59club, the totally independent golf analysis business that measures service at many of the leading golf venues in the UK, has just hosted its third Annual Awards Ceremony to recognise ‘Service Excellence’ within golf throughout 2012.
The ceremony, held at The Belfry, was attended by most of the leading golf clubs, resorts and golf hotel groups in the country. In total, there were 36 awards presented on the night which are listed below.
The venues within the 59Club scheme, as a minimum, receive mystery ‘society/corporate golf day enquiry calls’ and ‘live green fee visits’ six times per year, ensuring that all ‘sales’ and ‘customer service’ standards are met and maintained across the entire year.
The Highlights were;
Four-time Ryder Cup venue The Belfry picked up the top honour on a night of celebration for the golf industry at the third 59club awards dinner. The West Midlands resort was named Best Venue – The Ultimate Golf Experience, after becoming one of the first five recipients to collect the new Gold Flag Award from 59club, a PGA official supplier.
Also receiving Gold Flags were Celtic Manor 2010, which was runner-up to the Belfry, StokePark, which was third, plus Wentworth and the Marriott Forest of Arden.
Ian Knox, recently appointed Director of Golf at The Belfry said: “To be named best venue is testament to the standards that are in place across the resort, as I recognise there are some very strong candidates in the category. To win this award and be recognised by the industry is an incredible honour and where we want The Belfry to be.”
In addition, 11 Silver Awards – the first time these have also been presented – were given to Formby Hall, a PGA branded facility, PGA Cup venues past and present in De Vere’s The Carrick on Loch Lomond and Slaley Hall. Other recipients were Marriott’s Dalmahoy and St Pierre resorts, Close House, Exclusive’s Manning Heath, The Vale Resort, Goodwood Golf, Broadstone and St Andrew’s – The Dukes.
The much sought-after Golf Group of the Year award was presented to Marriott resorts, the first time they have won it. Alison Ainsworth, Senior Director of Golf, Leisure & Spa Operations Europe for Marriott Hotels said “We were very happy to win this prestigious award which is testament to the effort shown by all staff across the group. The 59club mystery shopper feedback allows us to constantly monitor our service levels, this award recognises our commitment to consistently deliver a high level of customer service to all our golfers, in turn creating an exceptional customer journey from start to finish. It was a great night for everyone in the golf industry to be together and to be part of something which recognises the hard work and commitment that goes on in our industry, irrespective of who we work for”
Wentworth’s Edinburgh course was winner in the Best Greens category, with Celtic Manor 2010 named the Best Presented and Conditioned Golf Course. A further 15 awards were presented on the night acknowledging excellence and significant improvement in golf sales, golf operations, golf retail, golf membership, leisure membership, food & beverage.
Simon Wordsworth, a PGA Fellow Professional and founder of 59club, said: “We were recognising the excellence that is carried out day in day out at golf and leisure clubs across the UK.
“This has been a successful year for 59club with almost double the number of venues joining and a first venture moving overseas into Europe and the Middle East, whilst working on new staff training programmes with our existing venues.
“We launched the Gold and Silver Flag awards this year to highlight excellent service and standards, the venues that received them have really earnt the accolade as the tough criteria ensures success based on clear and specific evaluations only – definitely not a personal ‘opinion’ in sight. We worked really hard to develop non-subjective criteria that are transparent and open to all to create the only true venue rating system that covers the entire experience including course attributes. Amongst others it gives credit for on-site dining options, on site accommodation options (resort only), retail space and custom fitting options, number of staff holding further education qualifications relating to the golf operation, practice facilities including long, short and putting, on-course service offerings such as powered vehicles and F&B, caddy services (resort only), standard of changing rooms, on-course yardages and last but not least the standard of tournaments that a venue has previously held. Additional criteria targeted at “members clubs” covers tee time reservations, member’s communication plans, events, club mark accreditation etc……
“Our flag award system will be comparable worldwide and is transferable cross border and culture with hopefully the first awards to overseas venues in May 2013.”
Award winners in full
Gold Flag – Ultimate Golf Experience
Winner: The Belfry
Runner up: Celtic Manor Resort
Third Place: Stoke Park
The Golf Group of the Year:
Winner: Marriott
Nominated: Leaderboard & De Vere
Gold Flag Awards
Winners are:
The Belfry, Celtic Manor Resort, Wentworth, Stoke Park & MarriottForest of Arden
Silver Flag Awards
Winners are:
Marriott Dalmahoy, Exclusive Mannings Heath, Goodwood, Broadstone, DeVere The Carrick, Formby Hall, Close House, The Vale Resort, De Vere Slaley Hall, Marriott St Pierre, The Dukes St Andrews
The Best Conditioned and Presented Golf Course of the Year
Winner: Celtic Manor 2010
Nominated: Wentworth – The Edinburgh Course &The Belfry – The Brabazon
The Best Greens in Golf
Winner: Wentworth – The Edinburgh Course
Nominated: The Belfry – The Brabazon & Celtic Manor 2010
The Golf Operations Team of the Year
Winner: The Belfry
Nominated: CelticManorResort & MarriottForest of Arden
The Golf Sales Team of the Year
Winner: De Vere Slaley Hall
Nominated: De Vere Carden Park &De Vere Oulton Hall
The Best F&B Experience
Winner: Stoke Park
Nominated: The Dukes St Andrews & Macdonald Linden Hall
Best Presented and Tastiest Food in Golf
Winner: MarriottTudorPark
Nominated: Exclusive The Manor & Newark GC
The Friendliest and Warmest Atmosphere in Golf
Winner: Exclusive The Manor
Nominated: Carmarthen GC & Goodwood
The Best Golf Retail Experience
Winner: Marriott WorsleyPark
Nominated: Close House and De Vere Slaley Hall
The Golf Membership Sales Team of the Year
Winner: De Vere Carden Park
Nominated: De Vere Dunston Hall
The Leisure Membership Sales Team of the Year
Winner: The Vale Resort
Nominated: De Vere Dunston Hall
Most Improved Golf Sales Team
Winner: Altonwood Woldingham
Nominated: Stoke Park and The Belfry
Most Improved Golf Operation Team
Winner: Altonwood Woldingham
Nominated: Windlesham and GaronPark
Most Improved Golf Retail Experience
Winner: Newark
Nominated: GaronPark and Exclusive Mannings Heath
Most Improved F&B Experience
Winner: Marriott St Pierre
Nominated: Altonwood Woldingham & Leaderboard Sandford Springs
Leading individual Golf Sales Performance
Winner: Stoke Park – Emma Ansell
Nominated: De Vere Slaley Hall – Alan Foley and De Vere Herons Reach – Rachael Slack
Leading Individual Performance by a Golf Operation Team
Winner : The Belfry
Nominated: Marriott Breadsall Priory and MarriottTudorPark
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