Assistant Manager Lisa Harrop shares how the close-knit team at Marton Meadows Golf Club has turned a small, 9-hole facility into an inclusive, thriving community hub.
At Marton Meadows Golf Club, size has never been a limitation. The Cheshire-based, 9-hole proprietary facility might be modest in scale, but its ambition, creativity and commitment to community are anything but small.
Now, that spirit of teamwork and innovation has earned the club national recognition with a shortlisting for the GCMA Team of the Year award.
The nomination is a remarkable achievement for a club that prides itself on doing things differently. With a strong belief in making golf “inclusive, not exclusive”, Marton Meadows has built a loyal following by welcoming players of all ages, abilities and backgrounds. From junior academies and ladies’ groups to free community sessions and tech-driven facilities, the club’s mission is clear — golf for everyone.
Behind the success is a team that works side by side rather than top down. Every member plays a part in creating the friendly, forward-thinking culture that defines Marton Meadows, from the chef serving early-morning bacon butties to the General Manager lending a hand on the course. It’s this shared sense of purpose that has helped the club not only survive, but flourish.
Assistant Manager Lisa Harrop believes the shortlisting is testament to that togetherness and to a collective determination to make Marton Meadows a place where people feel they belong — whether they come for the golf, the social atmosphere, or simply the sense of community.
What does being shortlisted for the GCMA Team of the Year mean to you and everyone at Marton Meadows?
Being shortlisted for GCMA Team of the Year is massive for us, especially as we understand there have been a record number of nominees this year. We are a small, proprietary 9-hole golf club and to have the commitment, dedication and hard work of our team recognised alongside so many established, prestigious clubs is truly awe-inspiring. We are somewhat overwhelmed but also thrilled to have made it this far – we are extremely proud of our team; they are winners in our eyes whatever the outcome!
How would you sum up the culture within your team, and how has that played a role in your success?
It’s the little things that make a big difference — the early-bird bacon butties our chef rustles up for a groom and his ushers who are sneaking in a round ahead of the big day, the impromptu buggy tours our CGI (Community Golf Instructor) gives to new players when they visit our course for the first time and are unsure of its layout, the door-to-door delivery of gift vouchers our clubhouse supervisor undertakes when a housebound member with no printer access calls in a panic over a birthday present, the swift delivery of coats and umbrellas to senior members our General Manager makes when the heavens open and they’ve only just teed off, it’s our Assistant Manager sharing a cuppa with a vulnerable person so their spouse can enjoy a round with a couple of golf-mates. These are not imaginary scenarios — these are real insights into the mindset of the MMGC Team. People talk about going the extra mile; for our team at MMGC that extra mile is just part of their daily commute!
What advice would you give to other clubs who want to build a strong team culture?
Be a Team Player: Our team at MMGC work with management NOT for them. Breaking down traditional barriers and hierarchies does not mean losing boundaries or respect. A team that feel appreciated, understood and included in the club’s development plans will be invested in its success. Invest in your people first and they will want to help you reach your goals. It may be an old cliché, but teamwork really does make the dream work.
Looking ahead, what are the club’s main priorities or projects for the next 12–18 months?
Completion of our golf course extension and the opening of our new two-storey clubhouse. Our course extension allows us to register for the WHS and we are excited to upgrade our affiliation with England Golf from ‘Affiliated Golf Facility’ to ‘Affiliated Golf Club’. Our new clubhouse includes a 60-cover bistro restaurant and bar on the ground level and 120-cover independent function suite on the first floor, plus balcony and terracing, and will allow us to welcome more players to our club, host larger and more varied events and serve the needs of the wider community.
What would it mean to you and the club to win this award?
It would be totally amazing. It is rare for a club of our size and type (a small, 9-hole facility with a diverse but close-knit team who have slightly wacky ways of making golf more engaging) to be recognised at all, let alone by the GCMA, one of golf’s national governing bodies. In 2017 when we were tasked with picking a failing facility up off the ground and turning it around, making it into a place where players wanted to spend their leisure time, a place where memories were made and friendships forged, we set about putting together a team that would not only share that vision but help create it. We have that team. And if they were rewarded for everything they have done to date and everything they continue to do to inspire players, encourage youngsters and help grow the game of golf by being named Team of the Year by the GCMA in 2025, I would be cheering longest and loudest and saying, ‘bloody good call!’.
GCMA Awards 2025
The winners will be crowned at the Gala Dinner during the Golf Club Management Conference & Exhibition on 17th November 2025 at Cotswold Water Park, Wiltshire. It promises to be a memorable evening of celebration, reflecting the vital role golf club managers and their teams play in the growth and success of the game.
