TA Hotel Collection, owners of five distinctive and independent Suffolk hotels, has appointed Paul Clouting to grow its UK golf breaks business at Thorpeness Hotel and Golf Club.
Paul brings more than 20 years’ experience as a commercial director and marketer to his new role as hotel director and will oversee operations at the 36-bedroom golf hotel, 18-hole heathland golf course and private members’ club at Thorpeness on Suffolk’s Heritage Coast.
He will also oversee Aldeburgh Bay Holidays, the self-catering holiday rentals arm of the business, and weddings and functions venue Thorpeness Country Club, which celebrated its centenary in 2012.
Thorpeness Hotel and Golf Club specialises in play and stay golf breaks, attracting golf groups, societies and day visitors from across the UK, with a primary focus on Southern England and the Home Counties.
It also maintains a thriving golf club membership of more than 400 Suffolk residents playing golf year round.
Paul, a keen golfer and current vice-captain of Purdis Heath Golf Club in Ipswich, has held senior commercial and operational director in the football world and with major sports equipment manufacturers.
Tim Rowan-Robinson, chairman of TA Hotel Collection, said: “Paul’s appointment heralds an exciting new phase in the growth of our business. Golf holidays are a resilient but highly competitive market sector in tourism and Paul brings the experience and skills to develop Thorpeness Hotel and Golf Club into Suffolk’s leading play and stay golf break destination.”
Prior to his career in football, Paul was marketing director for Dunlop Slazenger International Ltd and successfully re-launched iconic golf equipment brands into the UK market, including a 100 per cent brand share (value) increase for Maxfli.
“I’m delighted to be joining TA Hotel Collection and especially Thorpeness, one of Suffolk’s idyllic holiday villages, designed in the 1920’s as the perfect place to take a break in the country,” said Mr. Clouting.
“Many of our visitors return year after year as they regard Thorpeness as ‘their’ holiday golf club. I’m joining at a time where there have been a number of improvements to the course as part of a progressive plan to further enhance the outstanding golfing reputation Thorpeness enjoys.
“Our challenge now is to attract more golfers to stay and play here and move from being a jealously guarded secret to one of Britain’s best-loved golf hotels.”
James Braid designed Thorpeness is regarded as one of Suffolk and East Anglia’s best golf courses and can officially claim to be the “greenest golf club in Britain,” after it won the Overall Achievement Award in the 2012 STRI (Sports Turf Research Institute) Golf Environment Awards.
For more, visit: www.thorpeness.co.uk