Chapter 11 Clubs The Development of Clubs Types of Clubs Key Players in the Club Industry Club Management Club Food and Beverage Management The Golf Course Superintendent The Golf Professional The Golf Shop Trends

The Development of Clubs Private clubs are places where members gather for social, recreational, professional, and fraternal reasons. Many clubs are designed around a housing development where the neighborhood can utilize the services of the club (golf, tennis, pool).

The Development of Clubs Many of today’s clubs are adaptations of their predecessors, mostly from England and Scotland. The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews, Scotland, founded in 1758, is recognized as the birthplace of golf.

Size and Scope of Club Industry 14,000 clubs in America: Country and City Clubs. 6,000 Country Clubs. When the total resources of all the clubs are considered (land, buildings, equipment, thousands of employees, etc.) we are talking billions of dollars of economic impact.

Country Clubs Nearly all country clubs have one or more golf courses, a clubhouse, locker rooms, lounges, bars, restaurants, and most have banquet facilities. Monthly dues range from $100 to $1,500, with the average being about $250 to $350. Some country clubs charge for an initiation fee as much as $250,000!

Country Clubs Country clubs have two or more types of membership. Full membership enables members to use all the facilities all the time. Social membership only allows members to use the social facilities. Other forms of membership can include weekday and weekend memberships. The more exclusive the club, the fewer the types of membership.

City Clubs Predominantly business oriented. Vary in size, location, type of facility, and services offered. Some of the older, established clubs own their own buildings; others lease space.

Other Types of Clubs Professional Clubs: For people in the same profession. Social Clubs: Allow members to enjoy one another’s company; members represent many different professions, yet they have similar socioeconomic backgrounds. Athletic Clubs: Give city workers and residents an opportunity to work out, swim, play squash and/or racquetball, and so on. Dining Clubs: Generally located in large city office buildings. University Clubs: Private clubs for alumni or alumnae.

Other Types of Clubs Military Clubs: Cater to noncommissioned officers and enlisted officers. Yacht Clubs: Provide members with moorage slips, where their boats are kept secure. Fraternal Clubs: Include many special organizations, such as the Veterans of Foreign Wars, Elks, and Shriners. Proprietary Clubs: Operate on a for-profit basis. Owned by corporations or individuals; individuals wanting to become members purchase a membership, not a share in the club.

Key Players in the Club Industry ClubCorp: Founded in 1957. World leader in delivering premier golf, private club, and resort experiences. WCI Communities: Recognized leader in its commitment to green building and sustainable practices. American Golf: American Golf and the Tiger Woods Foundation formed an alliance to foster opportunities for underprivileged youths to learn and play golf.

Club Management Similar to hotel management. The main difference between club management and hotel management is that with clubs the guests feel as if they are the owners. Another difference is that most clubs do not offer sleeping accommodations. Members pay an initiation fee and annual dues. Club Managers Association of America: Goal is to advance the profession of club management by fulfilling the educational and related needs of the club managers.

Figure 11-1 Core Competencies of a General Manager

Club Management Structure Articles of incorporation and bylaws determine structure: Members The club president is the lead member or official in policymaking. Board of Directors: Fiscal responsibility. Policies and strategies. Executive Committee: Activities, grounds, and funding. Treasurer: Gives advice on financial matters. General Manager: Day-to-day operation. Asset management. Preserving and fostering the club culture. Secretary: Records minutes of meetings. Takes care of correspondence.

Figure 11-4 Organizational Chart of a Country Club

Food and Beverage Management Similar to hotel except the owners are (once again) the guests. F&B director reports to General Manager. Generally have a formal or semiformal restaurant and a casual dining facility. Clubs may also have a function room for catering to banquets, weddings, and other private parties.

Golf Course Superintendent Key to success of the quality and condition of the golf course: Greens. Bunkers or Traps. Teeing surfaces. Fairways. Rough. Works with the Greens Committee and the Golf Committee to ensure all the goals of the club are met and maintained.

The Golf Professional Handles all tournaments, such as club-sponsored fund-raisers. Six-figure income. Responsible for: Caddies. Driving range. Ball cleaning. Markers (moved back and forth on the tees).

The Golf Shop Used to be run by the golf professional but in recent years clubs have realized that there is a need to upgrade the shop and extend the range of merchandise. Many shops have revenues in excess of $1 million. Stocks a range of golfing equipment from balls to clubs to clothing.

Trends Some country clubs are part of an estate development, which includes a golf course with houses surrounding the course. The General Manager is very involved with the overall operation of the total real estate package. A few clubs are beginning to introduce spas as an additional amenity for members. The golf professional is now more likely to be a member of staff rather than a contract for hire. The golf shop is being run by the club, not the golf professional.