Stephen Nicholson, GCMA Manager of the year nominee in 2019, has launched a new golf club management consultancy.
Nicholson, the New Business Manager at Haydock Park Golf Club, and former General Manager of the Oxford Golf Club, formed the consultancy to help clubs grow commercially and operationally. He has created a team of talented golf industry professionals to help deliver support to golf clubs across the UK.
He said: “The role of a golf club manager is all-encompassing and scarcely do we get the time to complete everything required for a business to be fully effective. Most golf clubs have enough workload in the office for 3-5 people yet are rarely able to employ accordingly. Resultedly, golf clubs tread water, rather than progress their business.”
Over the last decade there has been an influx of skilled managers employed by private members golf clubs to run them in a more business-like manner.
Commenting on the trend, Nicholson said: “Members who become directors of golf clubs, should be there to do just that – direct. Many members volunteer their services which is great and used in the right way can be very helpful. From running and administering members competitions, handicapping, to organising the social calendar of events. However, their expertise can be limited and for tasks including marketing, PR, project management, legislative updates, and increasing participation in the game they do not have the expertise required to deliver this to the level the club needs to be successful.
“Often golf clubs have a plan to be progressive, but find themselves just treading water, rather than progressing their business, due to shortfalls in in-house expertise and resource.
“Mango Golf Management has been created to fill that ‘niche’ in the operation of golf clubs. We can take, amend, or create a plan and then deliver on the areas a golf club is struggling to implement themselves. We believe it a fantastic value add and we are looking forward to making a positive difference at UK based golf clubs.”
Nicholson believes the COVID-19 restrictions is a golden opportunity for golf clubs to come back stronger.
“Some clubs have understandably made cutbacks,” he said. “But there are still important tasks to undertake to ensure compliance. Additionally, clubs can use this time to improve operations, maintenance, and marketing to ensure when they can re-open their offering is the best it can be.
We can help to cover the need, but without the commitment of an annual salary.”
Nicholson, who has a BA in Golf Management from the University of Central Lancashire, has extensive experience. It includes overseeing a significant increase in membership and revenue at both Oxford Golf Club and Haydock Park Golf Club.
Mango Golf Management is part of the Mango Group of companies based in the UK, specialising in golf and property management and operates as a trading name of Mango Ventures Limited.