FOREST OF ARDEN & ABU DHABI GOLF CLUB ARE SET TO HOST 59CLUB’S 10TH ANNUAL INDUSTRY ‘OSCARS’


Former host of the British Masters and HSBC Championship venue are chosen to host 59club’s glitzy ceremony as Forest of Arden Marriott Hotel & Country Club will welcome 59club clients from across Europe on the 12-13th March 2020. An extension to the ceremony will see The Westin Abu Dhabi Golf Resort & Spa host the awards to recognise excellence across Asia, The Middle East & Africa on the 20th April 2020, as the Service ‘Excellence’ Awards are split for the first time.

The Ceremonies will bring the industry together to honour great individuals, clubs and group achievements across all 59club spectra, with revellers invited to attend their choice of local or international awards, with many expressing the desire to celebrate and network across both events. 

Whilst proceedings may have diversified, the principals remain the same, as 59club stand to recognise the leading Golf and Leisure venues that consistently achieve ‘service excellence’ across all areas of the business – sales, service, operations, retail, facility, food & beverage and management. With winners recognised by the genuine scores collected from the independent visitor panel who evaluate the experience afforded to both visitors and prospective customers.

The climax of the night for many is when the 59club’s Industry Benchmark awards are announced; the Gold, Silver and Bronze Flag Awards. The awards are bestowed on the finest member clubs and commercial venues that not only achieve the required standard of service as part of the mystery test audit criteria, but also provide excellent facilities for customers to enjoy. 

59club will also bestow accolades upon venues for their commitment to engage, analyse and enrich their member and guest experience, utilising a collateral of survey tools across the my59 software platform.

An Educational Day will precede the evening Awards Ceremony in true 59club style; with the promise of inspirational content for those looking to start 2020 on the best foot. Further to last year’s success 59club will continue to include a Golf Day.

59club’s driving force very quickly grabbed the industry’s attention, and saw the event hailed the ‘Industry Oscars’ in its early days. Now in its 10th year, amid huge expansion plans across the globe which have already signified openings of local 59club offices to accommodate growth in Asia, Middle East, Africa, Europe and the USA;  the 2020 line up is set to once again deliver a spectacle of glory, equally fitting the calibre of nominees, winners and all those present at the awards for their commitment to delivering ‘service excellence’.

Simon Wordsworth, 59club CEO said: “59club is fully committed to assisting the industry to advance. The awards for us is about bringing everyone together and paying tribute to what we have achieved collectively.

“What started out as a simple idea to develop people and process in the early days, has grown into a global pioneering brand that has taken every experience across the hospitality industry and made staff, managers, venues and groups accountable for the service and sales etiquette they deploy. That 59club seal of approval means everything to the staff on the ground, the managers leading their team and the people at the very top – who all revel over the quantifiable effects that come with achieving best in class standards.”

“A special thanks goes to our award sponsors; 3DIFS, CGI Insurance, Club Car, Golf Genius, Golfbreaks.com, Gunners Cocktails, Kennet Leasing, Tacit and Toro who have been instrumental in creating the 2020 Awards, these are set to be the best yet!”

Tickets are on sale now, to secure your place at the Education Day, Awards Ceremony and Golf Day, and for all accommodation/travel requirements, please contact Naime Torgut; naime@theaspirationgroup.com or visit www.59club.com  

Stay up to date with all the action, and behind-the-scenes insight by following 59club on Twitter and Facebook.

PAUL ARMITAGE TO DRIVE 59CLUB’S EXPANSION OF CUSTOMER SATISFACTION SERVICES ACROSS WEST EUROPE, MOROCCO AND TUNISIA


59club continues growth with formation of West Europe & North Africa division to improve sales and service etiquette, increasing customer satisfaction, revenue and profits

January 30, 2020: Golf and leisure clubs, hotels, restaurants and spa destinations can now benefit from an in-depth vision into their operational successes and areas in need of improvement thanks to the formation of a dedicated division set to cover France; Belgium; Holland; Switzerland; Germany; Austria; Morocco and Tunisia.

The new division will be led by the highly decorated General Manager of La Golf National; Paul Armitage, who alongside his commitments with the club will also co-own and drive 59club’s expansion into Western Europe & North Africa, the latest addition to the world’s leading customer service specialists – currently operating across the UK, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Asia and the USA.

59club are famed for their market-leading performance management tools, their customer satisfaction surveys, mystery shopping audits, whilst their training and education services are widely regarded as best-in-class across the industry.

Trusted by many of the world’s leading venues, 59club delivers an acclaimed route to measure and develop customer service levels and staff sales performance. Their intel and expertise hold the key to drive growth, providing a significant increase to customer acquisition, satisfaction, retention & profitability within businesses of all sizes.

59club has been trading across Europe for over 10 years having engaged with many of the leading golf & hospitality venues including European Tour Destinations; La Golf National, Terre Blanche, Diamond Country Club and Golf Club St Leon-Rot alongside Monte Rei, Alcanada and La Manga amongst many others.  With a dedicated local presence, 59club’s hold in the region is set to perfect the golf, leisure and hospitality experience afforded to consumers whilst driving club revenues to new heights.   

59club’s online dashboard allows these managers to compare results to the industry benchmark, elite-performing properties and even direct competitor venues of their choice, making it one of the only ways for venues to measure how well they are performing within their market.

Following the launch of 59club West Europe & North Africa, 59club CEO, Simon Wordsworth, said: “We’re absolutely thrilled to extend our scope of service into Europe and North Africa and hit the ground running, with the launch of this new business. 59club is all about the people, we couldn’t ask for better partners to lead this division than Paul Armitage & Sylvain Marcati who will drive our expansion within the region. We have the utmost confidence in them both. Our objective data-collection and analytical models will help golf clubs and other hospitality properties to achieve more out of their operations and begin to put customer service at the forefront of club and resort management once again. It’s great to see our product now available in the French language.”

Paul has been working in the golf industry since 2003. He has filled several roles as GM and building brand reputation and business in various golf facilities, and also as Managing Director for one of Europe’s leading Golf Networks.

Paul joined the French Golf Federation in 2014 to help prepare Le Golf National, not only to host the 2018 Ryder Cup, but also to raise the levels of service and experience to resemble that of other major tournament golf destinations around the world. 

Working with 59club tools to help improve standards, and with Paul’s knowledge of the needs of modern golfers – it has been a recipe for success. It was therefore an obvious choice for Paul to help bring 59club to wider markets across Western Europe, Morocco & Tunisia.

Customer service has to be the number one priority for all hospitality providers” said Paul Armitage, Managing Partner of 59club Western Europe & North Africa. “In today’s world, competition is fierce. Once you lose a customer to poor service, they are likely never to return. That’s why 59club was created. It’s the only golf, leisure and hospitality-specific benchmarking tool in the world that provides this type of objective analysis, ensuring operators are making informed decisions to increase customer retention.

“I am extremely proud to have excelled under the armoury of tools provided by 59club at La Golf National, and equally as excited to drive the same significant successes for my peers across the region, that an association with 59club delivers.”

For media queries, please contact:

Sarah Connelly

Marketing Manager, 59club HQ

E: sarah@59club.com

59CLUB ANNOUNCES QUARTERLY AWARD WINNERS TO RECOGNISE STANDOUT PERFORMERS


Sponsored by 3DIFS and CGI Insurance, 59club’s newest accolades will reward individual staff performance throughout the year

59club, the leading specialist customer service & sales analysts and training provider, has introduced prestigious quarterly awards to recognise staff excellence throughout the year across its affiliate golf venues. The designated European awards focus on two categories – Group Golf Sales Enquiry Calls and Golf Membership Sales Appointments, the latter of which also recognises a top performer across Asia, The Middle East & Africa

The introduction of quarterly sales and service honours, ahead of 59club’s 10th annual Service Excellence Awards Ceremony in March 2020, saw Sylvia Norris of De Vere Wokefield Estate recognised specifically for her outstanding delivery in the Leading Group Golf Sales Enquiry Call category, achieving a 40 percentage point advantage over the 59club industry average across all audits delivered between April and June.

Fine margins between the top three contenders meant Philip Brown of Breadsall Priory Marriott Hotel & Country Club and Damion Gee, Club Manager at Ashburnham Golf Club, narrowly missed out following a very successful performance audit review, as adjudicated by 59club in accordance with its non-subjective benchmarking criteria.

The 59club Leading European Golf Membership Sales Appointment title was claimed by Ashley Freeman of Rockliffe Hall, with an impressive 28 percentage points margin over the 59club industry. Chris Dowrick of Foxhills and Iain Fox of Breadsall Priory Marriott Hotel & Country Club were both particularly close to claiming the title, with other well-known venues such as The Mere also scoring extremely well.

When it comes to Golf Membership Sales Appointment delivery across Asia, The Middle East & Africa, the relentless high service levels demonstrated were typically impressive. George Wearden, Golf Operations Executive at Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club secured this award with an overall score 29 percentage points higher than the global 59club industry average.

Another top performer from the Dubai Golf Group was Rhys James, and just 45 minutes away in Abu Dhabi, Barry Barnard of the exquisite Saadiyat Beach Golf Club was also close to claiming the accolade.

Ashley Freeman, Spa Guest Services Manager – Rockcliffe Hall, said: “The Service Excellence Award is a wonderful accolade for both me personally and also for Rockcliffe Hall as one of the UK’s leading golf destinations. At a five-star resort, achieving exceptional customer service levels and offering the highest standards are one of the most important aspects of ensuring success, I am so delighted that I can play a part in this.”

Jamie Anton, Group Director of Golf & Leisure – De Vere Wokefield Park, said: “Sylvia is a fantastic ambassador for the De Vere estate and the whole team are delighted that she has been recognised by The 59club for her outstanding performance. We are firmly committed to providing a great golfing experience for our members and guests and I am confident that our ongoing relationship with the 59club will take our three golf venues to new heights in 2020.”

Rhys James, Director of Golf Operations – Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club, said: “Dubai Creek are proud to receive the newly introduced quarterly awards that allow us to recognise and reward our colleagues for their high standards in delivering memorable experiences for our members and guests.”

59club has seen significant growth over the last 12 months, expanding into the American and Asian markets, whilst further cementing its position in the Middle East & Africa. The establishment of ‘local’ office’s and the formation of dedicated ‘international’ divisions amidst ambitious global growth plans, provides hospitality operators in those regions with an outstanding opportunity to build revenue through improved sales and service provision. The expanded horizons of 59club in recent months make Sylvia, Ashley and George’s success even more impressive, with a greater number of 59clubusers vying for these titles.

Simon Wordsworth, 59club CEO, said: “Congratulations to all award winners – we always knew we had something very special within 59club, and as we have taken our products into new emerging markets, we have been overwhelmed by its response. Each audit experience is meticulously evaluated, against what has been hailed world-leading criteria – so to say these awards are very much deserved, is an understatement. My congratulations go out to the winners & the club’s they represent for truly driving sales & service experience to an all-time high. The ability of these individuals to affect the venues bottom line, can’t be stressed enough, they are the key figures in getting people through the door to enable the rest of the team to deliver the experience. As such we are delighted to create a platform that now recognises individual achievements, elevating the profile of our best performers in a consistent and regular way. I know that this announcement will drive standards more than ever before, as clubs and individuals go head-to-head to compete for these new titles.

“Our development over the last twelve months has been very exciting, not least with our growth into new markets, the acquisition of an increasing number of clients and the establishment of new initiatives such as this, which reward and recognise outstanding performance beyond the annual awards ceremony which celebrates it’s 10 year anniversary next March. As company, we are very excited about what the future holds in store.”

59club is the world’s leading customer service & sales analysts and training provider and is set upon raising the service standards of the leisure industry to new highs through the gathering of primary data and implementation of strategic solutions. 59club’s ultimate objective is to transform the revenue performance of its clients by enhancing their approach to customer service and sales. By understanding where strengths and weaknesses lie (information provided via raw consumer data) 59club can help venues implement lasting change to the benefit of their members, guests, staff and revenue.

For more information on 59club, visit: www.59club.com

ANOTHER CLOSE RACE FOR 59CLUB QUARTERLY AWARD WINNERS AS STANDOUT PERFORMANCES ARE RECOGNISED


Sponsored by 3difs, CGI Insurance & Gunners, 59club’s regular accolades reward individual staff performance throughout the year

59club, the leading specialist customer service analysts and training provider, announce their prestigious quarterly award winners, as they continue to recognise staff excellence throughout the year across its affiliate golf venues. The designated European awards focus on three categories – Group Golf Sales Enquiry Calls, Golf Membership Sales Appointments and Food & Beverage, the latter two categories also recognise top performers across Asia, the Middle East & Africa.

The quarterly sales and service honours, ahead of 59club’s 10th Annual Service Excellence Awards Ceremony taking place in March 2020, saw Justine Friedrich of Forest of Arden Marriott Hotel & Country Club recognised specifically for her outstanding delivery in the Leading European Group Golf Sales Enquiry Call category, as she achieved a 1 percentage point advantage over her closest rival for her performance against all qualifying audits (calls under 15 minutes in duration) delivered between July and September.

Fine margins between the top contenders meant Rachel Palmer of Tudor Park Marriott Hotel & Country Club, Ben Stokes of MacDonald Hotels and Aaron Williams of Herons Reach Golf Club all narrowly missing out following very successful audit reviews, as adjudicated by 59club in accordance with its non-subjective benchmarking criteria.

The 59club Leading European Golf Membership Sales Appointment title, was claimed by Connor Sansom of Porters Park, with an impressive 31 percentage point margin over the 59club global industry average across quarter three. Chris Dowrick of Foxhills took second place once again, after achieving the same success in quarter two, with Sean O’Brien of Stoke Park and Jonathan Hotson of Belton Woods also performing extremely well.

When it comes to the Leading Golf Membership Sales Appointment delivery across Asia, the Middle East & Africa, the relentless high service levels demonstrated were yet again typically impressive. Joe Way retained the title for Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club for a second consecutive quarter with an overall score 30 percentage points higher than the 59club global industry average, which follows on from George Wearden’s success for the club in quarter two.

Another top performer from the Dubai Golf Group was Cian Hurley of The Emirates Golf Club, and in third place, Seby Gomes of Abu Dhabi City Golf Club.

A new title has been introduced to recognise service excellence delivered within the clubhouse, during a golf visitor mystery shopper experience.

The Leading European Food & Beverage accolade goes Jacques Hobson, of The Belfry Hotel & Resort, with a glowing audit, which realised an impressive 26 percentage point advantage over the 59club global industry average. Other top performances across the quarter saw The Dukes, St Andrews and Selsdon Park just 3 percentage points behind the Belfry’s impressive lead, closely followed by Hanbury Manor Marriott Hotel & Country Club and La Manga Club.

Meanwhile, across the MEA & Asia, the Food & Beverage title was awarded to Michael Major and Kevin Toth of Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club with a 24-percentage point lead over the 59club global industry average.

Thai Country Club came close in second place with an impressive podium performance, realised within 12 months of engaging with 59club Asia. In reality, the upturn in service achieved a 1.8M baht (around £30K) uplift in sales during the same period, as quoted by John Blanch, General Manager at Thai Country Club recently whilst attending the PGA show in Phuket. Trump International Dubai and Thana City, Thailand claimed third and fourth places for their Food & Beverage provisions respectively. 

Justine Friedrich, Golf Events Executive – Forest of Arden Marriott Hotel and Country Club, said: This is an amazing present for my first-year work anniversary at the Marriott Forest of Arden. This prize is the result of all the support, patience and sharing knowledge that I have received from my golf team and my managers.” 

Tim Knight, General Manager – Porters Park Golf Club “In a competitive market it is vital that we display a consistent process for managing Membership enquiries and a strong focus on the way which we introduce new members to club life. Working with the 59club during 2019 has supported our efforts in this area and it is fantastic to see that Connor has been recognised for his performance.” 

Jacques Hobson, F&B Outlets Manager – The Belfry Hotel & Resort,said: “Winning this award would have not been possible without the team which I am proud to lead each day. This achievement is a testament to the work ethic they have provided throughout a very busy period. This is a great indicator for the team and I to show that we are delivering exceptional service and playing our part to become the ultimate resort for a 2nd consecutive year.”

Michael Major, Golf Services Manager – Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club, said: “It’s great to see Joe recognised for his individual performance this quarter! On behalf of the club I would like to express how proud we are here at Dubai Creek to have received these two fabulous awards.”

Commenting on the success of each of the winners, Simon Wordsworth, 59club CEO, said: “Congratulations to all award winners – we always knew we had something very special within 59club, and as we have taken our products into new emerging markets, we have been overwhelmed by its response. Each of these awards represent hard work and dedication from each of the winners, the ability of these individuals to affect the venues bottom line, can’t be stressed enough, they are the key figures in getting people through the door to enable the rest of the team to deliver the experience.

“We have seen significant growth over the last 12 months, expanding into American and Asian Markets, whilst further cementing our position in the Middle East & Africa. The expanded horizons of 59club in recent months makes the individual successes of Justine, Connor, Joe, Jacques, Michael and Kevin even more impressive, with a greater number of 59club users vying for these titles. As company, we are very excited about what the future holds for us, as we look ahead to celebrate 10 years of 59club.

59club is the world’s leading customer service & sales analysts and training provider and is set upon raising the service standards of the leisure industry to new highs through the gathering of primary data and implementation of strategic solutions. 59club’s ultimate objective is to transform the revenue performance of its clients by enhancing their approach to customer service and sales. By understanding where strengths and weaknesses lie (information provided via raw consumer data) 59club can help venues implement lasting change to the benefit of their members, guests, staff and revenue.

59CLUB ACCELERATES EXPANSION WITH LAUNCH OF 59CLUB MIDDLE EAST AND AFRICA


59club cements its position in the Middle East and Africa with establishment of local office and formation of dedicated ‘MEA’ division amidst international growth

United Arab Emirates, 13th October, 2019: 59club, the world’s leading specialist customer service & sales analysis and training provider, has enhanced its rapidly accelerating global footprint with the opening of a dedicated office in Dubai, signalling the official launch of 59club Middle East and Africa.

Already, 59club has established and developed relationships with 14 well-known golf resorts in the region, including Dubai Golf, Aldar properties in Abu Dhabi and resorts in Mauritius and Seychelles. Today’s announcement cements 59club’s commitment to the region and recognises its success there by creating the structure for an unrivalled, on the ground service for existing and new clients. It follows the launch of 59club Asia in November 2018 with additional offices set to open in emerging destinations worldwide as demand for 59club’s expertise and intel reaches an all-time high.

As well as a local presence, the development of new spa, F&B and Hotel products will allow 59club MEA to enhance performance within the ever-growing, high-end leisure market the region is famed for. Its market-leading software and assessment criteria provide the resources to improve and maintain ‘sales & service’ etiquette, increasing customer satisfaction, revenue and profits in the process.

The 59club MEA team will consist of Neal Graham and Mark and Sally Bull, who collectively boast more than 30 years’ experience working in the region. During this time, they have established important relationships with key stakeholders within the Golf, Spa and Hospitality industries, which will be pivotal to future success.

Of the launch of 59club Middle East and Africa, 59club CEO, Simon Wordsworth, said: “I’m delighted to announce the launch of our Middle East and Africa division and hugely excited to have Neal, Mark and Sally on board at the helm.

“Boasting some of the finest leisure destinations worldwide, 59club’s growing profile in the UAE and Africa presents the opportunity for operators to enhance their offering even further and ensure the region’s reputation for service is extended. For our clients, this also means business growth and I anticipate an immediate impact under the leadership of our 59club MEA team.”

59club Middle East and Africa Co-Director, Neal Graham, added: “We are excited to enhance the service and offering to our current and potential new clients within the region. The expansion of our products into the Spa and Hospitality areas represents an exciting development and will enable us to utilise the powerful management tool to identify areas of concern and assist clients with training and support. 

“For the first time, it will provide operators with the tools to benchmark their standards against competitors, the industry and some of the leading venues worldwide, which is going to have a tremendous impact on performance.”

Over the past ten years, 59club has taken the industry by storm by providing data-driven solutions and industry benchmarks to address issues of sub-par sales and service performance, to which many leading venues have aligned their principals. 59club’s overarching influence within the Middle East and Africa will drive standards, advance experience and generate greater profitability for each and every commodity within the service industry.

For further details and enquiries, please email: enquries@59clubmea.com

CMAE AND 59CLUB SIGN PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT


The CMAE is delighted to announce a new partnership with leading Sales & Customer Service analysts, 59club. The partnership will see the two organisations work together offering a strong bond between education in management (CMAE) and following that up with analysing Sales & Customer Service (59club).

59club is the market leader in providing customer service analytics and performance measurement programmes. Through modern-day evaluative tools, their presence helps to drive standards of sales etiquette, with the capability to gather crucial performance data and compare themselves against some of the finest member and guest experiences across the golf, leisure, spa, hotel and F&B industries.

Commenting on the partnership, CMAE’s Director of Education Torbjörn Johansson said “59club is becoming a global brand and is also partnering with CMAA. Their product suits us perfectly with a Club/Golf, Leisure & Hospitality specific benchmarking tool in the industry that allows you to not only analyse your own club’s service standards, but also compare your results to the industry standard, elite performing clubs and competitor venues of your choice, a great way to measure how well you are performing in the market. We are very excited and look forward exploring our mutual opportunities.”

Simon Wordsworth, the founder of 59club, has a wealth of experience having worked in the sector for many years at one of the worlds’ most renowned Golf and Leisure resorts.

Commenting on the partnership Simon said: “Our partnership with CMAE is hugely exciting for us. As one of the leading professional associations for the management of golf clubs, there is tremendous cross-over in our mutual clients. With our ability to drive industry standards in an affordable way, in addition to CMAE’s contact base, this will make for a very potent partnership. As such, it should not be long until we see a dramatic improvement in our collective ability to generate positive results across the industry.”

Simon will also be presenting at the CMAE European Conference “The Destination” 17-19th November in Cascais, Portugal, on the subject of how clubs can achieve new service standards to match those of the most prestigious venues worldwide. 

59CLUB BUSINESS INTERFACE NOW AVAILABLE FOR CONCEPT CUSTOMERS


Concept has partnered with 59club to provide its golf, leisure & spa clients with new service analysis intelligence to measure customer satisfaction levels within their businesses via its high-end operations software suites.

Concept users can now benefit from 59club’s expertise, mechanism and freedom to independently deliver customer satisfaction surveys using their industry specific benchmarking assessment criteria, flexible survey templates and automated software.

The new partnership enables the auto-generating functions to remain switched on for mutual affiliated clients – meaning that each time member and guest data is entered into their operations software, 59club will auto-invite the customer to complete the venues bespoke satisfaction survey based on their recent encounter – for example after having joined the club, paid to play, visited the spa or F&B outlet or having relinquished their club membership. The functionality can even track a customer’s experience at significant landmarks during their journey, auto-generating a series of questionnaires, in sequence at set intervals as programmed by the venue, measuring a new member’s experience over a set timeframe as a guide.

With a wealth of survey templates that cover all areas of the hospitality industry and as a result of the two software giant’s new pairing, club staff can now save valuable time delivering surveys, avoiding additional data entry, and elements of human error or resistance are eradicated.

The new interface will go live at one of the most prestigious properties in The UK; The Belfry – with other leading Golf Groups such as Dubai Golf and premier clubs and resorts that includes the likes of Old Thorns, Celtic Manor, Stoke Park, Ramside Hall and Dalmahoy also set to win as a result of the new pairing, with concept looking to roll-out the update to all of its clients very soon.

Chris Reeve, Director of Golf at the Belfry Hotel & Resort, said: “The 59club surveys have been a huge success for us and we are just about to introduce a link between our EPOS [Concept] system which will talk directly to 59club’s software [my59] and provide a survey to anyone that plays a round of golf at The Belfry with a few key questions. This is going to open new doors for us and gives us even more insight into what our customers are looking for and allows us to retain our number one position as the best golf resort in the UK”

The new partnership has been forged to assist venues to improve and maintain sales and service quality, in addition to comparing their internal customer satisfaction levels against 59club’s benchmark; the industry average and the best performing venues globally. Ultimately venues stand to capture more consumer insights than ever before.

Simon Wordsworth, 59club CEO, said: “Our recent partnership with Concept is hugely exciting for 59club. Linking our customer satisfaction survey software with the complete enterprise solution for the world’s leading resorts couldn’t be a better match. Both companies have a focus on being in control; whether that’s assisting clients managing memberships, reservations, POS or business intelligence.

“The addition of ‘real-time’ customer service analysis sees the essential day to day operation of golf, leisure & Spa venues worldwide get a whole lot smarter. As 59club continues to grow with new operations in America, Asia and Europe, I’m looking forward to seeing our collaboration with Concept continue to advance service excellence standards across the industry globally”.

Concept, a Shiji Group Brand, offers its users with leisure software for spas, clubs, resorts, and golf courses. The Concept Golf product is a complete enterprise solution for the world’s leading golf resorts and venues and caters for all software needs for golf operations.

Malcolm Rennie, Commercial Manager of Concept, said: “This new relationship and integration with 59club is so exciting for us. The cross-over between our mutual clients is staggering and we were delighted to see so many of Concept’s customers being recognised at 59club’s annual awards ceremony. We can’t wait to rollout this integration to new and existing clients and see the positive results.” 


For more information on 59club, visit: www.59club.com
For more information on Concept, visit www.concept.shijigroup.com

59CLUB FOOD PARTNERS WITH DRAUGHT COCKTAIL INNOVATOR GUNNERS TO DRIVE F&B SERVICE STANDARDS


59club, the industry’s leading Sales & Customer Service analysts, with more than 12 years’ experience in the hospitality sector, has announced a partnership with the UK’s premier draught cocktail brand, Gunners.

59club’s unrivalled mystery shopper audits and customer satisfaction surveys launched to the Food & Beverage sector in the spring in order to provide comprehensive & totally objective on-line reports, which measure the customer experience in four distinct types of food delivery. They are “Food to go”, “Quick Service”, “Gastro/Brasserie” and “Premium Dining” with supplementary training services available. Each food outlet tested has the option to choose the competitors that they would like to be ranked against, with the objective being to ensure that 59club maximises the commercial opportunity and provide support where necessary. 59club food services play a vital part in ensuring that the desired sales & service standards are achieved.

Further plans set to advance sales & service levels within the Food industry include the launch of an ‘F&B Service Excellence’ qualification for customer facing staff in late 2019. To enable the rapid growth of service & sales performance management tools that are driving standards across the industry, 59club has created a small network of Food & Beverage Partners who share the common goals of wanting to develop products and services that serve to enhance customer experience. Gunners are the first major supporter of this initiative and have put a great offering together for golf clubs to have the drink available to members and guests on draught, in bottle and by portable dispense.

Established in 1842, Gunners is famed for being a distinctive non-alcoholic cocktail. Gunners ‘Saint’, one of the most refreshing summer drinks, includes Ginger Beer, Ginger Ale, Angostura Bitters and a twist of lime, always served over ice. Gunners ‘Saint’ is now accompanied by Gunners ‘Sinner’; a modern, darker version of the classic drink that comes complete with a shot of dark rum, to add a little more punch (4.5% abv). Rather than being hand mixed behind the bar, both drinks are now available in pre-mixed packaging and poured through modern dispense equipment, so that a perfect serve is achieved, every time, in a fraction of the time.

The new pairing has since seen the refreshing, British taste of Gunners added to The Belfry Hotel & Resort, one of the most popular golfing venues in the UK. The fit forged around quality, affords the perfect accompaniment of beverages to meet the demands of both the traditional and modern-day golfer. 59club’s rich heritage in golf saw an early paring with the 4-time Ryder cup host venue some 12 years ago. This year the Resort was crowned 59club’s Ultimate Golf Resort in the 9th annual Service Excellence Awards Ceremony hosted in March 2019 at St Andrews, Scotland – the home of golf.

Simon Wordsworth, CEO of 59club said; “We look forward to a successful partnership with Gunners, set on advancing customer service levels across golf resorts, hotel chains, restaurants and bars. If that wasn’t enough, perhaps to see the famous drink pave its way into more golf bars around the globe will be something we all toast at the first 59club Food Service Excellence Awards Ceremony.”

Whether you favour the ‘Saint’ or the ‘Sinner’, visit www.gunnerscocktails.co.uk to find out more about this unique

cocktail.

For more information about 59club’s sales & service performance management tools, contact Mike Bell for all F&B related enquires at mbell@59clubfood.com and Matt Roberts for Golf, Leisure, Spa & Hotels at matt@59club.com

Suppliers interested in partnering with 59club to further advance sales & service within the hospitality industry are urged to contact Paul Walker on behalf of 59club who can be contacted on paulwalker@pwcl.co.uk.

GOLF CLUB SUCCESS STORIES


At a very basic level, as golf professionals, whichever direction our career has taken, we all aim to offer the best products and services to our customers. We all inspire to deliver the level of professionalism that our PGA training instilled within us. The pro who thinks smarter, who sets their own agenda to push the boundaries to achieve success, is the pro who stands to win the most!

THE GOLF INDUSTRY’S LEADING SERVICE PROVIDERS REWARDED AT 9TH ANNUAL 59CLUB AWARDS


High-profile venues across the world recognised for service excellence in glitzy ceremony at the Home of Golf . 

The golf industry’s very best clubs, resorts and individuals last night descended on St Andrews, The Home of Golf, for the 9th annual 59club Service Excellence Awards. A day which started with a golf tournament on the Jubilee and iconic Old Course, ended in a celebratory awards ceremony at The Old Course Hotel, within the Hall of Champions.

The Belfry Hotel & Resort and Emirates Golf Club picked up the highest prized awards of the evening, The Ultimate Golf Resort and Ultimate Members’ Club. The Belfry Hotel also scooped a ‘Gold Flag’ and three other awards, including Chris Reeve being crowned UK ‘Golf Manager of the year’ based on their PGA National Course audits, and Angus MacLeod crowned UK Greenkeeper of the Year in recognition of The Brabazon Course, for the second consecutive year.  

Dubai Golf-managed venues were left revelling on the night, with Emirates Golf Club collecting four awards, while Dubai Creek went one better claiming five, including both the Leisure Membership and overseas Golf Membership Sales Teams of the Year. Dubai Golf were also awarded Golf Group of the Year, both venues awarded ‘Gold Flags’, whilst Stephen Hubner of Dubai Creek crowned overseas Golf Manager of the Year for the second year running. Upon collecting 10 total awards on behalf of venues across the Dubai Golf portfolio, Chris May, CEO, said: “We are absolutely delighted to have achieved such success here at the 59club Service Excellence Awards, and it is with much personal pride that I was able to collect so many accolades on behalf of Emirates Golf Club and Dubai Creek, as well as the sought after Golf Group of the year title. “The expertise, information and staff training support that 59club has provided us over the years has become a mainstay of our business, and has allowed us to deliver a consistently high level of customer service across our entire group operation. We pride ourselves on being amongst the very best venues in terms of the visitor and member experience in world golf.” 

The awards, which recognised the leading golf venues that consistently achieve ‘service excellence’ across all areas of their businesses – sales, service, operations, retail, golf course, food & beverage and management – are determined by scores collected from an independent visitor panel who evaluate the experience presented to both visiting golfers and prospective members, all in accordance with 59club’s industry leading, non-subjective benchmarking criteria.   

To ensure venues of all sizes are recognised for their outstanding levels of achievement, 59club introduced two categories for selected individual and team awards, thus segmenting clubs who charge an average green fee of either above or below £75.  This ensures clubs of all sizes and budgets have the chance to receive the credit they deserve, based on the market segment they have chosen to compete in.Chris Reeve, Belfry Hotel and Resort Director of Golf, said: “I am extremely proud to have received such a prestigious accolade, which underlines our commitment to deliver the highest levels of customer service and unforgettable experiences for all of our guests. “The award recognises all the hard work that each individual has contributed towards realising our vision for the future of golf at The Belfry. From the greenkeepers to the bar and kitchen staff, every member of the team is committed to service excellence and does a fantastic job; they are the driving force behind our success. “This win not only demonstrates the achievements of our team, but also signifies the benefits of our work with 59club, and this would not have been possible without our close working relationship with them. I am looking forward to the year ahead and continuing to build upon the resort’s illustrious reputation.” 59club’s Gold, Silver and Bronze Flag Awards, the Industry Benchmark, are a highlight for many. These highly prized accolades recognise member clubs and resorts that provided excellent facilities for golfers to enjoy, as well as having achieved the required standard of customer service throughout 2018. This year, 59club presented 19 ‘Gold Flags’. The deserving winners were: Forest of Arden, Foxhills, Yas Links, The Dukes St Andrews, Monte Rei, Celtic Manor Resort, The Grove, The Belfry Hotel & Resort, Gleneagles, Rockcliffe Hall, Son Muntaner, Royal GC Bahrain, Stoke Park, Abu Dhabi GC, Trump International Dubai, Dubai Creek, Emirates GC, Saadiyat Beach GC and Roehampton Club. Los Naranjos were the only venue to receive a ‘Silver Flag’, while 12 ‘Bronze Flag’ Awards were presented to Forest Pines, Slaley Hall, La Manga Club, Castelconturbia, Worsley Park, Club de Golf Alcanada, Frilford Heath GC, Hanbury Manor, Gullane GC, Woodhall Spa, Royal Automobile Club and Sandy Lodge GC. Philomena Wilkinson (Forest of Arden) received the Award for the ‘Leading Individual UK Golf Membership Sales Performance’.

Forest of Arden had further reason to celebrate by winning the ‘Golf Sales Team of the Year’, being awarded a ‘Gold Flag’ and Simon Howell claiming the ‘Golf Retail Manager of the Year’ UK award in the over £75 green fee category. These successes for the Marriott Golf Group culminated in a total of 9 awards throughout the night which included a Bronze Flag for Hanbury Manor, Breadsall Priory claiming UK Golf Membership Sales Teams of the Year, and Worsley Park earning themselves a Bronze Flag and UK Golf Operation Team of the Year for the under £75 category. Meanwhile, alongside a Gold Flag, Trump International, Dubai were also crowned overseas Golf Operation Team of the Year. Special acknowledgement should be reserved for Royal GC Bahrain, which claimed two individual awards Paul Gindra and Candice Hall for Overseas Food & Beverage Manager of the Year, and Jamie Faulkner and William Evans for Overseas Greenkeeper of the Year, and also a Gold Flag Designation. In recognition for venues which have shown continued commitment to engage, analyse and enrich their member and guest experience, utilising a collateral of survey tools across 59club’s ‘my59’ software platform, 19 ‘my59 Awards’ were presented. Recipients included Ashburnham GC, Colchester GC, Dalmahoy Hotels & CC, Dunscar GC, Ferndown GC, Gog Magog GC, King’s Lynn GC, Langland Bay GC, Maxstoke Park GC, Old Thorns GC, Orsett GC, Radyr GC, Sherborne GC, Stoke Park, St Ives (Hunts) GC, The Scandinavian and The Vale Resort. Two venues received distinction in this category – Celtic Manor Resort and Macdonald Hotels.Other prestigious award winners on the night included Houssem Belabed (Gleneagles) claiming the UK Food & Beverage Manager title within the under £75 category, while Ben Hunt (Rockliffe Hall) received the same accolade within the over £75. Matt Aplin (Goring & Streatley) was crowned the UK Greenkeeper, with Sandy Smith (Ladybank) receiving UK Golf Retail Manager, both within the under £75 greenfee category. The Grove had reason to celebrate success, retaining their Gold Flag status, Brad Gould claimed the UK Golf Manager title, and the Resort crowned UK Golf Operation Team of the Year, both within the over £75 greenfee category. Of this year’s awards, Simon Wordsworth, CEO at 59club, commented: “St Andrews Old Course Hotel has not disappointed in providing an exciting and memorable evening celebrating our 9th Annual Service Excellence Awards. The winners have all showcased the very best client experiences possible, a trait that will consistently see them advance standards across the industry and ensure they stay at the forefront of the golf and hospitality industry.“The team at 59club has consistently pushed the boundaries with customer service standards and thanks to our proven benchmarking tools and training support, the success stories amongst our client base continue to grow. “I’d like to congratulate all of our winners, nominees and venues we work with, who continue to dedicate themselves to delivering the best experiences possible for their members and guests.”

GOLF INDUSTRY LEADERS TO BE RECOGNISED AT THE HOME OF GOLF IN 59CLUB’S SERVICE EXCELLENCE AWARDS


The very best individuals, teams and venues in golf unveiled for 9th annual awards celebrating excellence in sales, service, operations, retail and management

The nominations for the 59club Service Excellence Awards have today been revealed, with some of the highest-profile and best-loved venues across the globe in the running for a golf industry sales and service excellence ‘Oscar’.

The glittering affair, to be staged this year at The Old Course Hotel, St Andrews, will see the good and the great of the golf industry come together to honor individuals, teams and venues for their industry-leading performance in sales, service, operations, retail and management. The evening will be hosted by Alan Tait, on course commentator for BBC Radio Scotland and 59club’s very own Area Manager for the North of England and Scotland.

In a shake up to the historic awards format, and to reflect their international appeal as 59club continues to extend its footprint overseas, seven new categories have been introduced, ensuring the ceremony continues to reflect the very best performances, regardless of size, scale or location at home and abroad.

For 2019, an ‘overseas’ category has been introduced to no fewer than seven awards: Golf Membership Sales Team of the Year, Leading Individual Golf Membership Performance, Golf Operation Team of the Year, Golf Retail Manager of the Year, Food and Beverage Manager of the Year, Greenkeeper of the Year and Golf Manager of the Year. As has been the case in recent years, five of these seven will be further segmented, creating two categories for UK nominees in each, based upon average green fees; above or below £75 per person.

The awards are determined by scores collected from an independent visitor panel who evaluate the experience afforded to visiting golfers and prospective members in accordance with 59club’s non-subjective benchmarking criteria. Each venue is judged on performance in the following areas: sales, service, operations, retail, golf course, food & beverage and management.

The Belfry and Dubai Creek are the frontrunners among this year’s nominees, each of which is up for 11 nominations. The four-time Ryder Cup venue can boast a return to the reckoning for The Ultimate Golf Resort – a title it last picked up back in 2014 – Golf Operation Team of the Year and Greenkeeper of the Year, the latter courtesy of 2018 title-holder Angus Macleod’s re-nomination.

Dubai Creek, meanwhile, will see three team members go head-to-head for just one prize, as Dougie Gair, Michael Major and George Wearden compete for the Leading Individual Leisure Membership Performance. No surprise, then, that George Wearden is also up for the Leading Individual Golf Membership Performance and Dubai Creek, the Golf Membership Team of the Year (Overseas).

Emirates Golf Club follows closely behind on 10 nominations, including the potential for collective glory in two categories: Golf Membership Sales Team of the Year – Overseas and Leisure Membership Sales Team of the Year. Forest of Arden is a short way further back with the potential for success in eight categories, which include a return to contention for two-time winner and reigning champion, Simon Howell, for the Golf Retail Manager of the year – Over £75 green fee category.

Other globally-recognised venues to receive multiple nominations include: Abu Dhabi Golf Club, Ashburnham Golf Club, Breadsall Priory, Celtic Manor, The Dukes St Andrews, Forest Pines, Foxhills, Gleneagles, last year’s Host; The Grove, Ladybank Golf Club, Macdonald Hotels, Monte Rei, Old Thorns, Royal Automobile Club, Rockliffe Hall, Royal Golf Club Bahrain, Sandy Lodge Golf Club, Saadiyat Beach Golf Club, Stoke Park, Trump International Dubai and Worsley Park.

Another new introduction to the night’s proceedings will see 59club bestow accolades upon venues for their commitment to engage, analyse and enrich their member and guest experience, utilising a collateral of survey tools across the my59 software platform. 19 venues will be recognised within this category, including: Colchester Golf Club, Dunscar Golf Club, Ferndown Golf Club, Gog Magog Golf Club, King’s Lynn Golf Club, Langland Bay Golf Club, Maxstoke Park Golf Club, Orsett Golf Club, Radyr Golf Club, Sherbourne Golf Club, St Ives (Hunts) Golf Club, The Scandinavian and The Vale Resort. The 19 venues will all compete to win an Ultimate Service Excellence accolade.

Always a highlight of proceedings among attending guests, the evening will also see the 59club Industry Benchmark, its Gold, Silver and Bronze Flag Awards, presented to golf resorts and private members clubs which have demonstrated distinction against broad criteria for both service and the quality of their facilities.

Looking ahead to a glittering evening in St Andrews, Simon Wordsworth, chief executive of 59club and a Fellow of the PGA, said: “Over the past 12 months, 59club members have again shown an incredible commitment to providing their members and guest with the golf industry’s highest service standards, and what better way to reward them than with what promises to be an evening to remember in St Andrews.

“There is no doubt 2019 has been the most impressive year on record, with many of the categories far too close to call. More than this, however, the evening will stand as recognition of those individuals and teams who go above and beyond to ensure the experiences they provide are nothing short of exceptional. Our awards are a tribute to their tireless work and we can’t wait to join our guests in their celebrations.”

The 59club Awards are supported by: 3d-ifs, CGI Insurance, Golf Genius, Golfbreaks.com, Tacit, Toro, Club Car, Kennet, The PGA, England Golf, GCMA, Performance54, Albatross Digital Golf, BIGGA, Clubface-golf, Swatkins, Colt Mackenzie McNair, Foresight Sports, Crossover, Foremost, Golf Retailing, Golftell Member App, Design Elegance, Fluid Productions, PlayMoreGolf and Course Mate.

To book a place at the awards evening taking place at The Old Course Hotel, St Andrews, on March 13, please contact: naime@theaspirationgroup.com

For more information about 59club, visit www.59club.com.

2018/19 59CLUB ‘SERVICE EXCELLENCE’ AWARD NOMINATIONS (in alphabetical order by venue):

Leading Individual Golf Sales Performance:

Damion Gee (Ashburnham GC), Jack Bowen (The Belfry Hotel & Resort), Rachel Alford (Breadsall Priory), Joel Westwell (The Grove), Ben Stokes (Macdonald Hotels), Jennifer Jefferies (Stoke Park)

Golf Sales Team of the Year:

Ashburnham GC, Breadsall Priory, Forest of Arden, Macdonald Hotels, Stoke Park, Woodhall Spa

Golf Membership Sales Team of the Year – Overseas:

Dubai Creek, Emirates GC, Trump International Dubai, Yas Links

Golf Membership Sales Team of the Year – UK:

Breadsall Priory, Forest of Arden, Foxhills, Herons Reach, The Mere, Ramside Hall,

Leading Individual Golf Membership Performance – Overseas:

George Wearden (Dubai Creek), Rhys James (Emirates GC), Beatrice Wambua (Trump International, Dubai), Khay-Gie Aniciete (Yas Links)

Leading Individual Golf Membership Performance – UK:

Luke Speed (Breadsall Priory), Philomena Wilkinson (Forest of Arden), Aditi Auluck (Foxhills), Helen Roseberry (Ramside Hall), Ashley Freeman (Rockliffe Hall), Philip Stickler (St Pierre)

Leisure Membership Sales Team of the Year:

Celtic Manor Resort, Cranleigh G&CC, Dubai Creek, Emirates GC, Old Thorns, The Vale Resort

Leading Individual Leisure Membership Performance:

Dougie Gair (Dubai Creek), Michael Major (Dubai Creek), George Wearden (Dubai Creek), Cian Hurley (Emirates GC),
Andy Meech (Emirates GC), Emma Jenkins (Old Thorns)

Golf Operation Team of the Year – Overseas:

Abu Dhabi GC, Dubai Creek, Emirates GC, Monte Rei, Saadiyat Beach GC, Trump International Dubai

Golf Operation Team of the Year – Under £75 green fee:

The Belfry Hotel & Resort (The PGA National Course), Dalmahoy Resort, Forest Pines, Rockliffe Hall, Sandy Lodge GC, Worsley Park

Golf Operation Team of the Year – Over £75 green fee:

The Belfry Hotel & Resort (The Brabazon Course), Celtic Manor Resort (The 2010 Course), The Dukes St Andrews, Forest of Arden (The Arden Course), Foxhills, The Grove

Golf Retail Manager of the Year – Overseas:

Giovanni Malcotti (Castelconturbia), Gregorio Gonzales (Dubai Creek), Juan Kramer (Emirates GC), James Durkin (Saadiyat Beach GC), Carmen Laguna (Son Muntaner), Sven Nielsen (Trump International, Dubai)

Golf Retail Manager of the Year – Under £75 green fee:

Tom Hughes (The Belfry Hotel & Resort, PGA National Course), Gordon Robinson (Cardrona), Sandy Smith (Ladybank GC), Jonny Dye (Rockliffe Hall), Jeff Pinsent (Sandy Lodge GC), James Lambert (Worsley Park) 

Golf Retail Manager of the Year – Over £75 green fee:

Tom Hughes (The Belfry Hotel & Resort, The Brabazon Course), Simon Howell (Forest of Arden, The Arden Course), Sean Graham (Foxhills), Mike Shrieve (The Grove), Alasdair Good (Gullane GC), Tim Harris (Stoke Park)

Food and Beverage Manager of the Year – Overseas:

Sandeep Pandey (Abu Dhabi GC), Francois Roldan (Dubai Creek), Steen Simon (Emirates GC), Gloria Cortés (La Manga), Angélique Monteiro (Monte Rei), Candice Hall & Paul Gindra (Royal GC, Bahrain)

Food and Beverage Manager of the Year – Under £75 green fee:

Jacques Hobson (The Belfry, PGA National Course), Caroline Lees (Ladybank GC), Moses Solomon (Royal Automobile Club), Ben Hunt (Rockliffe Hall), Andrew Williams (The Vale Resort), Chris Dinnage (Worsley Park)

Food and Beverage Manager of the Year – Over £75 green fee:

Jacques Hobson (The Belfry, The Brabazon Course), Martyn Woods (Celtic Manor Resort, The 2010 Course), Matthew Penman (The Dukes, St Andrews), Houssem Belabed (Gleneagles), Christian Schindler (Hanbury Manor), Christian Tarca (Stoke Park)

Greenkeeper of the Year – Overseas:

Matthew Perry (Dubai Creek), Matthew Perry (Emirates GC), Joao Goula (Monte Rei), Jamie Faulkner & William Evans (Royal GC, Bahrain), Clinton Southorn (Saadiyat Beach GC), Ben Griffiths (Trump International, Dubai)

Greenkeeper of the Year – Under £75 green fee:

Paul Hopkins (Ashburnham GC), Jamie Wade (The Belfry, PGA National Course), Matt Aplin (Goring & Streatley GC), Colin Powrie (Ladybank GC), Jon Wyer (Rockliffe Hall), Ian Brawn (Worsley Park)

Greenkeeper of the Year – Over £75 green fee:

Angus Macleod (The Belfry, The Brabazon Course), Jim McKenzie (Celtic Manor, The 2010 Course), Rob Rowson (Forest of Arden, The Arden Course), Scott Fenwick & Craig Haldane (Gleneagles, Kings Course), Phillip Chiverton  (The Grove), Ashley Allpress (Roehampton Club)

Golf Manager of the Year – Overseas:

Francisco de Lancastre David (Abu Dhabi GC), Stephen Hubner (Dubai Creek), Rhys James (Emirates GC), Darren Griffiths (Monte Rei), Phil Waine (formerly Royal GC, Bahrain), Francisco de Lancastre David (Saadiyat Beach GC)

Golf Manager of the Year – Under £75 green fee:

Chris Reeve (The Belfry, PGA National Course), Fraser Liston (Forest of Arden, The Aylesford Course), Matthew Peacock (Forest Pines), Jason Neve (Royal Automobile Club), Ben Stockman (Sandy Lodge GC), Stephen Hindle (Worsley Park)

Golf Manager of the Year – Over £75 green fee:

Chris Reeve (The Belfry, The Brabazon Course), Will Hewitt (formerly Celtic Manor Resort), Ayden Roberts-Jones (The Dukes, St Andrews), Fraser Liston (Forest of Arden, The Arden Course), Gary Silcock (Gleneagles), Brad Gould (The Grove)

Golf Group of the Year:

Almarose Group, Arabella Golf, Dubai Golf, Foxhills Collection, Macdonald Hotels, Marriott Golf.

my59 Service Excellence Award:

Ashburnham GC, Celtic Manor Resort, Colchester GC, Dalmahoy Hotels & CC, Dunscar GC, Ferndown GC, Gog Magog GC, King’s Lynn GC, Langland Bay GC, Macdonald Hotels, Maxstoke Park GC, Old Thorns GC,  Orsett GC, Radyr GC, Sherbourne GC, Stoke Park, St Ives (Hunts) GC, The Scandinavian and The Vale Resort.

59club Dazzle in Dubai, assisting UAE clubs to do members & club life best…

59club Director, Mark Reed is back from his Tour of the UAE where he has been busy corrupting the teams at Dubai Golf & Yas Links empowering them to convert more member sales and retain more club members.  

Training has focused on the exact same ‘59club membership sales procedures’ that assisted one of the largest golf group in the UK increase their membership sales performance by 77% in year 1, and 90% in year 4.  

Yas Links is fairly new to 59club after calling on their expertise last year, but the teams wasted no time in getting to grips with the 59club sales and service principals.  

Howie Roberts, Yas Links General Manager was quick to acknowledge the positive impact that 59club has had on staff performance and the way he manages his business when it comes to visiting golfers, members and prospective members.  

“I am confident that when a golfer visits Yas Links that everything we do has been carefully planned, that the service we offer is guaranteed and that when it comes to our bottom line we are doing well. 59club has assisted us to breakdown the customer journey and scrutinise the minuscule to make a big impact.  

Marks training day with the team put the icing on the cake for us, he gave them new focus, ignited the fire in their bellies and has given them new direction and a process that we now need to follow in order to excel.  We are already looking forward to Marks return trip as we constantly strive to do better”.

The team at Dubai Golf have worked with 59club to develop their sales performance & service etiquette for the past 5years where both The Emirates Golf Club & Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club as a result are witnessing some of the best membership conversion and retention rates that the group has ever seen.   

Chris May, Dubai Golf CEO said “Having Mark deliver the training to the team has given them a heightened perspective of the standards that we expect from our staff and the service that our members and guests deserve.  

It’s truly inspirational to see Marks passion and vision for wanting to create the best experience for our members from the very moment they join. The team are literally buzzing and can’t wait to incorporate 59clubs sales and service tactics into ‘club life’.  

59club Director Mark Reed added, “When members choose to join these forward thinking clubs, reassuringly they will never be treated like ‘a number’. These clubs work hard to assist members integrate into club life and guarantee to make their life as a member experience the very best”.  

Dubai Golf famously collected the ‘Golf Group of the year’ Award at the 2016 ‘59club Sales & Service Awards Ceremony’ famously regarded as the ‘Oscars’ of the golf industry. The Creek was honoured with the ‘Ultimate Golf Members Award’ and The Emirates went on to collect the 59club Gold Flag Award, further demonstrating the groups commitment to providing the best experience for visiting golfers and their members who are lucky enough to call Dubai Golf their club!  

59clubs UK Sales, Service and Retention Roadshow’, coming to a club near you, takes place between the 5th and 8th of December 2016. The 59club Directors will empower you to convert more member sales & maximise member and visitor revenue. Whilst the infamous American, Gregg Patterson, will excite & entertain as he discusses the BUZZ, the LOVE and the GLOW enlarging and enriching the service experience.  

Contact 59club for further information on this must attend event aimed at Owners, Managers, Directors of Golf and all aspiring future managers – come and be enlightened!