Clubs Made Meaningful

Half of all clubs have a waitlist right now, and the difference between the ones that do and the ones that don’t usually has nothing to do with the golf course. Join Derek with Ed Heil, founder of StoryTeller Club Marketing, who has spent two decades helping clubs figure out why their story isn’t landing the way they think it is.  Ed walks through what that disconnect actually costs a club, from t...

Satisfaction tells you whether someone enjoyed their last meal. It doesn't tell you whether they feel like they belong. April Seifert of Sprocket CX on what clubs aren't measuring, and why the most important question isn't how members feel about the food. Most clubs survey their members annually. They track NPS scores, read comment cards, and walk away feeling like they've done the work. But a hig...

A milestone is only as meaningful as the intention behind it. A logo on a napkin and a one-night gala check a box. What Casey Newman did at Lakeside Country Club for their 75th anniversary was something different entirely. Join Derek with Casey Newman, General Manager and COO at Lakeside Country Club in Houston, as she shares how her team turned a yearlong celebration into something members and st...

A new website won't save you. Neither will a new logo, a pickleball court, or a redesigned menu if you haven't defined the problem you're trying to solve. Are you mistaking a solution for a diagnosis? Whether you're a GM navigating a board pushing for quick fixes, a club leader sensing something is off but unsure where to start, this episode gives you a framework to slow down before you speed up. ...

Member satisfaction scores look solid. But when the survey asks about value, the numbers soften. Most boards reach for pricing adjustments or reworking their messaging, but what do you do when that shows no results?  Join Derek Sussner and Aaron Dawson, founder of Viewpoint EQ and a club leader with more than 30 years in the industry, as they unpack why that gap between satisfaction and value has...

A new general manager inherits more than a title. They inherit a culture, a team, a membership — and a window of clarity that closes faster than most people realize. Join Derek with Luke Burbach, the new general manager at The Club at Golden Valley. This conversation is an on-the-ground look at what principled leadership looks like in motion: how to build structured listening into the calendar bef...

Most clubs describe themselves the same way. Great amenities. Welcoming culture. Excellent service. And most of the time, the club down the street says the exact same thing. Join Derek and Tucker as they dig into one of the most persistent and underexamined challenges in the private club world: what real differentiation looks like and how to know whether your club has an identity problem, a commun...

A membership director's job isn't just filling seats. It's curating the first year of someone's belonging—one introduction at a time. Join Derek and Tucker as they sit down with Melissa Hanson, Director of Marketing and Membership at The Club at Old Cypress in Naples, Florida. With 15 years of experience living the brand daily, Melissa reveals what it really takes to transform prospects into advoc...

A new general manager doesn't just inherit operations, they inherit a once-in-a-decade opportunity to see what everyone else has stopped noticing. Join Derek and Tucker as they explore why the first 90 days of a GM's tenure matter more than most boards realize—and why rushing to "get back to normal" wastes their prime strategic reset. Whether you're a board preparing to hire a new GM, a general ma...

Training isn’t just about teaching tasks—it’s how culture becomes real. Join Derek and Tucker as they sit down with James Cronk, co-founder of Guru Collective and creator of Golf Industry Guru, to explore what private clubs can learn from the public golf world about building engaged, accountable teams. James shares why public facilities have been forced to master service and culture in order to su...

"We've always done it this way" might be the seven words of a dying organization—unless what you've always done actually means something. Join Derek and Tucker as they untangle one of the most contentious challenges facing private clubs: knowing the difference between traditions worth preserving and habits disguised as heritage. When members invoke tradition to resist change, are they protecting s...

Join Derek and Tucker as they sit down with Sean Bleyl, Client Development Executive at MembersFirst, to explore how private clubs can transform their digital presence into something truly meaningful. Sean shares real stories from the field to reveal how the best clubs are planning their digital communications strategy years in advance, treating it as essential as any clubhouse renovation. Whether...

This episode explores the role of board members as long-term stewards, discussing why confident leadership, clear vision, and mission-driven decision making matter more than seeking constant member approval.

Derek & Tucker sit down with club industry veteran Kevin Carroll of Peacock + Lewis to discuss a wealth of understanding when it comes to the indispensable assets for your club design.

On today's episode, Sussner sits down to take a deep look at Club Communities and the continuous cycle of club member recruiting through the eyes of the often most overlooked and most valuable asset - the new club member. These members are often your strongest advocate, but do they know your club's true identity? Find our insights on today's episode of Club's Made Meaningful. 

Sussner sits down with Jake Vogt,  the head golf professional at the Club at Golden Valley, about the importance of creating lasting member value in private clubs. They discuss the role of a golf pro, the significance of merchandising in enhancing member experience, and the challenges of navigating branding changes.

Welcome to Clubs Made Meaningful. A podcast by Sussner where strategy, culture, and brand come together to create real belonging. Today we take a look back on all we've learned for private club branding. 

Meet Clubs Made Meaningful - The Podcast by Sussner meant to help you discover your club, your members, and what they stand for.  For more information, visit us at: www.sussner.com

Derek and Tucker discuss why forward-thinking clubs invest in branding, blending tradition with intentional evolution to stay relevant and attract right-fit members.

Derek and Tucker dive in to creating foundational clarity for you and your team. For more information, visit us at: www.sussner.com

Derek and Tucker dive in to creating foundational clarity for you and your team. For more information, visit us at: www.sussner.com

Derek and Tucker are joined by Skip Avery, a Club Development Director, to discuss his wealth of experience in guiding clubs towards their true identity.  For more information, visit us at: www.sussner.com

Derek and Tucker discuss how to strengthen your culture through brand analysis and club perception. For more information, visit us at: www.sussner.com

Derek and Tucker are joined by Amy Dailey to discuss the intersection between club branding and marketing from the perspective of a member. For more information, visit us at: www.sussner.com

Derek and Tucker discuss the intricacies and challenges of creating and maintaining perception in the private club industry. For more information, visit us at: www.sussner.com