Golf Club Talk UK

Eddie and Leighton catch up and amongst other topics, they discuss the success of Eddie's "Lunch & Learn" on World Environment Day.  Eddie then speaks to Kriss Akabusi - Commenwealth Games, European Championships, World Championship and Olympian athlete.  Kriss shares his passion for golf , how the game has helped him from a mental health aspect, to his inner competitiveness and how he has also co...

A snappy episode this month where we welcome Darren Wood from GCMA and Barry Ersoz from Energy Direct Group.  Barry shares some great tips around Energy procurement and how to ensure youy're paying the best possible price, including being aware of commission!  There's also some good tips on saving energy and therefore money at your facility, along with working towards carbon neutrality.   Barry al...

A jam-packed episode!  Leighton and Eddie catch up for a "what's happening" chat. Leighton is then joined by Stuart Finlay, GM of Prestbury Golf Club in Cheshire.  Stuart's appeared on the show previously when in his role at Radyr GC and we have followed hime through his management journey to Prestbury where he, and the club, are doing some good things.  Stuart also talks openly about a real perso...

So we're 6 months on from a very successful GCMA conference and what have people taken away?? We get some great guests on to talk about their experience, highlights, but most importantly how they will take the knowledge and experience forward.   Leighton is joined by Tom Brooke (GCMA CEO), Kevin Fish of CCL, Sean Boyle (GM - Chesterfield GC) and Louis Booth (GM - Lincoln GC) The knowledge gained f...

Leighton is joined by Torbjorn (Toby) Johansson to get a "State of the nation" from Club Managers Association of Europe (CMAE) and what's happening with education.  He also eludes to the CMAE conference coming up in London in September as well as an update on what's happening in Swedish Golf.  Eddie then finds out how Paul Jansen Golf Design and Himalayas Golf are diversifying on the shift with go...

After a catch up from Leighton & Eddie, Eddie has the pleasure of speaking to Iain Carter, Golf Correspondent at the BBC.  Iain a speaker, writer and author has a fascinating take on Golf through his history around the game and up close with some of the best in the sport.    Iain has also released a new book - "Golf Wars".  This is a story about LIV Golf's battle for power in the Golfing landscape...

On this episode of GCMA Insights, Leighton talks to Darren Wood of GCMA and Alastair Sinclair of Play More Golf.  The discussion is a "State of the nation" chat on where club membership sits currently, including the positive position a lot of clubs and venues still see themselves in as well as some possible impending challenges around cost of living, moving further away from the COVID boom and tim...

Eddie and Leighton catch up and amongst other things atlk about their trip to Broadstone GC and Leighton's visit to Golfit! in Scotland. Leighton then talks to David Addison, GM of Kilmarnock (Barassie) or Barassie Links.  This is an excellent club which happens to be nestled in some fine Golfing country, but is standing out in its own right.  David talks about his journey, what he's doing to sepa...

We follow on the back of the recent England Golf/GCMA Governance Workshop series that moved around the country.  Leighton is joined by some real thought leaders in the industry, Tom Brooke - GCMA, Matt Draper - England Golf and Amelia Lewis - Players 1st.   The discussion centres on a summary of five points that clubs should be thinking about to improve their governance or get their governance on...

After Leighton & Eddie have a monthly catch up, we roll into the first interview with Hugh Marr.   Hugh, a PGA Master Professional www.coacheducation-hughmarr.com shares his career journey with Eddie, coupled with how he views the future of coaching.  Having had success with numerous players on the DP World Tour, to how he is creating a global coaching community hub.   Leighton is then joined by M...

This episode of GCMA Insights focuses on people's personal finances and general wellbeing including GCMA member benefits. Along with Natalie McColl from GCMA, Mark Burton joins us from MCB Financial Services to talk all things mortgages and income protection.  This is a different area of exploration and moves us away from Golf conversation.....but a very important topic to everyone in the industry...

Eddie and Leighton catch up for a New Year chat and Eddie is then joined by Rachel Drummond - Golf Coach, Golf Presenter with the Legends Tour, former Ladies European Tour.  Rachel shares her journey with some personal tragedies, her development into coaching at the contemporary facilities in Central London at The Pitch, while mixing it with her clients at St Georges Hill GC, and when diverse rela...

Leighton is joined by Darren Wood of GCMA and Alistair Beggs, Head of Agronomy at R&A.  This is a really interesting discussion on how agronomists can help Golf Clubs navigate through the many challenges facing Greenkeeping and Golf Clubs currently.  Alistair brings a vast experience to his role at the R&A and is building a strong team to provide solutions to Golf Clubs.  Managers need to keep abr...

Great episode this month with Leighton catching up with Nicole Wheatley of Medi8 and the Golf Marketing Hub.  They talk Nicole's documentary, marketing, Women in Leadership Golf Program and the Women in Golf Awards, of which Nicole was the pioneer. Leighton then speaks to Owen James, Sustainability Manager at England Golf.  Owen always has great information delivered in an interesting way and foll...

Having had some time away lately, Leighton & Eddie catch up for a chat and amongst other things - talk about Golf in South African and Tampa. Leighton then sits down with Richard Pennell.  Richard has been in the industry for some time, both on and off thne course having worked at severalk clubs through the Surrey area, including Secretary at Woking Golf Club.  After a sabbatical, Richard rediscov...

Following a very successful 2023 GCMA Conference, we bring to you the "Meet the Board" session, which was recorded on the Monday morning of Conference.  This was a chance to meet four of the board members - Ed Richardson, Kerry Alligan-Smith, Gareth Morgan and Scott Clark.  The discussion covered their areas within the board but also their motivations for being a board member and what's involved. ...

Tom Brooke joins Leighton for the last blast on Conference, why you should be going and if you are going, what to expect!  There's a great line up of speakers and some cracking content, so book now if you haven't already. Leighton is then joned by Kevin Fish, one of the keynote speakers, who builds on the benefits of attending conference and what delegates can gain through the fantastic content an...

Episode 84 features a great interview with Marcus Lovelock following a catch up from Eddie and Leighton. Marcus is steering the ship as GM at Huntercombe Golf Club, an architectural gem in Oxfordshire and a club with a great history, but also a unique feel.  There's some great take-aways in here in how he provides a first class experience for the members at Huntercombe, while bringing his team alo...

We're back for a date episode with Karen and Kevin from BRS.  The positive trend continues despite some numbers being fractionally down, but the bottom line is.....people are still playing a lot of Golf!  There's discussion around using this data in your decision making, some questions around whether clubs need to look at member numbers if increasing rounds continues and also the Ryder Cup effect....

Two insightful interviews this episode following a catch up from Leighton & Eddie. Rob Spurrier joins Eddie and Leighton to talk about his journey with Orbis Golf Academies. Orbis operate Golf Academies, but also provide training and development to PGA Professionals.  Their main aim is to grow club's revenue but also enhance the customer experience.  The reveniue growth is driven by growing member...

Leighton is joined by Tom Brooke, Natalie McColl and Darren Wood from GCMA as they give a sort of state of the nation.  Topics include membership initiatives, strategic plan, partnerships and topical matters in Management. We then give an overview of why all GCMA Managers should be attending conference.  A great line up of key note and break out sessions has been organised, but also it's a great o...

Leighton and Eddie catch up briefly, where Eddie tells us about his recent visit to Marco Simone, venue for the Ryder Cup!  Giulia Ferroni or Leeds Golf Design is our first guest and someone who is starting to enhance her reputation as a Golf Course Architect in the UK and Italy.  Giulia has been working with Cirencester Golf Club on a course improvement plan and is starting to work with other UK...

On this little in-between episode, we're lucky to be joined by Alex Woodward to give us a unique insight into what goes into preparations for the AIG Women's Open at Walton Heath.  Alex provides some information on how Walton Heath came to host the Open, the preparation involved, working with the R&A and how the members are helping to make it a great experience.   Thanks to Alex and we wish him lu...

On our latest GCMA Insights on Golf Club Talk UK, Karen and Kevin are back from BRS to give us an update on what the numbers are saying at the end of quarter 2.  There's a look at member rounds played, membership numbers and visitor Golf through Golfnow.  Some very surprising numbers in there!! Karen also talks us through the results from the recent Golfnow player survey which gives some good anal...

Eddie and Leighton catch up for a chat on several topics, including culture at Golf Clubs as well as Golf Retail and ways of doing it differently.  Retail is the theme for the show as Eddie then shares time with Paul McEvoy , who is the Head Professional at Burnley Golf Club. Paul also has three other retails outlets - 'McEvoy Golf Shops', based at golf clubs in close proximity to the M65 corridor...