AMP Golf Club Governance Delivers Outstanding Success at Preston Golf Club

19 February 2026

Last week, golf club managers from across the industry gathered at Preston Golf Club for the GCMA Advanced Management Programme Certificate in Golf Club Governance – an intensive two-day programme that achieved a 100% satisfaction rating from all delegates.

Designed specifically for golf club general managers and senior leaders, the programme forms part of the GCMA’s Advanced Management Programme and focused on one critical message: strong governance doesn’t happen by accident – it is built with clarity, structure and leadership.

Delivered by governance specialist Kevin Fish, the course provided a highly interactive and practical exploration of the real governance challenges facing modern golf clubs.

A practical, real-world approach to governance

Across the two days, delegates worked through real-life scenarios, shared experiences openly, and engaged in facilitated discussions that ensured learning could be immediately transferred back to their own clubs. Key areas explored included:

The ideal board and committee structure
Creating a healthy, high-performing governance culture
Preparing for and running effective board meetings
Avoiding common governance pitfalls
Succession planning for long-term stability
Defining clear roles and responsibilities
Delivering effective inductions for volunteers
Managing difficult personalities and resolving conflict
Educating volunteers and managing upwards
Establishing clarity around “this is how we do things around here”

The programme also reinforced the importance of collaborative governance – aligning elected volunteers and professional management teams to improve organisational health, decision-making and long-term sustainability.

Exceptional engagement and outcomes

The openness, honesty and professionalism in the room were consistently highlighted as a major strength of the programme. Delegates left equipped with practical tools, frameworks and renewed confidence to lead governance conversations within their clubs.

Feedback from attendees was overwhelmingly positive, becoming the first AMP Course to achieve a 100% satisfaction score from delegates with many describing the course as both thought-provoking and personally challenging.

“A thought-provoking and personally challenging course. It has given me real projects to take back to my club and I would strongly recommend it for aspiring, new and experienced managers navigating the difficult world of golf club politics and decision-making.”
Andrew Smedley, Level 2 Accredited Manager & General Manager. Highwoods Golf Club

“Way more than governance – it really makes you look at how you currently operate versus how you would like to operate. A must for managers of all levels.”
Dan Housley, Level 1 Accredited Manager & General Manager, Chevin Golf Club

A programme with lasting impact

With delegates leaving motivated, better equipped and clear on next steps, the GCMA Advanced Management Programme Certificate in Golf Club Governance once again demonstrated its value as a cornerstone of professional development for golf club managers.

Gareth Morgan, GCMA Professional Development Manager commented:

“Ever since first running this course in 2025 it occurred to me that this was so much more than “just” a Governance course.

Of course, we cover all of the important areas of Golf Club Governance that you would expect but where I believe the magic really happens is that there is so much discussion and learning around how the Managers taking part manage themselves, their actions, emotions and the politics of this oh so important of topics.

I was delighted to see two consecutive days where the delegates gave every section a perfect score, from content to delivery to relevance to their roles – but it wasn’t actually a surprise to me. Kevin Fish’s ability to present this subject and introduce some bespoke and unique feedback and guidance no matter what the situation is always a joy to watch, and this was no different!

I have always been passionate about education for Golf Club Managers, it’s why I do the job I do today, but with our Advanced Management Certificate in Governance I really do think we have come as close as you can to a “must do” course.”

Upcoming GCMA Advanced Management Programme Certificates

Building Resilience & Managing Mental Health Certificate 24th-25th March 2026

Golf Course Management for Golf Club Managers 21st-23rd April 2026

Marketing Strategy Certificate 12-13 May 2026

Find all upcoming AMP Certificates here

By Mark Shanley

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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.

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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.

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