Also sometimes known as:

Food & Beverage Manager - Hospitality Manager - Bar & Catering Manager

What do they do?

A clubhouse manager plays a vital role in maintaining the heart of a golf club or country club facility - the clubhouse itself. This position requires exceptional organisational skills, attention to detail, and a strong focus on hospitality management to ensure members and guests enjoy their experience.

The primary responsibility of a clubhouse manager is overseeing all indoor facilities and services. This often includes managing the dining areas, lounges and locker rooms. They ensure these spaces are well-maintained, clean, and operating efficiently to meet customer expectations.

Food and beverage operations typically form a significant part of their duties. The clubhouse manager works closely with the kitchen team to develop menus, maintain quality standards, and manage costs. They oversee food service staff, coordinate special events and banquets, and ensure compliance with health and safety regulations. This includes managing inventory, maintaining relationships with suppliers, and monitoring food and beverage costs.

Member service is at the core of their role. The clubhouse manager must create a welcoming atmosphere where members feel valued and comfortable. They handle member inquiries and complaints, implement service standards, and train staff to deliver consistent, high-quality service. They often serve as the main point of contact for customers regarding clubhouse facilities and services.

Administrative duties include scheduling staff, managing budgets for clubhouse operations, maintaining accurate records, and coordinating with other department heads. They must ensure proper staffing levels during peak times and special events while controlling staff costs.

Event management is often another crucial aspect of the role. The clubhouse manager coordinates private events, member functions, and tournaments from a facilities perspective. This includes managing room setups, coordinating with outside vendors, and ensuring all necessary resources are in place for successful events.

They also play a key role in maintaining the club's standards and traditions while implementing modern service practices to keep the facility current and competitive. This balance helps preserve the club's character while meeting contemporary consumer expectations.

Also sometimes known as:

Director of Golf - Head Golf Professional - Golf Manager

What do they do?

A golf operations manager is responsible for overseeing the daily operations of the golf facility, focusing particularly on player services and the overall golf experience. This role combines customer service leadership with technical golf expertise to ensure smooth functioning of all golf-related activities.

The primary responsibility is managing the daily golf operations, including the starting system, pace of play, and golf buggy operations. They create and maintain tee time schedules, implement booking policies, and ensure efficient flow of play on the course. This includes monitoring pace of play and developing strategies to prevent or resolve bottlenecks that might affect the playing experience.

Golf shop management is often a key component of the role. The golf operations manager oversees merchandise selection, inventory management, and sales strategies. They work with vendors to stock appropriate equipment, apparel, and accessories while managing pricing and profit margins. They also ensure the golf shop staff is knowledgeable about products and provides excellent customer service.

Tournament operations can also fall under their purview. This involves planning and executing golfer tournaments, corporate outings, and charity events. They coordinate with other departments to ensure successful events, manage tournament scheduling, create player pairings, and oversee scoring and rules administration. Their knowledge of golf rules and tournament operations is essential for these duties.

Staff management is crucial, as they supervise golf services personnel including starters, rangers, cart staff, and golf shop employees. This includes hiring, training, scheduling, and developing staff to maintain high service standards. They ensure all staff members understand and follow proper golf etiquette and club policies.

The golf operations manager also sometimes plays a significant role in player development programmes. They may coordinate with teaching professionals to implement clinics, lessons, and junior golf programs. This includes managing the lesson booking system and ensuring proper utilisation of practice facilities.

Financial responsibilities include managing operational budgets, monitoring revenue streams, and identifying opportunities for growth. They track and analyse rounds played, cart revenue, merchandise sales, and other key performance indicators to optimise the golf operation's financial performance.