Thorpeness Golf Club & Hotel, part of the TA Hotel Collection of distinctive and independent Suffolk Hotels, has named Brad McLean as its new General Manager.
McLean, from Vancouver, Canada, has over 20 years’ experience in the golf industry and served in Director of Golf roles with Crown Golf and Marriott International, two of the UK’s largest commercial golf course operators. He takes charge of TA Hotel Collection’s golf resort located in Thorpeness, an iconic seaside holiday destination on Suffolk’s Heritage Coast.
The centrepiece of the resort is a James Braid designed heathland course and private members golf club founded in 1923 and a 36-bedroom golf hotel.
“Thorpeness Golf Club has a fantastic reputation and is one of the finest coastal heathland courses in the country. It’s a wonderful opportunity to manage a successful golf hotel and private members club in one of England’s best-loved seaside holiday villages,” said Brad.
Thorpeness was bought by Scottish barrister and playwright Glencairn Stuart Ogilvie in 1910. He transformed it from a flooded fishing hamlet into a purpose-built holiday village with a golf course, country club, boating lake, windmill, Mock Tudor houses and the ‘House in the Clouds’ – a converted water tower turned private residence – which overlooks the 18th green of the golf course.
“Our goals are to make every visitor feel as though Thorpeness is their golf club and home away from home, with warm customer service, fantastic food and a great golf course. Ultimately, my aim is for every golfer to feel that Thorpeness is a course they simply must play,” added Brad.
Brad qualified as a PGA Professional with the Canadian PGA in 1997 and worked at Fraserview Golf Course in Vancouver, one of the country’s busiest municipal golf facilities averaging around 90,000 rounds per year. He moved to the UK in 2004 to take up a Teaching Professional’s role at Thetford Golf Club in Norwich before joining Crown Golf as Director of Golf at Orpington Golf Centre, a busy 54-hole venue with two pro shops and a driving range. Most recently, Brad was Director of Golf, Leisure and Spa at Marriott International Sprowston Manor in Norwich.
Thorpeness Golf Club and Hotel: www.thorpeness.co.uk