Menu

2025 A Standout Year for the GCMA

21 January 2026

As we reflect on 2025, we are proud to look back on a year that brought competitive events, professional development launches, recognition of our outstanding members and our biggest conference yet.

2025 was a year of momentum and meaningful progress for the GCMA. Across our events, education programmes and member initiatives, we continued to strengthen our role as the professional home for golf club managers, while investing in the future of the industry. From bringing members together through flagship events to recognising excellence, launching new development pathways and welcoming new members into the Association, the year reflected our ongoing commitment to support, represent and develop golf club managers at every stage of their careers.

National Members Championships

One of the highlights of our calendar was the GCMA Members Championships, which once again brought together managers from across the UK at Parkstone Golf Club. The championships continue to be a cornerstone of our association, offering members the opportunity to network with peers while enjoying the game that sits at the heart of our profession.

Heading into 2026, our current holders of the National Championships titles are:

  • Presidents Bowl: Neil Hallem (Walmer & Kingsdown)
  • Greenshields Trophy: Andy Rideout (High Post Golf Club)
  • Founders Cup: Andy Rideout (High Post Golf Club)

We look forward to the 2026 Members Championships, to be held at Frilford Heath on Wednesday 20th May 2026 – Find out more about the venue and day here.

National AGM

Our National Annual General Meeting in 2025 was another significant moment in the year. The AGM provided an important forum for members to engage directly with the Association’s leadership, review progress and help shape the future direction of the GCMA.

Key discussions focused on governance, transparency and how we continue to evolve to meet the changing needs of modern golf club management. Decisions taken at the AGM reinforced our commitment to member welfare, long-term sustainability and ensuring the GCMA remains relevant, representative and responsive.

With the business of the day complete, the focus shifted to the course for the annual Captain’s Cup, a better ball pairs competition that always provides great spirit and friendly rivalry. The traditional Captain’s Drive-In saw new captain Ray Grant kick off procedings at Gog Magog Golf Club.

Our 2026 AGM will be held at Conwy Golf Club on Thursday 30th April 2026.

Golf Club Management Conference & Exhibition 2025

The Golf Club Management Conference & Exhibition was a standout event in the 2025 GCMA calendar, bringing together industry leaders, experts and suppliers to explore the key issues shaping the future of golf club management. The conference provided a valuable platform for learning, collaboration and discussion, with a programme focused on encouraging the leaders in our industry to be Future Ready.

With a stacked high-quality speaker lineup, including ex-SAS soldier Colin MacLachlan and Olympic leader John Steele, the conference featured a wide variety of break-out sessions, giving delegates the chance to participate in relationship-building discussions, question-and-answer forums and interactive workshops. Crucial topics were covered included water management, club communication, AI, leadership, team building and recruitment. The conference also featured our largest exhibition to date, offering members the opportunity to engage directly with industry partners, discover new solutions and share best practice.

GCMA Awards 2025

The GCMA community came together at the Golf Club Management Conference & Exhibition to celebrate the brightest and best in our industry at the GCMA Awards 2025, a memorable celebration of the people, ideas and achievements shaping the future of the profession.

All of the winners prevailed after a rigorous judging process in which all of the candidates shone, making the final results incredibly close, and it was the women who enjoyed the lion’s share of success on the night.

The 2025 GCMA Awards winners were:

  • Manager of the Year: Chloe Boissel-Marshall, Tidworth Garrison Golf Club
  • Team of the Year: Marton Meadows Golf Club – Lisa Harrop and Chad Parker
  • Newcomer of the Year: Heather Moran, La Moye Golf Club
  • Support Manager of the Year: Claire Bainbridge, Fulford Golf Club
  • Outstanding Achievement: Cameron Dawson, given in recognition of his service to Keighley Golf Club and Yorkshire Golf
  • Lifetime Achievement Award: John Douglass, retired, given in recognition of his service to Liphook Golf Club

First Advanced Management Programme Award Recipients

After the successful launch of the GCMA Advanced Management Programme in 2024, 2025 saw three recipients of coveted AMP Awards. Given to those who complete all AMP Certificates within one category, which gives recipients one year’s complimentary membership to the Chartered Management Institute (CMI). This membership grants access to a vast array of professional resources, leadership development tools, and business insights tailored to modern management challenges.

Golf & Hospitality Award – Paul Hübner

Finance, Compliance and Risk Management Award – Chloe Boisell-Marshall & Richard Beech

Find out more about the Advanced Management Programme here.

ASPIRE: Career Development Series Launched

2025 also saw the launch of the GCMA ASPIRE Career Development Series, a new initiative aimed at supporting early-career professionals and those looking to advance within golf club management.

The ASPIRE Series features development focused webinar series, in-person workshops, 1-2-1 career pathway support and tailored GCMA Accreditation support. The launch of the programme has been a great success of 2025, providing valuable insights and networking opportunities for those who are new to our industry and is part of our ongoing commitment to developing talent and professionalising the golf club management industry.

Continued Growth of New Membership

In 2025, the GCMA continued to welcome new members into our membership. 2025 saw us welcome200 new members to the Association over the course of the year. This growth reflects the increasing demand for professional guidance, education and peer support within golf club management. Bringing new members into the GCMA strengthens our network, enhances the sharing of best practice and reinforces our position as the representative voice for golf club managers. As our community grows, we remain focused on delivering meaningful value and supporting members at every stage of their professional journey.

Expanding Our Education Partnerships

Education and continuous professional development remain at the core of what we do, and in 2025 we were delighted to welcome new education partners to the GCMA. These partnerships have strengthened our ability to offer high-quality, relevant and practical learning opportunities for members.

In 2025 we welcomed The Revenue Club and 59Club to our education partnership network, the education network now features the following:

  • The Revenue Club
  • 59Club
  • Players1st
  • Bernhard Academy
  • Promote People / Golf

By working with trusted industry experts and specialist providers, we have expanded our education offering to cover key areas such as leadership, finance, governance, commercial performance and customer experience. These collaborations ensure our members have access to learning that reflects the real challenges and opportunities facing modern golf clubs.

Looking Ahead with Confidence

As we look back on 2025, we do so with pride in what has been achieved and gratitude to our members, partners and volunteers who continue to support the Association. The successes of the past year have reinforced our purpose: to represent, support and develop golf club managers, and to champion professionalism across the industry.

With strong foundations in place, a growing education portfolio and an engaged membership, we move forward into 2026 confident in the role the GCMA will continue to play in shaping the future of golf club management.

By Mark Shanley

Categories

More from Your Association

Business Rates Review: An update for members

22 Jan 2026By Natalie McColl

We are closely monitoring the Government’s business rates review, with…

GCMA Accreditation Programme Reaches 100 Accredited Managers

22 Jan 2026By Mark Shanley

We’re proud to celebrate a significant milestone in the evolution…

South West February Governance Workshop

21 Jan 2026By Mark Shanley

Join us on 5 February 2026 at Clevedon Golf Club…

Close

Allister Frost

A former Microsoft Digital Strategy leader who now inspires audiences to discover the life-enhancing benefits of having a Future Ready Mindset. As a tech pioneer, Allister gained unique insights into how to transform uncertainty into opportunity, and now loves giving others the positive mindset and simple habits needed to:

  • Stay resilient in the face of uncertainty and change
  • Spot quick win opportunities for improvement
  • And *create* a brilliant future!

 

With AI and robots coming for our jobs (hint from Allister: they won’t, if we know how…), many people are anxious about the future. But Allister asserts that we’ve nothing to fear when we leverage our human superpowers and ingenuity to thrive alongside emerging technologies. That’s why having a Future Ready Mindset is now a must-have skill to remain competitive and relevant to the people we serve, our golf club members and the local community. And the best bit: everyone can do it!

This will close in 0 seconds

John Steele

John Steele is a former professional athlete, sports coach, Olympic Leader and is the Executive Director of Sport at Loughborough University. He has been Chief Executive across a range of sectors. Drawing on leadership experience of nine different Olympic and Paralympic Games (including the amazing events at the Rio Games), John reflects on the lessons from this unique period in British sport and relays his fascinating views on creating high performing teams.

Indeed, inspired from PyeongChang 2018 Olympic Winter Games, by the most successful performance ever for Team GB, he has a whole host of new business and leadership insights into how this was brilliant performance was achieved and how it can translate back into your organisation.

John moved into the corporate world, before he enjoyed an outstanding career as a professional rugby player achieving international honours. After his playing career, he turned his hand to coaching and achieved the highest accolade for a British club coach by winning the European Cup with Northampton Saints. He then became Executive Director on the Saints Board during a period of unprecedented growth, and served on the England Rugby Board during the successful world cup campaign of 2003. It was no surprise that John’s talents were called upon to drive through a change and modernisation programme as CEO of the Rugby Football Union – a challenge that became controversial and ended in his departure from the post after only a year, but with his dignity and professional pride intact.

Headhunted by UK Sport, John took up post as CEO the day before London won the 2012 Olympic bid – and this promising start was sustained as he embarked on developing the UK’s high performance sport system, which he led for a six-year period of unprecedented success through the Beijing and London Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Post-London 2012, with the Olympic legacy in place and an obligation to continue inspiring a generation, John took up his post as Group Chief Executive of the Youth Sport Trust. He has also succeeded Steve Cram as Chairman of the English Institute of Sport, an organisation described as ‘the team behind the team’, which delivers a range of performance impacting solutions to over 40 Olympic and Paralympic sports and some non-Olympic sports.

This will close in 0 seconds

Dr Jo Salter MBE

Dr Jo Salter MBE is famed for becoming the first female fast jet pilot, having flown the Panavia Tornado ground attack aircraft during her services in the Royal Air Force. Joining the RAF aged 18, Jo has since taken Air Cadets into the skies as part of Air Experience Flights, become the Director of Global Transformative Leadership for PWC, and most recently become a Global Advisory of GenAI for PwC.

Jo has piloted flights in the Air Cadets Air Experience Flights and inspired countless budding armed service members to pioneer a male-dominated sector, having been the leader of an all-male squadron. Since leaving the military behind, Jo has established a strong business career working in roles such as Head of Technical Services for NetConnect, European Operations Manager for Automated Power Exchange and Managing Director of Saltin Ltd.

Having developed first-class expertise in leadership, analytical thinking and performing under pressure, Jo is now a highly sought-after public speaker to share stories from her time in the skies.

Jo is a passionate Trustee of The Royal Air Force Club and an Ambassador of the Global Angels charity, an organisation that gives communities around the world access to clean water, education, healthcare and encourages female and youth empowerment. Jo has also authored two books, titled Energy: 52 Ways to Fire Up Your Life and Become an Energy Angel and Energize: Spring Clean Your Mind and Body to Get Your Bounce Back Today and Every Day.

In recognition of her achievements throughout her career, Jo has also been named as one of the 50 Most Inspiring Women in the World by Harpers & Queen. She is now working as the Director of Global Transformation Leadership at PWC, after working in other roles such as Director of Risk Technology Strategy, Director Chief of Staff to Head of Technology & Investments and the Director of People & Organisations.

In 2022, Jo was invited personally by Tom Cruise to attend the premiere of Top Gun: Maverick. Most recently, Jo received an honorary doctorate of Arts from Bournemouth University.

This will close in 0 seconds

Colin MacLachlan

Colin Maclachlan, star of Channel Four's captivating reality TV drama SAS: Who Dares Wins and Channel 5’s ‘Secrets of the SAS’, is an operator with over 25 years of security and risk related experience who is a popular and frequent fixture on the speaking circuit.

Colin Maclachlan, celebrated for his roles on Channel Four's SAS: Who Dares Wins and Channel 5’s Secrets of the SAS, brings over three decades of expertise in security and risk management. Colin's military career began in 1989, and after serving nine years with the Royal Scots, he joined the elite 22 SAS at just 23. His time in the SAS saw him participating in numerous high-stakes operations, including the notable rescue of hostages from the West Side Boys in Sierra Leone—a mission so perilous it was dubbed Operation Certain Death.

Colin was also pivotal during the longest hostage siege on UK soil, when a hijacked Afghan plane landed in London in 2000. The standoff lasted four days with Colin as the first sniper on the scene.

After leaving the SAS, Colin exchanged insights with international forces such as Delta Force and Seal Team 6 and provided security consultancy to the Saudi Royal Family and various celebrities. His academic pursuits led him to earn a First Class MA (Hons.) in History from Edinburgh University and an M.Litt in Terrorism from St. Andrews University.

Today, Colin extends his expertise through television, books, radio, and video games. He supports numerous charities and has founded Who Dares Cares, which assists veterans and those experiencing stress. As a speaker, Colin excels in discussing Resilience, Teamwork and Leadership.

This will close in 0 seconds