Crushing Club Marketing

Frank Cordeiro, COO at renowned Colonial Country Club in Ft. Worth, TX discusses the dangers of complacency in the private club industry. He argues that while many clubs are currently thriving post-pandemic, leaders must look beyond today's success to avoid the fate of once-dominant companies like Kodak or Blockbuster. The conversation covers the necessity of data-driven decision-making, the impor...

In this episode of Crushing Club Marketing, Ed Heil sits with a 30-year Disney executive, Barry Jacobson, to discuss his extensive experience at Disney and private clubs. The conversation focuses on what it takes to create exceptional guest and member experiences through culture, standards, and leadership. Watch to learn how your club can elevate service quality, build community, and foster a pass...

Episode Description: Gregg Patterson has been studying private club culture since 1974. What he's found is that the generational divide everyone worries about is mostly a story clubs tell themselves. In this episode, Ed sits down with Patterson, longtime general manager of The Beach Club in Santa Monica and founder of Tribal Magic, to dig into what actually holds a club together across generations...

Producing a video for one of the most historic clubs in the country is one thing. Producing one that actually does it justice is another. In this episode, Ed sits down with StoryTeller's Creative Director Steve Mulholland to revisit the brand anthem video they produced for The Olympic Club in San Francisco. Three days of filming. Two very different locations. A club with more than a century of his...

In this episode, Pat Damer, SVP of Revenue at Arcis Golf (70 properties, $1B portfolio), shares with Ed Heil how his company transformed from managing 3 clubs to 70 by prioritizing revenue operations, smart technology adoption, and member-first service. From sticky note CRMs to enterprise automation, Pat walks through the practical evolution of club operations and why revenue growth creates better...

Episode Summary: In this episode, Ed sits down with Tom Wallace of Kopplin, Kuebler & Wallace to unpack why governance often breaks down during leadership transitions at private clubs. Drawing from his experience facilitating hundreds of board retreats, Tom shares a clear benchmark: only about 25% of clubs have governance truly dialed in. The conversation explores stewardship versus short-term dec...

Episode Summary: In this episode, Ed sits down with industry leader Kris Butterfield Cance to explore one of the most urgent challenges facing private clubs today: generational transition. From outdated bylaws to evolving member expectations, Kris breaks down what clubs must rethink if they want to stay relevant and financially healthy in the next decade. She shares practical examples from her wor...

The role of the General Manager is evolving — and so are the expectations of private club leadership. In this episode, Ed Heil sits down with Joel Livingood, General Manager and COO of Interlachen Country Club, to unpack how mission, culture, and governance are redefining what it means to lead a modern club. Joel shares how Interlachen turned alignment into its greatest strength — guiding nearly a...

In this episode, Ed Heil and Jason Becker discuss the insights from the Golf Life Navigators mid-year report, focusing on trends in private club memberships, generational shifts, and the integration of real estate with golf communities. They explore the importance of understanding consumer preferences, the impact of service-based amenities, and the financial health of clubs in a changing market. S...

Private clubs are no longer just competing with each other for talent—they're competing with every employer offering a flexible, supportive work environment. In this episode, Ed Heil talks with Meridith Picarelli-Khattar, Certified Club Manager and Certified Chief Executive, about what it really takes to build a team that delivers exceptional member experiences. Drawing from over 20 years in club...

In this conversation, Ed Heil and Steve Mulholland discuss the intricacies of video production, emphasizing the importance of storytelling and understanding the audience's needs. They explore how to capture the essence of a club through various filming techniques, including documentary styles and the use of drones. The discussion also covers the significance of finding the right voices for intervi...

Private clubs often pride themselves on tradition—but without strong governance, even the most respected institutions can find themselves unprepared for what's ahead. In this data-driven conversation, Ed Heil talks with Joseph Abely, Executive Consultant at Club Benchmarking and lead author of the Club Benchmarking 2025 Governance Report. Rather than offering surface-level advice, Joe draws on ins...

What defines value in today's private club? It's not the square footage of your dining room or how fast your greens roll—it's how your members feel when they engage with your club. In this episode, Ed Heil is joined by Dr. Bonnie Knutson, professor at Michigan State University's School of Hospitality Business and longtime private club member. Together, they explore why exclusivity isn't the draw i...

No club is immune to crisis, but most are unprepared when it strikes. In this episode, Ed Heil is joined by Andy Skoogman, a seasoned crisis communications expert with a background in law enforcement, media, and private clubs. Together, they discuss the common misconceptions club leaders have about crisis situations, what effective planning actually looks like, and why managing internal communicat...

In this episode of Crushing Club Marketing, Ed Heil sits down with Jodie Cunningham, owner of Optimus Talent Partners and a certified Predictive Index partner, to explore how behavioral assessments can revolutionize hiring in the private club industry. Drawing on her years of experience, Jodie shares practical insights on building stronger teams, aligning talent with culture, and avoiding costly h...

Episode Description In this episode, Ed sits down with Bret, an expert in change management and communication, to discuss why successful club transformations depend not just on strategy but on how change is communicated. They explore the unique challenges of implementing change in private clubs, the importance of transparency, and how leaders can effectively manage member expectations. From capita...

Episode Description In this episode, we chat with Jackie Singleton and Kristen LaCount from The Country Club about their approach to club communications. From the evolution of their communications department to managing capital project messaging, they share practical insights on building member trust through transparent, consistent communication across multiple channels. Learn how they've develope...

In this episode, Ed talks with Jason Becker, CEO and founder of Golf Life Navigators, about emerging trends in private club membership and why clubs should prepare for higher-than-normal attrition rates. Jason shares insights from his company's extensive data collection and explains why the real estate market is a crucial indicator for private club membership trends. Key Moments: Setting the Stage...

In this episode, we chat with Dave Porter, CEO and GM of Greystone Golf and Country Club, about how he transformed his club's governance from a traditional committee-based structure to a CEO-led model. Dave shares his journey of building trust, empowering staff, and creating a more efficient decision-making process that's helping the club thrive. Key Moments: Setting the Stage [00:00:00]: Ed intro...

In this episode, we talk with Russell Bennett, a professional drone photographer specializing in golf course imagery, about the technical and artistic aspects of capturing courses from above. From licensing requirements to creative techniques, Russ shares insights on how clubs can best utilize drone photography to showcase their facilities. Key Moments: Discussing Drone Sightings [00:03:00]: Befor...

In the big picture of club improvements, updating bylaws and reviewing governance is about as uninteresting and unsexy as it gets. Most club leaders would rather spend these golden years of private clubs dreaming up capital improvements - which is great, but taking care of governance also matters. In this episode, we check in with David Chag and Denise Kuprionis from The Club Council to talk about...

Assessments. They seem to go hand-in-hand with private club membership. Many clubs have voted to assess members for new amenities in recent years, and many more are considering doing the same in the months ahead. Like death and taxes, clubs see assessments as a necessary evil, but are they? In this episode we talk to Jim Butler, CEO of Club Benchmarking who shares his perspective on assessments an...

In the competitive landscape of private clubs, creating a strong, positive culture isn't just a nice-to-have—it's essential when attracting new members and the best talent. Jackie and Three Carpenter are longtime professionals in the club industry and are also authors of the book "People First." Using their years of experience in the private club industry, Three and Jackie are uniquely positioned...

Not long ago, a club's membership director was the receptionist at the front desk. As it related to new member acquisition, that person's primary job was to provide and receive, membership applications. In some cases, they may also be asked to provide a club tour. However, the idea of the membership director also acting as a salesperson was not only foreign, it was considered tacky and frowned upo...

The words Selling and Private Club Membership typically do not go hand-in-hand. In fact, most Membership Directors,  wouldn't be caught dead saying they "sell private club memberships". People sell timeshare properties and vacation packages, but not private club memberships. Or do they? Sales trainer and consultant and founder of Master Connection Associates, Cindy Novotny, is with me in this epis...