Barry Careford, the new manager at South Essex Golf Centre, arrives with a promise to make every golfer feel like they are a member.
The 36 year-old music lover starts at South Essex GC on Monday October 20th expecting a buoyant atmosphere at the popular Brentwood golf centre, which recently added a FootGolf course to its three golf courses.
“The people at your golf club are like your extended family” said Careford. “My philosophy is to treat every golfer like they are already a member, as soon as they drive into our car park. Golfers tend to be loyal and friendly, and that’s the atmosphere I will encourage at South Essex Golf Centre”.
The new boss took up golf as a teenager, and has whittled his handicap down to an impressive 10 – but he doesn’t expect to get much time to work on it. “I expect to be too busy through the winter to play much golf myself” he said. “I am looking forward to getting to know the golf club, its customers and staff, and I am going to have to sacrifice my own golf game so that others can improve theirs!”
Golf’s often staid image is something which Careford is determined to change at South Essex. “When you visit here you’ll find a sport which is vibrant, energetic and fun. People get a buzz when they exercise, and with the amazing recent growth of FootGolf here too, South Essex is very much a modern golf centre with very few remnants of golf’s stuffy past.”
The north Londoner joins South Essex after an impressive five years at Hertfordshire golf club Chesfield Downs, where he put his leisure industry training to good use. Having spent the early years of his career at David Lloyd and Virgin health clubs, he helped Chesfield Downs to expand its leisure club membership fourfold during his time there as Golf & Leisure Manager.
“Barry is a great people person as well as being a very strong manager, and he was the outstanding candidate when we were looking for someone to take over at South Essex Golf Centre. We have been waiting for the right challenge to arise for him within our company for some time,” said Stephen Towers, Chief Operating Officer at Crown Golf, which owns and operates South Essex, Chesfield Downs and 23 other golf venues across the UK.
“Seeing successful staff progress in their career is one of the most rewarding things about running an organisation like Crown Golf, and I have no doubt that Barry’s outgoing personality will enable him to establish himself quickly as the new figurehead at South Essex.”
South Essex Golf Centre www.southessexgolf.co.uk
Crown Golf www.crown-golf.co.uk