Golf club managers interested in learning from some of the best in the golf industry are being encouraged to take part in a new mentor programme being launched by the Golf Club Managers’ Association (GCMA)
The GCMA Mentor initiative is supporting the professional and personal development of experienced and successful golf club managers to develop leadership, communication, and coaching skills as they take on the role of guiding the next generation of leaders.
Late last year, six mentors were selected: Denham’s Richard Penley-Martin, Golf at Goodwood’s Gary Beves, Portmarnock’s Andrew Whitelaw, Chigwell’s Ben Driver, Boyce Hill’s Scott Clark, and Foxhill Resort’s Chris Fitt.
They’ve since been through a rigorous training programme and will assist the mentees selected, helping them make good decisions by thinking through options, supporting their confidence and commitment, and challenging them to be their best selves.
Those interested in becoming GCMA Mentees and working with the accredited Mentor team are asked to fill out an application form, downloadable from the GCMA website. The process will remain open until March 31.
The mentees chosen will receive:
- An exclusive invitation to the official GCMA Mentor Introduction Day, taking place on May 4 at Forest of Arden Hotel and County Club. This will be a fantastic opportunity to meet both GCMA Mentors and fellow mentees, as well as those leading the Mentor programme from the GCMA.
- An Insights Discovery Profile.
- Access to a trained and accredited GCMA Mentor with whom they’ll have six hours of one-to-one mentoring sessions at times and venues to suit both.
- Invitations to two further GCMA Mentor events within a 12-month period to network with fellow mentees and take part in a series of group workshops and discussions on key industry topics and to further develop leadership skills.
It is intended the scheme will be expanded in future years with more Mentors and Mentees coming on board.
Tom Brooke, GCMA chief executive, said: “The process is open to any aspiring golf club manager, or anyone that’s new to golf club management, who feels they would benefit from having a mentor – and one who has gone through the training our GCMA Mentors have in recent weeks.
“It’s a fantastic programme. It’s entirely new to the industry, so this is unique. Looking back 15 years or so ago, when I first started as a golf club manager, I was really fortunate to be part of a group of golf clubs within Crown Golf.
“I had other golf club managers around me – and more experienced golf club managers – to learn from. This mentoring process can be so much more influential, and more powerful and beneficial, in the long run for personal development. We’re really looking forward to the next stage and I’m really excited to work with our GCMA Mentors as we move forward towards selecting our GCMA Mentees.”
The cost of the programme is £180 for the year, payable to the GCMA. This is a not-for-profit initiative and the fee payable by the Mentee is used to support the costs of delivering the programme.
To become a GCMA Mentee, applicants will need to be a GCMA Member. Those who aren’t already members can contact the Member Services team at memberservices@gcma.org.uk and join a nationwide community of current and aspiring golf club managers.