GCMA members enjoy recognition in industry awards

03 April 2023

Recent weeks have seen various ceremonies taking place – and there is a common theme of GCMA members being picking up the plaudits

This article is part of GCMA Insights – topical content for golf industry professionals, discussing the things that matter to those who work in golf clubs.

Following the announcement of the Golf Environment Awards, three more golf industry organisations have handed out awards to the leading performers in the world of golf club management.

On 2 March, both the England Golf and 59club awards took place, with a number of GCMA members acknowledged, followed later in the month by the Wales Golf awards.

Congratulations to all the winners, especially the GCMA members who triumphed!

59club Awards

This event recognises the finest customer service providers for having achieved the highest standards of excellence across 2022.

GCMA vice chair Gareth Morgan was one of the big winners on the night, picking up Golf Manager of the Year (<£61 green fee), whilst The Grove’s Samuel Joyce is part of the team awarded Ultimate Golf Resort and Brendan McDermott leads Belvoir Park, which picked up the Ultimate Members’ Club trophy.

Other GCMA winners included:

Chris Cotter & David Fulcher – Edgbaston
Russell Stebbings – Frilford Heath
Gary Beves & Matthew Lavington – Golf at Goodwood
Tom Scott – Harpenden
Mark Addison – JCB Golf & Country Club
Reece Miller, Danielle Williams & Bethan Popel – Long Ashton
Neil Hampton – Royal Dornoch
Peter Green – London Club
Karl Hepple – Stoke by Nayland
Radyr – James Irving
Farleigh – James Ibbetson

View all the winners here.

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Wales Golf Awards

Several GCMA members picked up honours at the annual Wales Golf Awards, which recently took place at Celtic Manor.

The Wales Golf Awards, recognising the best in Welsh golf, returned after a four year gap.

The awards – held in the glittering surroundings of the Twenty Ten clubhouse at Celtic Manor – celebrated all levels of Welsh golf from junior participation through to management and golfer of the year.

Conwy general manager – and GCMA member – Matthew Parsley (pictured at the top of the page) earned the Club Manager of the Year Award after overseeing a period of exciting initiatives to modernise one of the top traditional golf clubs in Wales.

“It is a lovely honour to get this award,” said Parsley. “A lot of it is down to the foresight of the Board and committee that wanted to move the club forward, modernise and professionalise how we do things.

“I might be the one getting the award, but you are only as good as the people around you and I like to think we have built a good team at Conwy.”

Another member – Martin Stevens – accompanied colleagues to the stage as Llanishen were awarded the Club of the Year. The course is significantly more environmentally friendly, the club is committed to focus on under-represented groups such as juniors and ladies and is a proud holder of the Women in Golf Charter.

A successful ladies New2Golf scheme has brought in 57 new members, bolstering membership to more than 700, while Llanishen also hosted Wales Golf Finals Week, with all the support from staff and members ensuring a big success.

General manager Stevens said, “It really is an honour for the club, the culmination of seven or eight years of hard work.

“There are so many clubs across Wales doing brilliant work that it is great to win this, the greatest accolade we can achieve.”

Nefyn – led by manager and GCMA member Katrina Larkin – were also recognised as the Junior Club of the Year, with one of the strongest junior sections in Wales, 65 boys and 18 girls currently as paid up members of the club, with a strong junior committee to make it all possible.

WHY JOIN THE GCMA?

Membership of the GCMA unlocks a network of like-minded professionals, provides you with support in your professional and personal development, and provides you with a multitude of benefits. Whether that’s the tools that will help you to excel in your profession, or a wide range of services to support your wellbeing, signing up to the GCMA is joining a community.

England Golf Awards

The England Golf awards are designed to recognise and reward individuals, teams, clubs and counties who have shone in the past year and made a positive contribution to the amateur game in this country.

Sherwood Forest, led by Simon Williams, picked up Tournament Venue of the Year.

The Nottinghamshire course was presently superbly despite the summer drought conditions, providing an excellent test for the international field and eventual winner Mark Gazi.

Many club members volunteered for the event and the club management provided excellent support before and during the championship, making it a welcoming venue for all participants and their families.

View all the winners.

This article is part of GCMA Insights – topical content for golf industry professionals, discussing the things that matter to those who work in golf clubs.

Get involved in the debate. To join the GCMA, click here, or to organise a call with a member of the GCMA team, just complete this form and we’ll be in touch!

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