Ground-breaking GCMA Mentor scheme returns for 2023

01 February 2023

Following an incredibly successful first intake in 2022, GCMA Mentor will again bring together the industry’s leading golf club managers to help develop and progress careers.

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.

The scheme, launched for the first time last year, will again draw on the best in our industry to nurture the next generation of industry professionals.

What is GCMA Mentor?

GCMA Mentor will support the professional and personal development of experienced and successful golf club managers, to develop leadership, communication and coaching skills as they take on the role of guiding the next generation of leaders.

GCMA Mentors will help up-and-coming golf club managers and those new to the industry looking to develop their careers and become golf club managers. They will be involved in group and 1-2-1 sessions as well as the GCMA education programme.

What can you expect?

The role of the GCMA Mentor is to help you make good decisions by helping you think through your options, supporting you in terms of your confidence and commitment and challenging you to be your best self. They will help you define and refine your goals and challenge and support you to achieve these. They will treat all you have to say as confidential and they will not be discussing you or any aspect of any conversation you have had, with your line manager or anyone else. Their role is to ask you intelligent questions for you to find intelligent answers to your own challenges and ambitions. They won’t judge your mistakes. They are an affirming and critical friend who is on your side and cares about your development.

When you start your mentoring process, they will ask you to commit to your own development journey so that you both respect each others’ time and work commitments. They will send you a Jump Start sheet to help you think through what you would like to discuss and how to set goals for yourself. They will also ask that you commit to the agreed times between you and not spring last minute changes on them. They are giving freely of their time because they want to give back to the industry and to you.

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To join the GCMA, click here, or to organise a call with a member of the GCMA team, just complete the

Who delivers GCMA Mentor?

Business and people consultancy firm Progrezo will support the selection and training of Mentors and we asked director Biddy Lloyd Jones to go into more detail about the scheme and explain the importance of mentoring here.

“I have gained confidence and have realised I already have the skills to carry out the job.”
2022 Mentee

How much does it cost and what is included?

This is a not for profit initiative and the fee payable by the Mentee is used to support the costs of delivering the programme. The programme will be £250 and include:

An exclusive invitation to the official GCMA Mentor Introduction Day, taking place on Tuesday 13th June 2023. A fantastic opportunity to meet your GCMA Mentor and your fellow mentees, as well as those behind the Mentor programme from the GCMA
An Insights Discovery Profile for you to share with your Mentor to help you look at your strengths, development areas and communication preferences and style
Access to a trained and accredited GCMA Mentor with whom you will have 6 hours worth of one-to-one mentoring sessions at the time and venue (or on Zoom) to suit you both
Invitation to a further GCMA Mentor event within the 12 month period, to network with fellow GCMA Mentees and take part in a series of group workshops and discussions on key industry topics and to further develop your leadership skills

Feedback from 2022 intake

100% of Mentees taking part in the programme in 2022 felt that their GCMA Mentor had supported them very well or extremely well
100% feel that the programme has helped them to improve their own personal development
100% feel that the programme has helped to improve confidence
100% feel that the programme has also helped to improve operations and performance at their clubs

“My Mentor has been incredible at challenging me to push myself and believe in myself more in order to unlock my potential. It’s still early days and there is much more to be done but it has been hugely beneficial.

The support has been invaluable. Having someone there to bounce ideas off, provide support and having someone look at issues from a different angle has been great.

I would have no hesitation in recommending the Mentor programme to any GCMA member, no matter how experienced you are as there is so much to gain from it.”
2022 Mentee

How to apply for GCMA Mentor 2023

To become a GCMA Mentee, you will need to be a GCMA Member. If you are not already a member with us, then please get in contact with our Member Services team and we’ll be delighted to welcome you to our nationwide community of current and aspiring Golf Club Managers.

If you would like to apply to be a Mentee with the GCMA Mentor Programme, please complete the application form here and send, together with your current CV, to [email protected] by Tuesday 28^th February 2023. Successful applicants will be notified by Friday 14^th April 2023.

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.

Get involved in the debate. To join the GCMA, click here, or to organise a call with a member of the GCMA team, just complete this form and we’ll be in touch!

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