Chair Network, the largest community for the UK’s volunteer private golf club directors, has announced a strategic collaboration with the Golf Club Managers’ Association (GCMA) and the British and International Greenkeepers’ Association (BIGGA).
The three organisations will be working together to develop the knowledge and education of the 8,000 plus audience of private member golf club directors throughout the UK. Key objectives will include supporting the working relationship between employees and the club volunteer director workforce and communicating best practice around industry topics.
Chair Network Advisory Board Chair Pat Farag, who is also chair of Enfield Golf Club, welcomed the collaboration as an important step in the growth of Chair Network. She said: “COVID-19 has brought both significant pressure and ongoing challenges and demonstrated how a close working relationship between both employer and employees is crucial to the long-term prosperity and survival of a golf club.
“Chair Network is a peer-to-peer community allowing volunteer directors at every level to network and learn from each other. By working together with GCMA and BIGGA, we will also bring insight and learnings from the professional workforce. All of our respective memberships have a common interest in seeing the golf club industry thrive.”
As well as collaborating on awareness and knowledge around important industry topics, the three organisations will work together in the development of a “Be A Better Golf Club Director” course. This will be delivered online and support new and existing golf club directors with a e-learning and face to face education on how best to support their golf clubs and make an impact as they join golf club Boards or take on new Chair roles.
Tom Brooke, Chief Executive of the GCMA, said: “Chair Network provides a channel directly to Golf Club Boards and their directors. Our role is to promote the value of a professional golf club manager and how a Board can work with its professional team. The GCMA supports the ambitions of Chair Network to develop an effective support network for volunteers and we are delighted to add our professional insight and that of our Members.”
BIGGA Chief Executive Jim Croxton said: “We are delighted to be working with Chair Network and developing greater understanding of golf course management, not just by golf club Course Directors but throughout the whole Board. There are some significant challenges facing the golf industry in the coming years, not least sustainability, and the environment. An educated and informed volunteer workforce will be crucial to the long-term future of the game.”
Chair Network was founded in 2018 by Directors Eddie Bullock and Jane Carter. It represents all sectors of the private golf club structure – Club Chairs, Club Directors in Course Management, Food and Beverage, Finance, Membership and Marketing, Business and Operations.
For further information, email eddiebullockgolf@icloud.com, call 07802 626866 or visit www.chairnetwork.golf
