple, small changes that add up to a big improvement in the quality of your life then you won't want to miss this episode of The GIG Podcast.To learn more or to work directly with Hugh, visit www.hughculver.com or email Hugh at hugh@hughculver.com.

Did you know surveys have shown that along with good greens, tees, fairways, and the quality of the hot dog – golfers rank pace of play among the very top features they look for when choosing a course to play?  While that may not be all that surprising (the hot dog part anyways :-)), we're here to tell you that if slow play is plaguing the golf experience at your club, the good news is that the solution to all your problems might just be one podcast episode away. Utilizing the solutions discussed in this chat on slow play, many courses have successfully managed to meet the high expectations of their players, despite the length and difficulty of their layout, and these are now clubs that are thriving when it comes to pace of play when they once were not. Golf course owners and operators today are beginning to understand that slow play is a “quality” problem. Some courses that deliver smooth flowing rounds of golf for their early morning groups see their play dropping off for afternoon starting times because those times produce lower quality, slow play experiences. Golfers fight for earlier times for one reason: they know they will get a higher quality product for their money. Doesn't it stand to reason that a course offering consistently high quality, free flowing rounds of golf at any starting time throughout the day will fill more starting times? Won't their revenues increase? Won't course managers have fewer complaints to deal with? Of course. When the pace of play is improved and becomes consistent for every player, everyone wins.  As the late great pace of play Guru Bill Yates would often say, “When you manage the pace of play, you manage the quality of golf”. On this episode of the GIG Podcast, we sit down with someone “down under” as Mike Orloff from Golf Industry Central joins us all the way from Australia to talk about slow play and how to manage it.  Since Mike had the opportunity to spend time and be mentored by Bill Yates on the topic of slow play, we get to talk about the two myths that golf course owners and operators have been mis-lead by when it comes to trying to solve slow play, and we also discuss some great tools and tactics that you can use to improve the pace of play at your club. Highlights of this episode that you won't want to miss: 11:36 – Hear from Mike about how pace of play became something that he is now a subject matter expert on.16:01 – Learn what is the root cause of slow play at any club – and guess what it isn't the players that are on your course!16:19 – Find out about Bill Yates from Pebble Beach, CA, the late great pace of play Guru who was a mentor of Mike's and who also wrote the book ‘Out Of Time' which is the definitive book on how to eliminate pace of play problems at any golf course and achieve smooth, uninterrupted rounds.19:18 – Learn about the core elements which must be known and that must be focused on by golf course owners & operators if you're going to solve the slow play issues at your club.28:28 – Hear the discussion with Mike about ‘pace' and ‘flow' – learn what they mean, and how they relate to the experience your guests are having on the golf course.32:08 – What does Mike think owners & operators can do to effect the biggest change on improving the pace of play at their course. Please feel free to contact Mike directly to have him help your golf-related business with marketing, management, operational or recruitment advice and support.  For more information, visit Mike's website at https://www.golfindustrycentral.com.au or email him directly at info@golfindustrycentral.com.au.

One of the biggest changes COVID-19 has triggered in the world of golf club management is also one of the easiest to overlook.In very short order, the pandemic has completely reshaped how clubs interact with their members and guests.  Face-to-face board meetings are out; videoconferences are in.  Handshakes are out; contactless interactions are in.  Crowded, bustling golf shops and shotgun starts are out; capacity limits in the restaurant and not raking bunkers are in.But one of the most significant, albeit subtle changes, is COVID-19's near-complete eradication of a widely-used and highly effective technique for fostering member & guest engagement: “The Smile”.The human smile exerts enormous influence on the perceptions of those with whom we interact.  “Service with a smile” isn't just a catchphrase – it's a proven approach for elevating member and guest satisfaction.  When greeted or served with a smile, members and guests view your team members that they're interacting with as friendlier and more trustworthy which are both keys to delivering great customer service and both stem from a simple, primitive facial expression.On this episode of The GIG Podcast, we welcome Andy Stangenberg, the Founder & CEO of Q-Principle to talk about how to deliver “Service With A Smile” in the age of COVID-19.There's no doubt that face coverings complicate the delivery of in-person guest experiences, given our reliance on facial cues when interacting with others.  However, it's important for clubs to find alternatives to those non-verbal communication signals, particularly since they can shape customer impressions so powerfully. Tune in to hear Andy and James discuss a variety of tips for overcoming the customer experience challenges that ensue from a face-masked society.Highlights you won't want to miss:2:35 – Since great customer service is a feeling you give your members and guests; how do you deliver a feeling?9:02 – How to give a smile to someone from “Behind The Mask”.11:35 – Some of the techniques that your team can use to engage with guests and show that they're ready to provide a great guest experiences.13:55 – One sure fire way to improve the guest experience when your guests register in the golf shop for their day at the club.18:25 – How to get your team members who are not very expressive to be more engaging and forthcoming with their body language and energy.25:16 – Learn about an improv game you can use as a tool with your staff in an orientation or training session that is tremendously useful in helping your team members with the words that they choose to use with your members and guests.If you could use some support to improve the delivery of great customer service at your club from “Behind The Mask”, then you won't want to miss this episode of The GIG Podcast.To work directly with Andy and the Q-Principle team be sure to check out their website at www.q-principle.com or you can email Andy at andy@q-principle.com.

As we talked about in our last episode of the GIG Podcast with Kevin MacDonald, no matter whether you are climbing a mountain, progressing through a career, leading a team, building a relationship or raising a family, we all have the chance to be in a continuous process of elevation. So, in Part 2 of our chat with Kevin MacDonald we pick up from where we left off last time and continue to talk about how to take your life and your leadership at your club to the next level. Highlights from this episode of the GIG Podcast that you don't want to miss: 3:27 – Find out how conversations start with new clients when they come to Kevin for the first time to begin the coaching process.7:49 – What some of the common challenges are that Kevin sees amongst the club managers and leaders that he works with.15:37 – Hear about the importance of having clarity around what the definition of success at your club is and how once you have that may lead to giving you the work / life balance that you're searching for.24:01 – The importance of accountability from Kevin's perspective and why it is one of the keys to executive coaching.28:14 – Listen to Kevin's thoughts on what team members today are looking for most from the people who lead the club that they are employed at.32:31 – Kevin dives deep on the topic of trust and the importance of building & maintaining it as opposed to always trying to regain it. Kevin MacDonald is a coach, a facilitator, a communicator, a storyteller and a teacher. With over ten years of experience coaching executives from organizations around North America, he initiates action from within the people he touches. As a facilitator and communicator, Kevin uses humor and wisdom to help his clients crystallize their thinking, define success, and live their ideal lives with passion and balance. His focus is on elevating the professionalism and the lives of the people he works with. Kevin speaks from the heart with warmth and humor. He is a polished storyteller who is dedicated to ensuring that an audience doesn't just leave with some new ideas but is inspired to take action that will make a lasting difference. His business and management background combined with his exceptional coaching skills make him an asset for any people development initiative. Kevin is a member of the International Coach Federation, a graduate of Coach U and has developed and led the Coaching Program for the Club Managers Association of America since 2003. He studied Business Administration at Wilfrid Laurier University and was in leadership roles in the hospitality industry for 22 years prior to becoming a coach. To connect with Kevin to discuss having him help you elevate your career and your life, please visit his website at www.thecoachingdept.com.  

A common trait among high-performing corporate businesses is that they have sound governance policies and procedures in place, and the same is true for Clubs. As Gregg puts it, in the world of “Clubdom” governance is Job #1 and it's all about who makes the decisions, who executes the decisions, and who makes sure they are enforced.On this episode of The GIG Podcast, we welcome Club Management extraordinaire, Gregg Patterson, who will talk about the importance of good governance and what lessons Gregg thinks are critical right now with creating and adapting good governance at your Club.Tune in to learn:How to design and implement a good governance model for you and your Club.How to create a smooth flow of authority from Club Members through the Board of Directors to the Club Manager and Staff.How to create a clear line of accountability from the Staff and Club Manager back through the Board to the Club Members.Gregg Patterson became the General Manager of The Beach Club in 1982 and spent 34 glorious years as their GM.  Gregg has been a featured presenter at various club management seminars in North America, South America, Europe and Asia; teaches club management courses at The Business Management Institute and was an Adjunct Professor at Cal Poly University, Pomona for fourteen years.  Gregg also writes for Board Room magazine and is the author of Reflections on the Club Experience, an anthology of essays on club cultures and operations.  In acknowledgement of his efforts as a club management professional, he was named the Club Executive of the Year by the Club Management Association of America in 2015.Highlights you won't want to miss:4:08 – Why the ultimate expression of hospitality is working at a Club.6:14 – The difficult difference between the Club business and every other sector of the hospitality industry and how to deal with that reality.8:15 – How to have a “happy” governance process at your Club.9:26 – As a Manager, the three stages of the governance process that you have to influence.11:59 – What the first steps for Managers arriving at a new Club are for improving the governance at that Club.14:30 – As the mentor of the board, what are you responsible for doing?18:16 – When it comes to governance, these are the tools the Manager must master.  This is HUGE!25:14 – What is the value equation that your boards and committees must understand.29:11 – The process every Manager should follow with their board, their members, and their staff.If you want to make your Club a better place and improve your chances for long term operational success by way of improved governance, then you won't want to miss this episode of The GIG Podcast.To work directly with Gregg, he can be reached at gjpair@aol.com.

Retailers in the golf industry define success at the end of a season in many ways. Did we hit our retail sales or gross margin dollar target for the year? Did our members and guests like the products that came with our biggest investment in a specific brand, and ultimately did that brand sell well for us?  One of the most common metrics used is full price sell through which is the percentage of units that sold at full price. Full price sell through varies from Club to Club, but a good industry standard is around 60 percent for the intended life of a given product, meaning a savvy retailer expects to sell the other 40 percent of units on markdown. Remember, the longer an item stays on your shelves the more money it is costing you because the space that those products are occupying could be given to different items with stronger sell-through rates.  Also, dead stock ties up your open to buy dollars as well meaning that you cannot order fresher, better products until you sell through what you have now.  Monitor your sell-through rates and keep your Golf Shop fresh and engaging for your members and guests to improve your bottom line and the guest experience at your Club. On this episode of The GIG Podcast, we welcome retail sales expert, Rick Maddison, who will discuss why some Golf Shops sell more product at full retail than others and he'll explain what the gap is between below average shops and those engaged shops that know the true secret to achieving an outstanding sell through percentage at their Club. Secrets of Sell Through with Rick Maddison Tune in to learn: ·      What your greatest advantage is over online retailers.·      How to unlock your team members full potential on the sales floor.·      Why lack of training is costing you more than just missed sales.·      How to teach your team members the deadly art of retail sales persuasion and customer service which will result in increased productivity and sales. About Rick Maddison Rick Maddison is owner of the Sales Ninja Academy, a company that delivers online video training programs that teaches front line sales staff how to be better at selling! His program has helped increase sales for over 300 retail businesses that sell world class brands like Hugo Boss, Lazy Boy, Mercedes, Polaris, Honda, Norco, and Tacori Jewelry. Rick is also a broadcaster, published writer, humorist, business consultant, and highly sought-after speaker. Highlights you won't want to miss: ·      3:55 – What successful clubs strive for when delivering their retail guest experience and what they use to make that happen.·      4:42 – Why your team members need to have “insane empathy” for your members and guests.·      7:55 – The qualities you should look for in the people who are working behind your Golf Shop counter in order to increase your revenues.·      10:12 – A lesson from Wal-Mart.·      12:47 – One of the common complaints Rick hears from Golf Shop Managers when it comes to their team members, and what his rebuttal is.·      15:23 – Best practices for what your team members need to actually “make the sale”.·      21:55 – What can happen to your “Rockstar” team members if you're not developing them and giving them the tools to be successful.·      23:37 – What you can do about your team members who have “resting face”.·      25:18 – If every one of your team members was to just do this…your retail sales would increase! If y

On this episode of the GIG Podcast, tune in to learn from private club membership & marketing educator Melissa Hansen as we discuss how to make sure today's ‘golfing again' customer becomes tomorrow's lifelong member. Yes, there is a resurgence of golf around the world!  The pandemic has been golf's shot in the arm that no one could have predicted!  But what happens once kids' baseball games, vacations, and a return to office work all come back in full force?  How do we make sure that we take full advantage of this renewed interest in golf so that our tee sheets are not only full in 2021…but for years to come!  Join James and Melissa on this value packed episode of the GIG Podcast as she shares her insights on how to make sure you have the systems and processes in place to turn an occasional visitor of your club into a lifelong member! About Melissa Hansen Melissa Hansen is a private club membership & marketing educator that provides resources to industry professionals who are striving to get creative and think outside the box.  With over ten years in the hospitality industry, Melissa has had the opportunity to learn from some of the most successful leaders in the business.  Melissa is eager to share the knowledge and information she has learned and provide you with clear strategies for your membership success! Highlights of this episode that you won't want to miss: 7:05 – Learn about what Melissa thinks are some of the qualities that make for a successful membership sales & marketing director at a club.10:03 – How the approach taken today by the successful membership sales directors has evolved over time and why.11:44 – How Melissa can help your club's membership sales director ensure that prospective new members choose your club over the other options they have.14:59 – What Melissa thinks are the specific things that consumers are looking for when they are considering investing in a membership at a club.18:53 – What Melissa believes is the right path for clubs to take when trying to appeal to the new audience of people joining clubs today, and the risk that clubs run when trying to be all things to all people.20:19 – What is the most important factor that consumers consider when contemplating the possibility of joining a club.23:20 – The list of three things that Melissa believes a club should have to be successful when it comes to selling new memberships.28:04 – The sure-fire way to get prospective new members feeling connected to the club even before they join, and how you can use other members of the senior leadership team to play a role in that process. Melissa would love to hear from you so feel free to connect with her at any time.  She can be reached directly at 239.216.6422 or melissa@melissahansen.com and be sure to visit her website too for more information at www.melissahansen.com.

As the quote goes, “We can only share what we have.” Before we can display effective service principles towards others, we need to upload our own values and belief systems first. This podcast episode dives into service and cultural strategies and sets the tone for and reveals some of the principles behind creating a sustainable service initiative at any Club. This high energy podcast episode tackles a positive yet challenging topic as it relates to service philosophies and the responsibilities Managers carry as a role model to display service. Tune in and learn how to: Develop a new passion for providing meaningful serviceRe-connect with fundamental principles relating to service like values and higher purpose Create a personal formula for providing memorable serviceUnderstand why service is more than just a job description About Andy Stangenberg With over 32 years of experience in the operational field of the service industry in six different countries, Stangenberg has developed a tremendous understanding of service and leadership excellence. He is a Master of Hospitality and champions the importance of service engagement between associates and guests, members, customers, and clients. He has taught the school of service and leadership in many countries and owned and operated private hospitality schools in Aruba and Maui. His experience as an executive hotel director required him to play a constant role as a coach and trainer, strengthening the engagement quality between people.  Stangenberg has been featured as a keynote speaker at hundreds of conventions around the globe and is used by world leading companies (Intercontinental Hotels Group, Hyatt, Whole Foods, Club Managers Association of America, and more) as a master coach responsible for employee and leadership development. Highlights you won't want to miss: 3:40 – Unlike North America, here's what it actually takes to work in hospitality in countries like Germany and Switzerland.6:08 – What Andy believes is the real meaning of success in the hospitality business.11:34 – The key elements that you need to have in order to create a culture of service in your Club.16:32 – The benefits that come from knowing early on what each of your team member's “why” or individual “driver” is.19:38 – The tremendous responsibility that will be on the backs of Owners, Managers, and Supervisors when we start to exit out of the COVID-19 pandemic.24:30 – The outcome of service becoming robotic, manufactured, and sterile at Clubs and how to shift away from that reality.27:44 – Who your front-line employees are really working for while employed at your Club and what the benefit of that is to them, to you, and to your Club.30:49 – The #1 thing that is holding back most Managers and Staff Members from creating a winning formula to deliver great service.31:50 – The Top 5 things that actually motivate your Team Members. If it's time to start re-thinking your Club's approach to service and you're wanting to know where to start, then you won't want to miss this episode of The GIG Podcast.

Customer journey mapping in the club environment is a way to visualize the member or customer experience, and it's about how your guests interact with your business and enjoy the experiences that you create and deliver for them. Your goal in mapping that journey is to remove the obstacles and make the process efficient, intuitive, and aligned with their expectations, wants, and needs so that their entertainment and enjoyment goals are not only met, but far exceeded!  Simply put, the more seamless and memorable of an experience you can create, the better the customer experience will be. This process of customer journey mapping creates an overview of the member or guest experience at your club and maps out how guests will move through and interact with the various touchpoints your club provides all the way from arrival to departure. Customer journey mapping is especially useful across both the iteration and refinement process of creating your designed guest experience as new elements are designed and older processes are refined or eliminated which allows you find new and improved ways to ‘wow' your members and guests. Essentially, it allows you to identify opportunities to improve and enhance the overall customer experience that you and your team are delivering to your members and guests. At its heart, customer journey mapping puts the customer at the centre of everything you do. Instead of looking first at your priorities and making assumptions about how to motivate customers to meet your goals, consider the customer first and how they will move through the guest experience at your club because when you take care of your customers entertainment goals first what you'll find is that the financial goals you have for your business will follow suit. On this episode of the GIG Podcast, we sit down for part 2 of our chat with Mike Orloff from Golf Industry Central.  Not only do we “put a bow” on our discussion about pace of play which carries over from part 1, but we'll also dive deep on why the customer experience at a club is so important, identify what most clubs struggle with on this front, and we talk about what the key steps are to take in mapping out a great guest experience for your members and guests. About Mike Orloff A commercially minded operator with a passion to create something unique, Mike is a specialist providing golf operations and marketing solutions and helps all levels of golf facilities and golf-related businesses grow their revenues and bottom line. In addition, Mike also helps international golf-related companies access the Australian market.A current US and Australian PGA Member, Mike has marketed and managed golf courses throughout Australia since the year 2000 and in the USA for various levels of facilities from two to five stars.  An innovative and experienced golf marketer, Mike was hand-picked by American Golf Corporation, the largest golf management company in the year 2000, to improve the performance of its first Australian courses on the Gold Coast. In 2008, Mike launched Golf Industry Central as the leading news and information resource for the golf industry in Australasia and they also help grow the game of golf through better marketing for clubs and golf businesses. Highlights of this episode that you won't want to miss: 7:02 – Learn how to best manage pace of play as the On-Course Ambassador / Marshall for the benefit of the guest experience.10:35 – Find out why Mike thinks the guest experience & the customer journey is such an important topic to focus on for successful club managers.20:03 – Understand what the key areas or touch points to focus in on are when you're mapping out the guest experience & customer journey at your club.31:04 – Hear

Are you wondering how the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted your options for selling liquor? Or what kind of policy you should have when someone lights a joint on your patio?  Do you have a policy that tells your staff if and/or when they can drink after work?  If you have questions about booze or bud, then Bert Hick is the man with the answers!  Bert is the founder and CEO of Rising Tides Consultants, a liquor and cannabis consulting firm located in British Columbia, Canada. Join James as he asks Bert all about the highs and lows of managing booze (and other treats) and listen firsthand as they touch on topics such as employee safety, inventory controls, dealing with unruly patrons, and more.Highlights from this episode of the GIG Podcast that you don't want to miss:7:24 – Learn about how liquor licensing rules differ from coast-to-coast across Canada.10:37 – What you need to know as a club manager when it comes to guests consuming marijuana at your club.12:58 – How to deal with guests who show up to your club with outside alcohol.16:25 – Learn about some of the documents, templates, policies, & procedures that a club should have in place when it comes to serving alcohol.17:59 – Guidance for clubs about alcohol sampling / tasting by hole sponsors at corporate and charity golf events hosted at your club.24:09 – The issues that clubs typically reach out to Bert & his team for help with.31:15 – What the rules are around serving alcohol on the driving range at your club if you want to offer a TopGolf type of experience for your members and guests.33:23 – Some of the things to think about when it comes to staff drinking after their shifts at your club.37:22 – What liquor inspectors are looking for when they come to conduct a compliance inspection at your club.About Bert HickBert Hick founded Rising Tide Consultants Ltd. in 1988. After finishing university in Ontario, he served for 11 years with the BC Government, holding several key positions including Executive Director of the Cabinet Secretariat, Secretary to Cabinet under Premier William (Bill) Bennett and General Manager of the BC Liquor Control and Licensing Branch (now the BC Liquor and Cannabis Regulation Branch). During his undergraduate year at Carleton University in Ottawa, he served as an assistant to a member of parliament.Bert is widely respected throughout British Columbia's hospitality industry and since Canada's legalization of cannabis, has expanded those relationships into the cannabis space. In addition, Bert is a sought-after guest for speaking engagements on a wide range of topics.  Bert believes in giving back to the community and is an active board member of the BC Hospitality Foundation.To contact Bert and his team to discuss how they can help you and your club, please visit their website at https://risingtideconsultants.ca.