Paul Lancaster shares his approach to CPD, future goals, and top tips for thriving in the world of golf club management.
In the first part of our conversation with Paul Lancaster, we explored his journey from hotel hospitality into the world of golf club management, charting a path that’s taken him from events at Brocket Hall to his current role as General Manager at Aspley Guise & Woburn Sands Golf Club.
Now well-established in the role, Paul continues to develop both himself and the club, with a clear focus on continuous professional development (CPD). His route into the industry may have been unconventional, but a commitment to learning and growth has been a constant throughout.
Since stepping into golf club management, Paul has taken full advantage of training opportunities through the GCMA, gaining qualifications, building a strong peer network, and most recently achieving Accredited Manager Level 3 status.
It’s a journey that reflects not just professional ambition but also a belief in staying ahead of the curve in a fast-evolving industry.
In this second part of our catch-up, we spoke to Paul about his approach to CPD, the skills he’s looking to develop next, and the key lessons he’s learned along the way.
How important is CPD to you?
If you don’t keep developing your knowledge you won’t even stand still, you’ll go backwards so I do try to keep up to date with industry changes and developments. It can be a challenging balance to prioritise your own CPD alongside the demands of the job and a young family, but even just giving yourself an hour here of there can make a difference.
What other skills and qualifications are you keen to work acquire?
I am looking at some of the GCMA advanced Management Programme courses either for later this year or 2026 to tie in with the current priorities at the Club, so the one of Strategic Planning certainly jumps out and something around Project Management would be useful for some of the plans we are considering at the club for the coming years.
What are your top three tips for succeeding in golf club management?
- Get involved with the GCMA, not just from an education perspective but the networking and support that the regional meetings and WhatsApp groups provide is so valuable. Managing a golf club can be a very lonely role, but rest assured someone else has already seen and gone through whatever you are now experiencing, and they are there to help and support you.
- Golf clubs succeed or fail based on member satisfaction and retention, so delivery of a positive member and guest experience is paramount to any success.
- Make sure your work-life balance is right. I made the mistake early in my career of always being available, checking email constantly and never really switching off. It is hard to change but you become much more effective in your role when you give yourself that separation.
