‘Small but mighty’ is the tagline for the Cheshire club who took home the Team of the Year prize at the GCMA Awards.
General Manager Chad Parker and Assistant Manager Lisa Harrop praised their “fantastic team” at Marton Meadows after scooping top honours at the GCMA Awards.
The Cheshire-based, 9-hole proprietary club has long punched above its weight, and the national recognition bestowed upon them by winning the Team of the Year Award reflects the spirit of teamwork and community that defines Marton Meadows.
The award marks a culmination of years of collaborative effort, where every member of staff plays a role in creating a welcoming and forward-thinking environment. Asked why they thought the club had won, Lisa was emphatic: “Because we’ve got a fantastic team.”
Chad added: “We’re absolutely over the moon. Just amazing. We really didn’t expect the win today. It’s by surprise. We’re in complete shock, but we’re ecstatic, absolutely.”
It is a sentiment echoed across the club, where a shared sense of purpose underpins daily operations. From the chef serving early-morning bacon butties to the General Manager helping on the course, Marton Meadows prides itself on doing things differently — focusing on collaboration over hierarchy, and inclusivity over exclusivity.
“Our team were winners, in our eyes, irrespective of what the end result was,” Chad added. “But this is just pièce de résistance. Bless them, they were waiting back home for the results. Every five minutes we were getting texts. This is just amazing. We’re over the moon.”
Winning the honour is not only a triumph for Marton Meadows but a wider statement about what small clubs can achieve.
“To win such a national award like this is just phenomenal,” added Lisa. “Like I say, for such a small club, it just shows what a fair base we were playing on. You’re up against some amazing clubs and to come out on top in this category is just phenomenal.”
For other clubs of a similar size looking to make their mark, Chad and Lisa have some simple advice: “Be yourself, because you are your own best advocate. So just be you and show the GCMA and the golfing world what you actually can do.”
Even amid celebrations, the team remains focused on the future. Chad added: “We’re in the process of a new clubhouse being built, we’re in the process of the course extension being completed — there’s lots to work on.”
Another winner on the night was Claire Bainbridge, Assistant General Manager at Fulford, who won the Support Manager of the Year prize.
She joined Manager of the Year Chloe Boissel-Marshall and Newcomer of the Year Heather Moran to complete a trio of female winners.
“Golf is still a very male-dominated sport, but that’s changing and it’s really exciting to be part of that,” she said. “It shouldn’t matter whether you’re male or female; it’s about what you bring. If you can bring it, go for it.”
