The GIG Podcast – Détails, épisodes et analyse

Send us a text

This episode of The GIG Podcast features an enlightening discussion with Laurie Martin, also known as "Trauma Mumma," who brings over three decades of experience in risk deterrence and crisis/trauma education to the table. With a history of responding to major global crises like 9/11 and the Oklahoma City bombing, Laurie offers profound insights into the necessity of crisis preparedness in the club industry. Host James Cronk and Laurie delve into practical strategies for building emotional resilience and managing unexpected events effectively within club settings.

Listeners will learn the importance of proactive crisis management and the benefits of establishing robust support systems for club employees and members. The conversation covers real-life crisis responses and the crucial steps in fostering a culture of safety and preparedness that can significantly enhance operational stability and emotional well-being in clubs.

Benefits of Listening

By listening to this episode, club owners, operators, and their teams will benefit by learning:

- Advanced Crisis Management Techniques: Laurie shares from her extensive experience dealing with high-stakes environments, providing listeners with advanced skills in crisis readiness.

- Emotional Resilience Training: Insights into fostering emotional strength essential for leadership and team effectiveness, especially during crises.

- Real-world Applications: Examples of crisis management from Laurie's own experiences, offering relatable and actionable guidance for club managers.

- Safety and Support Systems: Strategies to enhance the safety and emotional support structures within clubs, which are crucial for handling both minor incidents and major emergencies.

This episode is a must-listen for those looking to improve their ability to handle crises and build a more resilient club environment.

To learn more about Golf Industry Guru, and to gain access to online golf business education from the world's most successful business, golf, & hospitality industry leaders, visit us at www.golfindustryguru.com.

Send us a text

In this episode of The GIG Podcast, James Cronk interviews Jake Gordon, CEO & Co-Founder of Noteefy, a groundbreaking tee time-reservation and booking platform designed to optimize revenue for golf course operators. The discussion explores Jake's path from discovering his passion for golf as an adult to co-founding Noteefy, a company that has swiftly grown since its inception.

We also get into Jake's journey as an entrepreneur, highlighting his experiences and insights entering into the golf industry over the past two years. The conversation covers a range of topics, from personal growth and leadership to the challenges and innovations shaping the future of the industry.

Key Discussion Points:

1.    Discovering and Leveraging Strengths: Jake emphasizes the importance of self-awareness and leveraging one's strengths in both you personal and professional life. He shares anecdotes about how recognizing his strengths has helped him navigate the entrepreneurial landscape.

2.    Mentorship and Continuous Learning: The value of mentorship and learning from others is a recurring theme. Jake discusses how guidance from experienced professionals has influenced his career and the growth of Noteefy.

3.    Innovation and Industry Adaptation: The conversation touches on the need for innovation in the golf industry, particularly in adapting to new technologies and changing consumer expectations. Jake talks about how Noteefy is contributing to these changes by providing solutions that enhance communication and customer engagement.

4.    Facing and Overcoming Challenges: Jake candidly discusses the challenges he has faced in building a startup and how resilience and adaptability have been crucial in overcoming obstacles. He provides practical advice for business professionals in any industry facing similar challenges.

5.    Future Trends in the Golf Industry: The episode concludes with a forward-looking discussion on the future of the golf industry. Jake shares his thoughts on emerging trends and how golf courses and businesses can prepare for the evolving landscape.

Listeners will gain valuable insights into the entrepreneurial journey, particularly within the golf industry. They will learn about the importance of self-awareness, mentorship, and innovation in achieving success. Jake's experiences and practical advice offer a roadmap for navigating the challenges of building a business, making this episode particularly valuable for entrepreneurs and industry professionals looking to stay ahead of the curve.

To learn more about Golf Industry Guru, and to gain access to online golf business education from the world's most successful business, golf, & hospitality industry leaders, visit us at www.golfindustryguru.com.

Send us a text

Would you believe that the Club Management industry is one of the most challenging and difficult industries to succeed in? It takes a special type of person to thrive, and Tom Wallace is one of those people. With a career that spans from a young 14-year-old shoe shiner to his current role as a partner at one of the most respected consulting firms in the golf industry, Tom Wallace has seen it all.

On this episode of The GIG Podcast, Tom reveals his secrets to success and how he has successfully transitioned from a club manager to a consultant. He also outlines the traits that are critical for successful club management in this day and age, and how to find and work with great mentors. Be sure to tune in as Tom takes us through his career journey and provides some excellent insight into the world of Club Management.

"I always tell young people, if you're somewhere where you're not learning and you're not growing, you need to leave." - Tom Wallace

In this episode, you will learn about: 

·      Developing a Career in the Golf Industry: Learn from Tom Wallace's journey from club manager to consultant and his advice for young professionals on how to find a mentor and approach networking. 

·      Club Management Traits for Success: Understand the importance of self-awareness, mentorship and the necessary skill sets for successful club management in today’s world.

·      The Role of a Club Manager: Discover how to be a “thought partner” for the members of a club and the importance of being creative, forceful, and respectful in disagreement.

About Tom Wallace

Before joining KOPPLIN KUEBLER & WALLACE in 2014, Tom served in club management at some of the country’s most recognized private clubs. Tom’s club management career spans over 25 years in the private golf, country, and community club industry.

Most recently Tom served as the General Manager/Chief Executive Officer for The Club at Mediterra in Naples, FL. He also applied his leadership skills for a decade as the General Manager/Chief Administrative Officer at Oakmont Country Club in Oakmont, PA, where the club, under his guidance, hosted three major championships in a seven-year period, including the 2010 U.S. Women’s Open, the 2007 U.S. Open and the 2003 U.S. Amateur. The USGA regarded the 2007 U.S. Open Championship as the “Gold Standard Open” for the modern era. Prior to that Tom spent fourteen years at The Country Club in Pepper Pike, OH.

In 2007, Tom received the Excellence in Club Management Award as the top performing manager, presented annually by McMahon Group, Club + Resort Business, National Club Association, and voted on by a panel of industry experts.

He has also been active in the Club Managers Association of America (CMAA) including numerous committee roles locally and nationally and served as the Pittsburgh Chapter President in 2010.

Are you a Club Manager looking to find a way to achieve career development success, but feeling stuck? If so, this episode is for you!  Discover the traits of successful club management and how to develop a career in the golf industry with Tom Wallace on this episode of The GIG Podcast. Gain insight on how to be a thought partner for club members, the importance of self-awareness, mentorship and networking, and the essential skill sets for success. 

Tune in now!

To learn more about Golf Industry Guru, and to gain access to online golf business education from the world's most successful business, golf, & hospitality industry leaders, visit us at www.golfindustryguru.com.

Send us a text

Are you a club manager struggling to create an irresistible brand for your facility? If so, you’re not alone. With an estimated 38,000 golf courses on the planet, it’s difficult to differentiate yourself and capture your customer’s attention. On this episode of The GIG Podcast, we sit down with Gair Maxwell, a storyteller brand strategist and self-described history junkie who has shared speaking stages with icons such as Richard Branson and Gene Simmons. His book, BIG LITTLE LEGENDS, explores how everyday leaders build irresistible brands. Be sure to tune in as Gair shares his strategies for creating an unforgettable brand and if you’re ready to transform your club’s business and increase your bottom line, get ready to take some notes.

"Attention equals currency, which means any business leader today has got to be asking the question, how are we going to inspire people to pay attention to us?"

"Once you have their attention, then you can make a connection. Make a connection. Build a relationship. Build a relationship. You build trust. If you earn their trust, you earn their business." 

In this episode, you will learn about: 

1. The strategies Gair Maxwell used to help a small business in a highly competitive category become a $50 million enterprise.

2. How brand identity helps build an irresistible brand and how it will affect your marketing efforts.

About Gair Maxwell

Gair Maxwell is a storyteller, brand strategist and self-described history junkie who marvels at the sight and sound of a well-struck drive off the tee. A frequent-flying keynote speaker, Gair has shared speaking stages with icons such as Richard Branson and Gene Simmons, and was named Speaker of the Year by TEC Canada, the country's largest CEO organization.

Gair is also the author of BIG LITTLE LEGENDS which is a book about how everyday leaders build irresistible brands, which is exactly what we’re going to talk about on this episode of The GIG Podcast!

Discover the secrets to Irresistible Branding! Tune into this episode of The GIG Podcast with Gair Maxwell to find out how it's done.

To learn more about Golf Industry Guru, and to gain access to online golf business education from the world's most successful business, golf, & hospitality industry leaders, visit us at www.golfindustryguru.com.

Send us a text

Are you looking for ways to make your golf club the safest place it can be for your employees, members, and guests? Safety and compliance are often overlooked components of running a successful golf club, yet they are essential - and Ben Gibson of The Toolbox Team knows this better than anyone.

On this episode of The GIG Podcast, Ben Gibson explains the importance of safety and compliance within the golf industry and how The Toolbox Team is helping golf clubs around the globe create a culture of safety and compliance. With his extensive background in management and leadership, Ben Gibson is the perfect resource to help golf clubs become the safest and most compliant places they can be. Tune in and learn how to create a culture of safety and compliance within your golf club.

"Great leadership leads to great staff, great systems, great culture, and great compliance." - Ben Gibson

In this episode, you will learn about: 

1. How Leadership and Management Skills Apply to Safety and Compliance 
2. The Role of Communication and Engagement in Compliance and Safety

Ben Gibson is the founder of The Toolbox Team, an organization providing resources, support, training, and education to golf clubs around safety and compliance. With a background in business management, environmental science, and business leadership, Ben has a passion for helping people keep teams safe and reduce stress.

Ben has always been passionate about helping people and after high school, Ben decided to pursue a business management degree. Through his work in finance, he learned the importance of having systems in place and great leadership and how important they were to the success of a business. This led him to pursue a master’s in business leadership and ultimately start The Toolbox Team, which provides resources and training to golf clubs to help them keep their employees and guests safe. Ben's team helps clubs to build an understanding of safety and compliance into the DNA of the club, create a culture of safety and compliance, and provide evidence of risk assessment and control. They also provide software, an app, and resources that are tailored to the legislation of each club's region.

Want to be ahead of the curve on safety and compliance? Get essential tips & resources in this episode of The GIG Podcast with Ben Gibson! Tune in now!

To learn more about Golf Industry Guru, and to gain access to online golf business education from the world's most successful business, golf, & hospitality industry leaders, visit us at www.golfindustryguru.com.

Send us a text

Does any of this sound familiar? You're trying to increase inclusivity/eco-friendliness/year-round operations in your golf business, but you're not seeing results. You've been told to take action X, but it's just not working and you're feeling the pain?

On this episode of the GIG Podcast, innovative golf course owner and operator, Leonard Gendron, shares his secrets to success in attracting new business, becoming eco-friendly, and making his course a community hub.

"I think that for us here anyway, I think it's really about the leadership. So, it kind of comes from myself down to my managers, and then down to the employees…and they're super supportive."

In 2005, Leonard Gendron took over his family's golf course, which the property it sits on had been in his family since 1884. Since then, he has been working to make his own mark on the business. In 2019, he partnered with a local brewery to open the first craft brewery on a golf course in Canada. This was just the beginning of his efforts as he then took steps to make the golf course more ecologically friendly and inclusive to the community. In 2020, he started working on a TV show about the golf course, as well as adding on-site accommodations called Jupes.

Highlights from this episode of The GIG Podcast that you don’t want to miss include:

• The property that Hammond Golf Club sits on has been in the Gendron family since 1884, and its owner/operator, Leonard Gendron, has been at the helm for 17 years.
• The Club has recently added a brewery, Jupes (a glamping-style accommodation), and a TV show to its repertoire in order to become more inclusive to the community and less dependent on weather-related golf revenues.
• Gendron credits his success to the team effort of his partners and employees, and advises others to find like-minded individuals to help achieve their business goals.

Looking for innovative solutions to your golf business challenges? Look no further than this episode of The GIG Podcast!

To learn more about Golf Industry Guru, and to gain access to online golf business education from the world's most successful business, golf, & hospitality industry leaders, visit us at www.golfindustryguru.com.

Send us a text

In this episode of the GIG Podcast, we explore how to leverage the opposite summer seasons of Australia and Canada through an exchange program that imports golf course personnel between both countries. The goal is to make it easier for Canadian golf courses to recruit Australian-based grounds staff and vice versa.

EnvoyGolf in Australia and Fresh Golf Solutions in Canada are recruitment firms who specialize in golf. Together, with the endorsement and promotional support of the CGSA and NGCOA Canada, a new reciprocal working visa program for golf is being launched in Canada. All logistics, such as screening candidates, working visas, insurance, and travel arrangements will be professionally managed by EnvoyGolf, with support from Fresh Golf Solutions. The primary focus will be upon seasonal Grounds Staff. EnvoyGolf has had previous success implementing this same program between Australia and Scandinavian countries.

Highlights from this episode of The GIG Podcast that you don’t want to miss include:

·      Find out what specifically are the labour challenges facing the industry?

·      Learn about EnvoyGolf and what they are doing to help with this labour shortage issue?

·      Hear about the numerous benefits of the cross-border program to the employees that participate in it.

·      Understand the benefits of the cross-border program to the clubs that decide to get involved.

·      Find out about how the visa process works for Canadians.

·      Hear about some of the success stories relating to past participants from other countries in this program.

·      Understand what the key factors one should consider when deciding if this is right for them? 

About David Burton

Before joining EnvoyGolf, David was the General Manager at New South Wales Golf Club from 1996 to 2020.

He is the Past President and Life member of Golf Management Australia, past Director on the Board of the Australian Golf Industry Council, past Director on the Board of the Golf Management Australia (NSW Division) as well as a past Director of another company outside of golf.

Through 24 years as a club manager, David has seen firsthand the difficulties that clubs face in finding resources in all areas of their operation. This has been exacerbated by the increase in club activity and course rounds resulting from the Covid 19 pandemic. David also understands the need to make resourcing a seamless and cost-effective process for management.

With a wealth of experience, David will be of great assistance to clubs using the EnvoyGolf resourcing services.

About Scott Kolb

Starting as a PGA of Canada member in 1992, Scott has been involved with all facets of the Canadian Golf Industry.  He has worked with most of the golf associations including as a Board member of the Canadian Society of Club Managers, PGA of Canada, PGA of BC, NGCOA provincial committee and the Camosun College advisory committee of the Professional Golf Management Program.

Scott has been awarded provincially and nationally.  He has won the Merchandiser of the Year for Golf Shop of the Year from PGA of Canada, Club of the Year from the Canadian Society of Club Managers, Inaugural winner of the Executive Professional of the year for PGA of BC and the Fore Seasons winner of the NGCOA/PGA of BC award.

To learn more about this unique and innovative program, visit https://www.envoygolf.com or https://www.freshgolf.ca/envoygo

To learn more about Golf Industry Guru, and to gain access to online golf business education from the world's most successful business, golf, & hospitality industry leaders, visit us at www.golfindustryguru.com.

Send us a text

Creating a loyalty program for your club is a major endeavour, but at the same time it can be a game-changing opportunity if created with care and precision.  Just ask our guest on this episode of The GIG Podcast, Luke Nieuwland, Co-Owner of Whisky Run Golf Club in Port Colborne, Ontario! 

Luke is also a Co-founder at Birrdi Inc., a Golf Tee Sheet software that fully integrates with Square.  One of Luke’s goals is to ensure golf courses are empowered with all the latest technology that’s available to help them grow their business, which is exactly what Luke has been able to do in a big way at Whisky Run thanks to the successful implementation of killer loyalty program that’s helped the business do a complete 180!

Highlights from this episode of the GIG Podcast that you won’t want to miss:

- Learn about the new loyalty program at Whisky Run, it’s features and benefits, and how they benefit their customers.

- Find out how Whisky Run “pays” for all the loyalty that they provide and ultimately find out if their bottom line has improved.  Were they able to increase profits…or are they just giving out loyalty rewards on revenue that they already had?

- Hear specifically how the profitability of their business has improved since they implemented their new loyalty program.

- Understand what the consumer behaviours / activities are that they are trying to drive with their loyalty program.

- Find out about the mistakes they were making before and what the errors are that Luke sees other clubs making now when trying to create a loyalty program for their club.

- Luke tells us about the technology component they use to support and deliver their club’s loyalty program.

- If you are a club manager that wants to start a loyalty program at your club, find out what you should do first.

To learn more or to connect with Luke directly, please connect with him on LinkedIn.

To learn more about Golf Industry Guru, and to gain access to online golf business education from the world's most successful business, golf, & hospitality industry leaders, visit us at www.golfindustryguru.com.

Send us a text

The Golf Kitchen concept was initially born at a meeting at Sebonack Golf Club in Southampton in 2010. With some solid ideas, Diana DeLucia, created her first book and proof of concept titled Golf Club World, Behind the Gates which published in 2013. The recipes and culinary stories proved to be very popular and thus the Golf Kitchen book concept was realized. DeLucia traveled the USA and the world to uncover some of the finest Private Golf and Country Club and Resort teams.  The first Golf Kitchen book was launched at Winged Foot Golf Club in Mamaroneck, New York and hosted by Executive Chef Rhy Waddington and a star-studded line up of Private Golf and Country Club Chefs from the USA and abroad cooking a food and wine tasting menu for the members and guests that will always be a night to remember. A similar event quickly followed at Cassique at Kiawah Island Club, South Carolina which was hosted by Executive Chef Doug Blair and once again included a collaboration of an elite group of chefs from Private Golf and Country Clubs from the USA and abroad.  It was at Cassique that the magazine concept was born, and Golf Kitchen Magazine is now in its second year.

Golf Kitchen Punta Mita, a four-day golf and culinary extravaganza was hosted in Punta Mita, Mexico - which boasts both Four Seasons and St. Regis resorts on the property and two renowned Jack Nicklaus Signature-designed golf courses, Pacifico and Bahia – on April of 2018 and 2019 with the help and support of Punta Mita, Golf Kitchen participating chefs and clubs, friends of Golf Kitchen chefs, residents and guests. 

Golf Kitchen Magazine is now a luxury, biannual collectable magazine and 2022 will be it's fifth year in production. 

Highlights from this episode of The GIG Podcast that you don’t want to miss include:

• Diana tells us about her journey from food photographer to CEO of Golf Kitchen.
• Find out what attracted Diana to feature golf clubs as opposed to yacht clubs or city clubs.
• In all her travels putting together your Golf Kitchen publications, find about Diana’s favourite place or experience.
• Learn about some of the common traits Diana finds in the Chef’s that she has interviewed.
• In Diana’s opinion, what makes for a world class Chef.
• Hear about what Diana thinks are the challenges are facing this unique industry.
• Find out what a small club with a few staff can learn from a world class club and chef
• Learn about how a Club can qualify for the Golf Kitchen Culinary Excellence Awards. 

About Diana DeLucia

​Diana DeLucia is an internationally acclaimed Australian photographer and journalist who now resides in Stamford, Connecticut, U.S.A.
 
Diana’s passion for highlighting talented Chefs in the Golf world has inspired a culinary movement across the world at golf clubs and resorts. As she challenges these golf destinations, she knows that awareness of enhancing the golf culinary lifestyle can bring more enjoyment to the game – and help sustain the growth of golf and travel worldwide.

Diana has since created Golf Kitchen Magazine, a luxury biannual print publication and a second book in the Golf Kitchen series is in production titled Golf Kitchen America.  

Diana has held two successful events in conjunction with Punta Mita, Mexico and established the Golf Kitchen Culinary Excellence Awards in 2018 at Edgewood

To learn more about Golf Industry Guru, and to gain access to online golf business education from the world's most successful business, golf, & hospitality industry leaders, visit us at www.golfindustryguru.com.

Send us a text

On this episode of The GIG Podcast, we were joined by Rob Selley, Executive Manager, New South Wales Golf Club, located in Sydney, Australia.  Ranked #33 on Golf Digest’s list of the ‘World’s 100 Greatest Golf Courses’ and known as one of the World’s great golf experiences, New South Wales Golf Club overlooks Botany Bay where Captain James Cook first sailed into Australia on the SS Endeavour in 1770.  Designed by Dr. Alister MacKenzie, the course is a wonderful combination of undulating fairways, beautiful scenic vistas, and a spectacular clubhouse which is a magnificent combination of traditional architecture and five-star comfort.

In this episode, we discussed the following questions with Rob:

• How do you help a new employee understand the culture of your club?
• When faced with two equally qualified candidates, how do you determine whom to hire?
• How do you encourage creative thinking amongst the leadership and front-line teams at NSWGC?
• In your opinion, what is the biggest challenge facing leaders in the club industry today?
• What is one leadership characteristic that you believe every club manager should possess and what advice would you give someone going into a leadership position at a club for the first time?
• What are you doing to ensure you continue to grow and develop as a leader?
• What advice would you give to a GM who does not have alignment and unity with their board about how to achieve that type of connection?

Rob Selley has a Bachelor of Commerce degree, PGA qualification, and 20+ years of General Manager/CEO experience at some of the world’s premier private members golf clubs, golf resorts, and golf estates. Over an extended period, he has established a proven track record of achieving significantly improved outcomes for the clubs he has managed, particularly where there has been an ambition to position or reposition a club and bring about positive progress.

Be sure to spend this hour with us, and then return to your golf business with new tools and tangible plans for improving operations.  You’re also going to learn from Rob about how to level up your approach to leading your team and learn some new techniques and tactics when it comes to the development of the team at your club. 

There’s no better way to learn from one of our industry’s best, and this must-listen episode will surely help position you and your team for greater success going forward!

To learn more about Golf Industry Guru, and to gain access to online golf business education from the world's most successful business, golf, & hospitality industry leaders, visit us at www.golfindustryguru.com.