Industry Leaders Celebrated at 59club UK & Ireland Service Excellence Awards 2026
The golf, leisure, and hospitality industry came together to celebrate excellence at the 59club UK & Ireland Service Excellence Awards, hosted at the prestigious Celtic Manor Resort on 26 March 2026.
Recognising the venues and individuals who have delivered exceptional service standards over the past year, the awards once again highlighted the very best performers across the UK and Ireland.
Mount Juliet Estate emerged as the standout performer of the evening, securing four individual awards and earning the coveted title of Ultimate Golf Resort. Their success reflects a continued commitment to delivering world-class facilities and outstanding guest experiences.
Ballybunion Golf Club reinforced its position as one of the finest members’ clubs in the region, retaining the title of Ultimate Members’ Club for an impressive third consecutive year — a testament to its consistency and dedication to excellence.
Eden Hall also celebrated a remarkable achievement, securing Spa Experience of the Year for the third year in a row, completing a hat-trick of wins and demonstrating sustained leadership in the wellness and spa sector.
Individual excellence was also recognised on the night. Matt Aplin of Goring & Streatley Golf Club received his eighth consecutive nomination for Greenkeeper of the Year, an extraordinary reflection of his ongoing contribution to course quality and presentation. Meanwhile, Glenn McNaughton of Long Ashton Golf Club continued his exceptional run of success, being named Food & Beverage Manager of the Year for the seventh consecutive year.
The evening concluded with the presentation of 59club’s prestigious Bronze, Silver, and Gold Flag Awards, recognising venues that consistently delivered outstanding service standards and first-class facilities to their members and guests throughout 2025.
Based on 59club’s independent mystery shopper programme, the awards remain a benchmark for excellence across the industry, celebrating those who continue to raise the bar in customer experience.
The 2026 ceremony once again underscored the passion, professionalism, and innovation driving the sector forward, with winners and nominees alike setting new standards for service excellence.
Food & Beverage Manager of the Year
Green-fees Over £160: Eddie Devane (Mount Juliet Estate
Green-fees Between £75-£159: Glenn McNaughton (Long Ashton)
Green-fees Less than £74: F&B Team (Knebworth GC)
Retail Manager of the Year
Green-fees Over £160: Martin Robinson (Brocket Hall)
Green-fees Between £75-£159: Daniel Field (East Herts GC)
Green-fees Less than £74: Giuseppe Licata (Filton GC)
Greenkeeper of the Year
Green-fees Over £160: Angus Macleod (The Belfry – Brabazon), John Bambury (Ballybunion GC)
Green-fees Between £75-£159: Mike Bush (St Mellion Estate)
Green-fees Less than £74: Matt Aplin (Goring & Streatley GC)
Golf Operations Team of the Year
Green-fees Over £160: Mount Juliet Estate
Green-fees Between £75-£159: Rockliffe Hall
Green-fees Less than £74: Knebworth GC
Golf Manager of the Year
Green-fees Over £160: Matt Sandercock (Mount Juliet Estate)
Green-fees Between £75-£159: Tom West (Rockliffe Hall)
Green-fees Less than £74: Mark Bierton (Knebworth GC)
Leading Individual Golf Membership Sales Performance
Philomena Wilkinson (Forest of Arden)
Golf Membership Sales Team of the Year
Branston Golf & Country Club
Leading Individual Leisure Membership Sales Performance
Megan Davey (Celtic Manor Resort)
Leisure Membership Sales Team of the Year
Branston Golf & Country Club
Leading Individual Corporate Sales Performance
Alice Kozlowski (formerly of The Grove)
Leading Individual Corporate Sales Call Performance
Conor Reid (Mount Juliet Estate)
Leading Spa Experience
Eden Hall
Leading Health Club Experience
The Warwickshire
Bronze Flag Resorts
Old Thorns Hotel & Resort; The Machrie
Silver Flag Resorts
Barnham Broom; Belton Woods Hotel, Spa & Golf Resort; Bowood Hotel, Spa & Golf Resort; China Fleet Country Club; Dunston Hall Hotel, Spa & Golf Resort; Mottram Hall; St Mellion Estate; The Vale Resort; Wychwood Park
Gold Flag Resorts
Carton House; Celtic Manor Resort; Fairmont St Andrews; Forest of Arden; Foxhills Club & Resort; Gleneagles; Mount Juliet Estate; Rockliffe Hall; The Belfry Hotel & Resort; The Grove; The K Club; The Mere Resort & Spa
Bronze Flag Members’ Club
Benton Hall Golf & Country Club; Bognor Regis Golf Club; Burnley Leisure & Culture – Towneley Golf Course; Chartham Park Golf & Country Club; Chesfield Downs Golf & Country Club; Coventry Golf Club; Crane Valley Golf Club; Farleigh Golf Club; Filton Golf Club; Greetham Valley Golf & Country Club; Guildford Golf Club; Leamington & County Golf Club; Lichfield Golf and Country Club; Newcastle Under Lyme Golf Club; Nizels Golf & Country Club; North Foreland Golf Club; Royal Wimbledon Golf Club; St Enodoc Golf Club; Stratford-on-Avon Golf Club; The Astbury Golf Lodge & Resort; The Club at High Legh Park; The Essex Golf & Country Club; The Heron Country Club; The Hertfordshire Golf & Country Club; The Nottinghamshire Golf & Country Club; The Tytherington Club; Windlesham Golf Club
Silver Flag Members’ Club
Alnmouth Golf Club; Branston Golf & Country Club; Clandon Regis Golf Club; East Herts Golf Club; Enville Golf Club; Essendon Country Club; Gailes Links Golf Club; Goring & Streatley Golf Club; Goswick Golf Club; Hesketh Golf Club; Heswall Golf Club; Hindhead Golf Club; La Moye Golf Club; Matlock Golf Club; Newport Golf Club; Pannal Golf Club; Rotherham Golf Club; Seapoint Golf Links; Stockport Golf Club; Stirling Golf Club; Stoneham Golf Club; Teignmouth Golf Club; The Club at Cams Hall Estate; Woodbury Park
Gold Flag Members’ Club
Ballybunion Golf Club; Brocket Hall; Castle Royle; Conwy Golf Club; County Louth Golf Club; Crail Golfing Society; Dunbar Golf Club; Edgbaston Golf Club; Frilford Heath Golf Club; Golf At Goodwood; Gullane Golf Club; Hanbury Manor Marriott Hotel & Country Club; Harpenden Golf Club; Hickleton Golf Club; JCB Golf & Country Club; Knebworth Golf Club; Ladybank Golf Club; London Golf Club; Long Ashton Golf Club; Moor Park Golf Club; Panmure Golf Club; Portstewart Golf Club; Richmond Golf Club; Royal Cinque Ports Golf Club; Royal Dublin Golf Club; The Royal Automobile Club; The Warwickshire; Witney Lakes Resort; Woodhall Spa