The Golf Club Managers Association (GCMA) 2015 Conference will take place at St George’s Park in Burton-upon-Trent from Sunday 15 to Tuesday 17 November 2015, with a programme headlined by Sir Clive Woodward, which has been designed for delegates to Be Inspired.
This biennial conference will bring together golf club managers and industry professionals from across the UK and Europe, offering invaluable networking opportunities alongside a programme of inspiring keynote speakers and industry led educational breakout sessions looking at three key areas of golf club management – Income Generation, Strategic Planning and Personal Development.
A refreshed schedule sees the main conference programme take place over two days, with the option to arrive on Sunday to explore behind the scenes of St George’s Park, and to take part in a special interactive session looking at the future of golf club management, led by Futurist David Wood. A discounted Early Bird booking rate is available until 31 July 2015.
Bob Williams, GCMA Chief Executive, said: “The conference has been put together using much of the feedback we received from delegates who attended the 2013 edition, which is reflected in the new schedule, a flexible pricing structure and a packed programme, so we plan for the 2015 Conference to be the most valuable yet. We are delighted to have one of the world’s leading sporting figures, Sir Clive Woodward, to be delivering the closing keynote speech, which reflects our ambition to deliver an essential programme of education and inspiration for the modern golf club manager.
The Conference will be hosted by BBC Radio 5 Live’s Peter Allen. A respected and experienced journalist, Peter is also a keen golfer and will bring a unique perspective to the programme.
Sir Clive Woodward, England’s 2003 Rugby World Cup winning head coach, will be the headline keynote speaker. Successful coaches and leaders are those that can effectively capture and share their knowledge. Clive believes it is important to formalise this process and is currently working with the IOC and a number of young talented athletes to this end. Using examples from the 2003 England Rugby World Cup winning team, Team GB and business Clive will share how he has formalised this process with the teams and individuals he works with, aiming to highlight the “Winning Moves” – those practices that are crucial to personal development.
Charles Hazlewood is an internationally renowned conductor who led The British Paraorchestra in 2012, and will use music to demonstrate the important of teamwork in the workplace, illustrating one of his key themes, trust.
Chief Executive of the European Golf Course Owners Association (EGCOA), Lodewijk Klootwijk, will present Vision 2020 – an in-depth research project undertaken by the EGCOA and its members to create an overview of the current situation in the European golf industry and develop an outlook for the development of golf till 2020. Looking at how the golf industry can create a sustainable future, Vision 2020 asks what is the new and existing golfer looking for in golf, so that they will stay actively involved in the game? Lodewijk will also deliver an interactive breakout session.
2015 European Solheim Cup Captain Carin Koch will lead a keynote panel discussion about the importance of developing female participation in golf, alongside Emma Clifford (GCMA 2014 Manager of the Year) and Alison Root (Editor – Women & Golf).
The CEOs of GCMA, PGA and BIGGA – Bob Williams, Sandy Jones and Jim Croxton – will share a stage to discuss the future of golf club management, and the game as a whole, preceded by a presentation of the findings of the GCMA Young Managers’ Group.
Billy Dixon, an expert on personal and corporate branding and a highlight of previous conferences, returns to discuss personal development.
A comprehensive programme of breakout sessions will build on and explore the key themes of Personal Development, Strategic Planning and Revenue Generation that will be discussed in the keynote presentations. Presenters include Carolyne Wahlen, Mike Hyde, KPMG’s Paul Stewart, Steven Brown, Howard and William Swan, Steven Brown, Jane Carter and the GCMA Board of Directors.
Bob Williams continues: “As well as being conveniently located, as the home of 23 national England football teams our new conference venue, St George’s Park, is inspiring in itself and should provide an exceptional conference experience. We are particularly excited about the David Wood, a Futurist who is the latest addition to the programme, and who will be delivering the introductory session on Sunday evening. He’ll be taking a look at the industry from a completely new angle, and considering the potential impact of technological and social changes on the golf business – it’s not to be missed!
“Alongside the keynote and breakout programme, conference feedback always highlights the value of networking with industry colleagues for picking up new ideas and inspiration, which is why we always see delegates returning once they have attended for the first time, so we are looking forward to seeing as many of our members, and other industry professionals, as possible in November.”
There will also be the usual numerous networking opportunities with fellow delegates, and representatives from industry providers who will be exhibiting throughout the conference.
The 2015 Manager of the Year, Team of the Year, and New Manager of the Year will also be announced at Monday night’s dinner, which also feature an entertaining after dinner speaker from the sporting world.
St. George’s Park is the home of all 24 England Football teams, and is a centre of sporting excellence. The inspiring venue, which is centrally located and easily accessible, will offer fitting surroundings for three days of educational and thought-provoking discussions.
Prices start from just £375 for a conference package including a one night stay, or £425 for two nights’ accommodation, and the additional sessions on Sunday afternoon. An special early bird rate is available until 31 July 2015.
To book your place, or for more information, visit the Conference page on the GCMA website, call 01275 391153 or email hq@gcma.org.uk
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