With three new categories, this year’s GCMA Member Awards are set to be bigger and better than ever
The GCMA Member Awards recognise the successes of members and clubs right across the UK, and this year will see three new honours bestowed upon richly deserving recipients.
In addition to the Manager of the Year, Newcomer of the Year and Team of the Year categories, awards will also be given for Support Manager of the Year, Outstanding Contribution, and Lifetime Achievement.
“The awards are designed to acknowledge teamwork, personal development and contribution to the GCMA community and the industry as a whole,” said Tom Brooke, the GCMA’s Chief Executive Officer.
“I think this is a great step forward for us and provides us with a wonderful opportunity to celebrate not just the outstanding personal achievements that so many of our members demonstrate every day, but also some of the incredible work that goes on within the association as a whole and the many successes that our members have had throughout their careers in so many different ways.”
Meet the nominees
Manager of the Year
Melanie Drake, General Manager, Kings Hill GC
“It’s probably one of the highlights of my career. It’s a bit of a shock; I wasn’t expecting it. It’s something that I never thought that I’d ever been considered for. I think that I’m just doing my job, but to be nominated is one of the best things in my career.”
Matthew Parsley, General Manager, Conwy GC
“It’s humbling to be put forward for such a great accolade. I lead by example, so I motivate my team with my own passion and enthusiasm for the role. I ask high standards of them, but I reward them with the joy and enjoyment that you get out of doing your job well.”
Warren Ryan, Club Manager, Newport GC
“It’s a massive honour. The quality of candidates across the UK is phenomenally high. The GCMA’s part within that to professionalise the role has really helped. I’m massively thankful to the board and the panel for considering me.”
Susan Turner, General Manager, Seacroft GC
“I’d love to win it. I think it would be a fantastic achievement for both myself and the golf club. I’d like to put Seacroft on the map and a win would be good for them.”
Newcomer of the Year
Luke Bearcroft, General Manager, Llanwern GC
“I’ve always loved golf and I wanted to make a difference at the golf club, so that was one of the key drivers for me to pursue this career. I’m honoured to be nominated and it’s given me even more confidence in the role.”
Hamish Mackay, General Manager, Weston-super-Mare GC
“It’s brilliant to be nominated. I was able to tell some of the team about it and it was great just to see how happy they were, because it really is a team thing that we’ve achieved. To get to the stage I’ve got to now would be impossible without the team.”
Team of the Year
Lincoln GC, Louis Booth, General Manager
“It’s an exciting time for the club. The team in general are fairly new and we’ve all got a lot of fresh ideas. The team are all really passionate and we care about what we do, which is what has helped the golf club achieve what it has.”
Redditch GC, Kerry Alligan-Smith, General Manager
“For the team to have the time to reflect on how much they’ve achieved over the last two years was quite a step-back moment, especially for Jam Harrison, our Course Manager. He couldn’t believe how much we’d done and how the amount of money we’d generated. If we don’t win, that’s kudos in itself.”
Walton Heath GC, Alex Woodward, Chief Executive
“I think it’ll impact the club in a really fantastic way because the team deserve every accolade that comes their way. As the Chief Executive, I haven’t cooked a single dish, I haven’t cut a single green – they are the ones who deserve the accolades, they are the ones who have had such amazing, positive feedback this year.”
Support Manager of the Year
Karri Chambers, Formerly of Minchinhampton GC
“It’s pretty incredible; it doesn’t really feel real. It has given me the confidence to go further and made me realise it is okay to be ambitious. I think the development of the team rather than my own personal development is what I’m most proud of.”
Marion Matthews, Assistant Manager, Lincoln GC
“This reinforces that I do know what I’m talking about! It’s given me a bit more confidence to go forward and stick with it. One of the key things we’ve done is overhaul our welcome to new members, which is now produced in-house, and we’ve had great feedback on that.”
Tom Sheffield, Golf Manager, Minchinhampton GC
“I don’t think I realised how much we do as a golf club and as a team until I sat in the interview and talked about everything we’ve achieved. You don’t realise it because it’s your job, it’s what you do every day, and you just focus on delivering the best you can.”
The winners will be announced at the Gala Dinner at our 2023 Conference, taking place on November 13 at Hinckley Island Hotel, where the recipients of the Lifetime Achievement and Outstanding Contribution awards will also be revealed.
