Menu

The GCMA Advanced Management Programme is now live!

19 September 2024

The comprehensive GCMA Advanced Management Programme is designed for industry professionals already involved in golf club management as well as those aspiring to do so in the future.

The GCMA was thrilled to launch the new Advanced Management Programme this week and the initial response has been phenomenal.

The association’s new professional development programme provides current and aspiring managers with the skills and knowledge required to run a modern golf club. 

The Advanced Management Programme focusses on deep-dive, practical learning experiences to provide in-depth skills and knowledge across all aspects of golf club management and leadership. 

It was developed and created in association with specialist training providers and industry experts – and is delivered exclusively to the golf industry for the GCMA. 

“Professional development is a core component of our offering as an association and this programme adds to our already substantial suite of learning and development initiatives,” said Tom Brooke, Chief Executive of the GCMA.   

“This represents a significant step forward for our association as we continue to demonstrate our commitment to modernising and professionalising the role of golf club management.”

The programme is officially recognised by the Chartered Management Institute (CMI) against their professional standards. All those who achieve one of the four CMI Recognised Advanced Management Awards, will receive a year’s free membership to the CMI and gain access to a wealth of resources and learning opportunities across a wide range of business and leadership topics. 

Designed to complement and add to existing qualifications, skills and experiences, the programme comprises 11 individual, deep-dive, practical learning experiences – each one providing in-depth skills and knowledge on a key topic that will support the development of highly effective managers and leaders. 

Each Certificate involves a two- or three-day in-person interactive learning and development experience, delivered by expert providers in their field. 

There are four Advanced Management Awards within the programme: 

• Golf & Hospitality Operations 

• Governance & Strategic Planning 

• Finance, Compliance & Risk Management 

• Leadership & Personal Development 

The programme allows individual professionals to identify the courses that are most important to them – advancing their learning, development and career prospects. 

The four Awards are broken down into 11 individual Advanced Management Certificates: Food and Beverage Management; Marketing Strategy; Sales and Service Delivery; Golf Course Management for Golf Club Managers; Golf Club Governance; Strategic Planning; Health and Safety Management; Finance and Accounts Management; Employment Law; Mental Health and Wellbeing Awareness; Advanced Leadership and Emotional Intelligence. 

Brooke added: “We are confident this programme will help to further your career and bring new and exciting opportunities to a wide range of individuals within our profession.  

“We look forward to seeing many existing and aspiring managers take part in this excellent new initiative and supporting you all individually with your career aspirations and professional development.”

To learn more or book your place, click here or send an email to the GCMA. 

Advanced Management Programme – Contact Form

All general enquiries for the GCMA’s Advanced Management Programme

Name(Required)
Are you a member of the GCMA?(Required)
Please let us know what's on your mind. Have a question for us? Ask away.
If applicable, please specify which CERTIFICATE your query relates to…

By GCMA Content Team

Categories

More from Your Community

GCMA Teams Up with 59Club as an Official Education Partner

5 Dec 2025By Mark Shanley

Press Release The Golf Club Managers Association (GCMA) is delighted…

Announcing the Winners of the 2025 Women in Golf Awards

4 Dec 2025By Mark Shanley

The Women in Golf Awards announced its 2025 winners at…

‘Governance is key’ — David Holmes

3 Dec 2025By GCMA Content Team

Drawing on over two decades of experience, David Holmes shares…

Close

Allister Frost

A former Microsoft Digital Strategy leader who now inspires audiences to discover the life-enhancing benefits of having a Future Ready Mindset. As a tech pioneer, Allister gained unique insights into how to transform uncertainty into opportunity, and now loves giving others the positive mindset and simple habits needed to:

  • Stay resilient in the face of uncertainty and change
  • Spot quick win opportunities for improvement
  • And *create* a brilliant future!

 

With AI and robots coming for our jobs (hint from Allister: they won’t, if we know how…), many people are anxious about the future. But Allister asserts that we’ve nothing to fear when we leverage our human superpowers and ingenuity to thrive alongside emerging technologies. That’s why having a Future Ready Mindset is now a must-have skill to remain competitive and relevant to the people we serve, our golf club members and the local community. And the best bit: everyone can do it!

This will close in 0 seconds

John Steele

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.

Indeed, inspired from PyeongChang 2018 Olympic Winter Games, by the most successful performance ever for Team GB, he has a whole host of new business and leadership insights into how this was brilliant performance was achieved and how it can translate back into your organisation.

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.

Headhunted by UK Sport, John took up post as CEO the day before London won the 2012 Olympic bid – and this promising start was sustained as he embarked on developing the UK’s high performance sport system, which he led for a six-year period of unprecedented success through the Beijing and London Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Post-London 2012, with the Olympic legacy in place and an obligation to continue inspiring a generation, John took up his post as Group Chief Executive of the Youth Sport Trust. He has also succeeded Steve Cram as Chairman of the English Institute of Sport, an organisation described as ‘the team behind the team’, which delivers a range of performance impacting solutions to over 40 Olympic and Paralympic sports and some non-Olympic sports.

This will close in 0 seconds

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.

Jo is a passionate Trustee of The Royal Air Force Club and an Ambassador of the Global Angels charity, an organisation that gives communities around the world access to clean water, education, healthcare and encourages female and youth empowerment. Jo has also authored two books, titled Energy: 52 Ways to Fire Up Your Life and Become an Energy Angel and Energize: Spring Clean Your Mind and Body to Get Your Bounce Back Today and Every Day.

In recognition of her achievements throughout her career, Jo has also been named as one of the 50 Most Inspiring Women in the World by Harpers & Queen. She is now working as the Director of Global Transformation Leadership at PWC, after working in other roles such as Director of Risk Technology Strategy, Director Chief of Staff to Head of Technology & Investments and the Director of People & Organisations.

In 2022, Jo was invited personally by Tom Cruise to attend the premiere of Top Gun: Maverick. Most recently, Jo received an honorary doctorate of Arts from Bournemouth University.

This will close in 0 seconds

Colin MacLachlan

Colin Maclachlan, star of Channel Four's captivating reality TV drama SAS: Who Dares Wins and Channel 5’s ‘Secrets of the SAS’, is an operator with over 25 years of security and risk related experience who is a popular and frequent fixture on the speaking circuit.

Colin Maclachlan, celebrated for his roles on Channel Four's SAS: Who Dares Wins and Channel 5’s Secrets of the SAS, brings over three decades of expertise in security and risk management. Colin's military career began in 1989, and after serving nine years with the Royal Scots, he joined the elite 22 SAS at just 23. His time in the SAS saw him participating in numerous high-stakes operations, including the notable rescue of hostages from the West Side Boys in Sierra Leone—a mission so perilous it was dubbed Operation Certain Death.

Colin was also pivotal during the longest hostage siege on UK soil, when a hijacked Afghan plane landed in London in 2000. The standoff lasted four days with Colin as the first sniper on the scene.

After leaving the SAS, Colin exchanged insights with international forces such as Delta Force and Seal Team 6 and provided security consultancy to the Saudi Royal Family and various celebrities. His academic pursuits led him to earn a First Class MA (Hons.) in History from Edinburgh University and an M.Litt in Terrorism from St. Andrews University.

Today, Colin extends his expertise through television, books, radio, and video games. He supports numerous charities and has founded Who Dares Cares, which assists veterans and those experiencing stress. As a speaker, Colin excels in discussing Resilience, Teamwork and Leadership.

This will close in 0 seconds