The 2025 Golf Club Management Conference & Exhibition is just around the corner and it promises to be an unmissable event.
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.
Running from 16th–18th November at the De Vere Cotswold Water Park, the event offers attendees a comprehensive programme of education, networking, and practical insights. This year’s ‘Future Ready’ theme will explore how golf clubs can remain adaptable and forward-thinking in a rapidly changing industry.
GCMA CEO Tom Brooke highlighted how the Conference offers a prime opportunity to consider the wider context of golf club management, taking things beyond the day-to-day and into the realms of broader strategic thinking.
“With this event being every two years, it gives us an opportunity to reflect not just on what’s happening in the golf industry, but in wider society as a whole,” he said on the GCMA Insights podcast. “We aim to have a real impact in the three days of the Conference that will influence how golf clubs operate and how managers lead in their day-to-day roles.”
He highlighted that the Conference encourages delegates to think beyond immediate concerns, addressing the trends that will shape the sector over the coming decades.
“Environmental sustainability, AI and technology, changing participation trends, and workforce challenges are all critical,” he said. “Clubs have had huge success in recent years — membership growth, financial stability, even waiting lists — but we need to consider what golf clubs will look like in 20 years. The Conference helps our members turn their attention to these challenges and opportunities, guided by experts from within and outside the golf industry.”
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Leadership development remains central to the programme, providing a framework for professional growth while retaining that all-important focus on the bigger picture.
“How do you become an effective leader to influence change, not just for the next year, but to secure the future of your club for 25 years?” Brooke addd. “That is a difficult concept for many, because it is not about immediate recognition, but about long-term impact. The four keynote speakers we have lined up will help delegates develop that future-ready mindset.”
Education and professional development are reinforced through a series of breakout sessions, carefully designed to balance peer-to-peer learning with future-focused insights. GCMA Professional Development Manager Gareth Morgan explained that the sessions address current challenges across the sector.
“We’ve designed a mix of peer-to-peer learning and forward-looking topics that delegates might not have encountered before,” he said. “For example, David Shepherd will discuss the cost of short-term thinking in golf club leadership, and Valentine Godin from Maya Global will explore AI and data in course management.
“We also have sessions on managing Gen Z staff, planning career paths, and boosting participation at different types of clubs. Delegates will leave with practical insights they can implement immediately.”
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Morgan added that networking is integrated throughout the schedule to enhance professional development.
“Networking is embedded throughout the programme, including a networking breakfast with limited places,” he said. “These sessions, alongside workshops and keynotes, ensure attendees gain actionable insights while connecting with colleagues and industry experts.”
Across three days, the Golf Club Management Conference & Exhibition combines expert-led education, real-world case studies, and professional networking to help golf club managers plan strategically, strengthen leadership skills, and build future-ready clubs.
Brooke concluded: “This conference represents the forefront of thinking in golf club management, and it’s an opportunity to embrace a future-ready mindset.”
Future Ready
The Golf Club Management Conference & Exhibition 2025 will bring together experts, thought leaders, and innovators to share practical insights, strategies, and solutions for the future of golf club management. Attendees can expect a dynamic programme of keynote speakers, panel discussions, interactive workshops, and an expanded exhibition showcasing the latest products and services in the sector.
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.
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