Country club management techniques are vital to maximize profits, memberships, and productivity. Managers of country clubs use tips and tricks to maintain steady cash flow.

If you're contemplating how to open a country club, these tactics will be the keys to success. Throughout this article, we'll cover everything, from managing staff to country club food service and the country club menu. Without further ado, let's begin.

Country Club Management: Definition

Country club management refers to the methods and approaches to handling country club operations. The country club manager is responsible for the success of the business. So, it's vital that they have effective systems in place. 

 From country club marketing to golf course food service, there are many avenues to manage. Taking the initiative in any sector will show executives that you're a leader. An entrepreneur mindset will also help you stand out amongst the crowd. 

Country Club Management: 6 Rules for Success 

Current and potential country club members are the primary focus for country club management. After all, membership fees are the primary revenue stream. 

Customer satisfaction is a constant objective for country club management leaders. Finding ways to innovate the space and create a stellar customer experience is key. So, let's dive into six rules for country club management success. 

1. Acquire the Right Country Club Management Style 

Whether they realize it or not, every manager embodies a particular style. Management styles will dictate how you act, how you treat coworkers, and how you react to stressors. They'll also determine your relationship with customers and how you drive success.

We'll cover country club management styles a little later. As a brief preface, here are the most popular management styles:

• Concern for People 
• Concern for Production 
• Middle-of-the-Road 
• Opportunistic 
• Authority Compliance 

2. Use Country Club Technology 

Country club POS systems can take business operations to the next level and maximize revenue. POS integrations can reduce work overload and provide a better experience. 

There are many sectors to a country club. Handling transactions from restaurants to sports facilities can be challenging with traditional technology. Plus, POS system features can innovate the entire business.

For instance, a golf course POS system can collect data about the most popular tee times. On the other hand, restaurant-centric app integrations can improve the ordering experience. 

3. Initiate Frequent Competitive Analyses 

The country club space is always changing. As hospitality software companies release new solutions, managers become more strategic. 

To battle the competition, make an effort to conduct frequent competitive analyses. An understanding as to where you stand in a niche market will keep you on the right track. 

When conducting your analyses, consider the following variables:

• Sales and market share 
• Competitors' tech solutions
• Product differentiation 
• Paid and organic marketing efforts
• Strengths vs. weaknesses
• Customer profile demographics 

4. Conduct Performance Reviews 

Performance almost always traces back to a company's management. With this in mind, conduct regular performance reviews with your staff. 

Each review will sound different depending on the staff member's department. Member-facing roles might focus more on churn and the customer turnover rate. Meanwhile, the restaurant's wait staff may be more focused on reviews. 

Learning how each staff member performs will dictate changes in management. It'll also help further develop plans for the future. 

5. Consider Customer Reviews 

If anyone in your country club's circle is going to be honest with you, it'll be consumers. After spending their hard-earned money on memberships and facilities, it's not uncommon to receive raving or nightmare reviews. 

Take some time each month to review what members have to say. This insight will provide ideas as to how you can enhance customer service, as well as identify any weaknesses. In the long run, it'll benefit both parties.

6. Properly Train Your Staff

The country club management hierarchy should properly train each new hire. Each country club has their own processes, so it's key that everyone is on the same page--regardless of their experience. 

Offer sommelier training to wine experts if you offer tastings. Or, provide a server training manual to every country club dining employee that will be present when hosting brunch or other meals. This will ensure that all restaurant operations run smoothly. 

It's also important to train golf course staff. Knowledge about amenities and equipment is not just a good idea for customer service, but safety measures, too. 

7. Establish a Marketing Strategy 

A country club management team should make an effort to promote the business. Luckily, there are many ways to do this. Let’s take a look at a couple of tried and tested methods. 

The first thing you can do is implement a social media strategy. Just be certain that you know how to calculate the social media ROI. This way, you’ll be able to track results with confidence. 

The second thing you can do is publish paid ads. Country club members and golfers make up a niche community. So, by setting up targeted ads, you’ll be able to speak directly to a very specific market.

8. Offer Event Management Services 

Country clubs are home to many major events, such as weddings and work retreats. So, we recommend expanding the country club management team to have personnel with experience in the event space. 

A great aspect of hosting events is that they’re a sure way of boosting revenue. The guest of honor will have to reserve a time slot in advance, leave a deposit, and confirm the event. In doing so, the country club’s managers will be certain of how to plan, creatively and financially. 

9. Implement a Premium Pricing Strategy 

Country clubs display quite a luxurious brand and image. However, there’s a foolproof way to enhance this aspect even further. Try implementing a premium pricing strategy to stand out amongst the competition. 

Premium pricing tactics stem from studies in consumer behavior. More specifically, they revolve around the idea that if a product or service is slightly more expensive, consumers will find it more attractive. 

You want to make sure that your country club’s product line and membership fees are about fifteen percent of the local market. If they do, this technique can have adverse effects. But when done right, it can seriously maximize profits.

Country Club Manager Jobs 

Want to learn how to excel in country club manager jobs? Ensure that you have a management background and possess the following skills:

• Hospitality industry knowledge 
• Knowledge about budgeting and financial projections 
• Proficiency in POS software
• Verbal and written communication 
• Enjoys leading a team 
• Problem-solving skills 
• The ability to work well under pressure 

We encourage you to choose a country club management style to guide your approaches and methods. Read below for more details on different styles.

Country Club Style of Management

To excel at country club and golf course management, acquiring a style can be beneficial. Not only will it serve as a guide, but it will help fellow professionals understand you better. 

Once people are aware of how you work, teamwork and resolving conflict will be less stressful and much more productive. Common examples of country club leaders can consist of the following management styles:

Concern for People Management

If someone falls within the “concern for people” category, they focus on building relationships. They are personable, respect ideas, and enjoy teamwork. 

Emotional intelligence is a popular trait amongst people of this management style. In a country club, such employees ensure that amenities are up to industry standards. Such managers always aim to put the customer first. 

Concern for Production Management

The “concern for production” style of management refers to people who focus on goals. For example, when businesses create strategies and objectives, employees who stick to the game plan fall within this bucket. 

Managers who embody this style enjoy giving directions, planning ahead, and accomplishing their tasks by the deadline. They just want to work and be productive. 

Middle-of-the-Road Management 

Middle-of-the road managers focus equally on production and people. They seek a balance between the employee's wellbeing and results. They're also likely to promote the importance of sustainability.

It can be difficult to avoid and manage conflict with this kind of mentality. However, once a manager excels at this method, they'll end up with a positive country club culture and high-performing team. 

People with this management style can also be referred to as those with a "team management" style. It's an effective style to acquire that'll likely yield results. Working together in harmony to accomplish goals is the perfect situation for the workplace. 

Opportunistic Management 

These managers seek opportunities for change. They don't abide by any particular management style. So, they react differently to each situation. 

Optimal personal benefits are typically the goal. However, it's possible for opportunistic managers to have the business' best interests in mind. At a country club, these managers would likely be the ones to boost the member roster.

Authority Compliance Management 

The authority-compliance management style is often referred to as the "produce or perish" style. It implies that such managers care very much about production but little about people. This style can be tricky, as both sides of the equation are equally important. 

The reason why this style can be an issue is because mutual respect across teams is vital for operations. Employees are likely to rebel and slack if management is too careless. Over time, negative emotions will translate to club members. 

In positive authority-compliant workplaces, monetary rewards exist. Bonuses and commission are popular incentives that managers offer their teams. 

Frequently Asked Questions About Country Club Management 

From country club management software investments to acquiring a proper management style, there's so much to learn to make a country club successful. Want to learn more? Let's go over a brief recap about country club management. See below:

What Is An Example of Country Club Management?

An example of country club management would be using solutions to streamline tasks. Country club management is all about improving the business. 

What Is Country Club Management Style?

A country club management style consists of the methods in place to properly run the business. Each style will depend on the manager. However, knowing your management style will help streamline processes. 

What Is a Country Club Manager? 

Country club managers make sure that operations are running smoothly. They’re also the ones responsible for creating strategies, hiring, and enhancing customer service. Without the manager, staff wouldn't have a leader. In this case, efficiency would be at risk. 

How Do You Manage a Country Club?

One can manage a country club by following relevant guidelines. It’s also helpful to choose a management style upon accepting such a role. 

What Type of Business Is a Country Club?

Country clubs are private entities within the hospitality industry. They allow memberships through sponsorships and invitations only. 

Key Takeaways 

Utilize software that automates functions. Memberships, fees, dues, and reservations are all areas a management platform can cover. End-to-end solutions with cloud-based abilities will do wonders for your country club. In the meantime, ensure that your management staff focuses on members and operations.