Golf Club Talk UK Golf Radio Network

A really interesting conversation this week with Anna McLean (Crieff GC), David Gemmell (Brora GC) and David MacFarlane of Caddie Marketing.  Crieff is located near Gleneagles and Brora near Royal Dornoch.  The chat explores the benefits, downsides and opportunities of being located near a big Golfing venue which attracts a lot of tourist play.  Over recent times, we've seen many courses across the UK benefit greatly from being near a Muirfield, St Andrews, Royal St Georges, Troon/Turnberry etc, but is it all it cracks up to be?  
We explore how it can grow green fee revenue and improve capital project expenditure, but on the flip side - what knock on effect does that have to the culture and member experience.
David MacFarlane also talks about how clubs can positively use the opportunity to their benefit while also explaining what clubs should be doing in terms of positive promotion of their venue.
Thanks to Anna, David and David.  
Check out Crieff, Brora and Caddie Marketing here:
https://crieffgolf.co.uk/
https://broragolfclub.co.uk/
https://caddiemarketing.co.uk/
 
Thanks to our partner - Leeds Golf Design
https://www.leedsgolfdesign.com/

In our first episode of Trending Topics, we welcome Matt Draper - Club, County, and Membership Director, Gavin Anderson - Club, County and Membership Operations Manager and Jeremy Tomlinson - CEO
Jeremy gives us his view on where England Golf sees itself currently as well as his thoughts on where the Golf industry sits.  He also talks about the "Respect in Golf" campaign.  
The team then introduce some of the key areas and people that will be built on and covered in future episodes, such as sustainability, respect in Golf, the independent Golfer and your club's governance to name a few.  
If you know people that are governing at your club that would gain some benefit by listening, ask them to tune into future episodes, or to find out more visit the website.
https://www.englandgolf.org/
Matt Draper - Linkedin
Gavin Anderson - Linkedin

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 contributed some wise words for those in leadership positions. Tune in and enjoy how the words "I believe in you” signalled the direction to professional athletics, towards success as a motivational speaker and then how golf found him. 
Leighton is then joined by Jim Croxton.  It's been a while since the last BIGGA catch up and Jim gives us a "state of the nation" at BIGGA following a tough Winter, as well as talking about some of the current successes, challenges and opportunities facing the Greenkeeping industry.  Always a good chat with Jim, enjoy!
https://www.akabusi.com/
https://www.bigga.org.uk/
 
Thanks to our partner - Giulia Ferroni at Leeds Golf Design
Mention Golf Club Talk UK to get your initial visit free!
https://www.leedsgolfdesign.com/
 

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 also talks about renewable energy and how this can help clubs to save money now and in the longer term.
Gete more information here:  https://energydirectgroup.com/ 
www.gcma.org.uk
 

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 personal challenge he has had of late which puts Managing Golf clubs into perspective.  Well worth a listen.
Denny Corby of the Private Club Radio podcast joins Leighton for an update on what's happening on PCR since Gabe handed over the reigns.  There's a also a look into the US Golf Club scene in 2024.  What are the trends, challenges and opportunities for clubs in the US that perhaps we can pull from here in the UK?
https://www.prestburygolfclub.com/#/
https://www.privateclubradio.com/
Thanks to our partner - Giulia Ferroni at Leeds Golf Design
https://www.leedsgolfdesign.com/
 

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 from Conference only works when you put it into practice and there's some interesting conversation into how this can be done and some examples along the way.  
Thanks to all guests.
www.gcma.org.uk
https://ccl.services/
https://www.lincolngc.co.uk/
https://www.chesterfieldgolfclub.co.uk/