GCMA Hosts Successful Partner Golf Day

14 August 2025

We brought together our Business Partners at Long Aston Golf Club last week to showcase the direction of the Association, and how our Partners can maximise their impact.

Last week, GCMA hosted its Partner Networking and Golf Day at our headquarters, Long Ashton Golf Club, where we were warmly welcomed by the club’s fantastic team. The event brought together a strong turnout of our valued business partners alongside several of our regional managers.

The day began with a morning business meeting, opened by CEO Tom Brooke where he shared key updates on the Association’s strategic direction, initiatives, and upcoming opportunities.

Darren Wood, GCMA’s Partnerships Manager, then took the floor to provide a comprehensive overview of the current landscape within the GCMA Partner Network. His session focused on the evolving opportunities available to partners and the importance of strategic engagement with the Association.

He emphasised that the most impactful partnerships are those built on mutual benefit, where both GCMA members and partner organisations gain value. By aligning their expertise with the needs of club managers, partners can play a meaningful role in supporting the operational and strategic success of golf clubs across the UK.

This was followed by a session led by our Professional Development Manager, Gareth Morgan, who focused on how partners can make the most of regional meetings. Gareth highlighted the importance of delivering educational and interactive workshops, not just as a way to share expertise, but as a powerful tool to build trust and credibility with GCMA members.

These workshops play a vital role in helping our members tackle the everyday challenges of golf club management. By offering practical solutions and specialist knowledge, it adds real value to our community.

Following the morning’s discussions, those able to stay enjoyed a relaxed afternoon of golf. The informal setting provided the perfect backdrop for further networking, idea-sharing, and relationship-building among peers and partners.

< Video Courtesy of Sam Poole, Aquila Golf

We’re incredibly grateful to everyone who made the trip to Bristol and contributed to the success of the day. Events like these are a cornerstone of our commitment to fostering meaningful partnerships and professional development within the golf industry. We’re already looking forward to welcoming everyone back for the next Partner Golf Day in 2026.

By Mark Shanley

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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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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.

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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.

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.

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