Head Golf Professional Profile: Point O Woods Golf & Country Club Benton Harbor, MI

Transcription

1 Head Golf Professional Profile: Point O Woods Golf & Country Club Benton Harbor, MI Point O' Woods is a full service private country club located in Benton Harbor in the southwest corner of Michigan. The club is just minutes away from Lake Michigan, 45 minutes from South Bend and two hours from Chicago. The 18-hole golf course, designed by Robert Trent Jones Sr., has received top 100 rankings in both Golf Week and Golf Digest. Mr. Robert Trent Jones Sr. called the "Point" "perhaps my best American course." Once the perennial home of the Western Amateur, Point O' Woods hosted many of golf's greatest players including Jack Nicklaus, Tom Weiskopf, Ben Crenshaw, Curtis Strange, Hal Sutton, Chris DiMarco, Justin Leonard, Phil Mickelson, Tiger Woods, Ryan Moore, Danny Lee, and many other PGA tour professionals. The Western Amateur returns to the Point in The Benton Harbor area is also host to the PGA Senior Tour Championship in 2014, 2016 and 2018 and our close cooperation with the tournament sponsor affords additional tournament exposure to our head golf professional. In July 2013, Point O Woods opened its new clubhouse to replace their iconic but aging original building. The new clubhouse compliments the quality and experience of their golf course. With a variety of excellent dining and entertaining facilities available at the clubhouse members have the opportunity to host parties, business meetings and special events of all kinds.

2 The membership s primary interest is golf. The club has always had an active and extensive caddy program. Club tournaments and a successful junior golf program are important activities at the club. Members also enjoy Junior and Adult tennis programs. A large pool with lessons and activities for children and adults is offered throughout the summer. The Club Cottages at the Point O Woods Golf and Country Club are of unmatched quality and can be rented by the day, week, or any length of time that best suits member s needs. The Club Cottages resemble European-style manors with vaulted ceilings, lavish woodwork, fieldstone fireplaces, private patios and breathtaking views of the golf course. An atmosphere of calm, unhurried beauty greets guests inside each cottage. The History of Point O' Woods In 1954, five twin cities area residents met informally and voiced the opinion that a new country club was needed for the greater St. Joseph- Benton Harbor area. Those initially interested in the project were C.E. (Bud) Blake, Charles W. Gore, Richard Merrill, Malcolm Ross and Frederick S. Upton. About that time, approximately 350 acres of land, owned by Donald H. Ross, became available for such a project. Robert Trent Jones, one of the leading golf course architects of the country, was contacted and asked if he would inspect the location to decide whether it had sufficient possibilities for development into a fine golf course. After careful study of the terrain, he reported enthusiastically that it was an ideal location for a championship 18-hole course. The rolling terrain and trees provided interest and beauty to the contemplated golf course, and the lake was an ideal source of water supply for fairways and greens. Jones was then instructed to prepare a tentative layout for the course. The five "founders" devoted many hours of work to make the new course a reality. After about a year of investigation and planning, financing was obtained and Jones was instructed to proceed with final plans for the golf course. In the spring of 1957, the first bulldozer arrived on the scene to start shaping the Point O' Woods golf course. Building progress was rapid, and during the months that followed, land was cleared, fairways were formed, and in the fall of 1957, seed was sown. On June 14, 1958, the course, which only 14 months earlier had been rugged woodland, was opened for play. It was recognized from the start that the course was a great one. Golf legends such as touring professionals Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus have played the course. Comments are the same: "One of the truly great courses in America." That reputation continues to grow. Golf Week magazine consistently rates the Point O' Woods among the top 100 in the nation, and it is one of the only courses in Michigan to make the select list. The Western Amateur From 1971 through 2008, Point O' Woods was the home of the Western Amateur Golf Tournament. Some of professional golf's top players have been a part of the Western Am at the Point, including Phil Mickelson, Tiger

3 Woods, Chris DiMarco, Justin Leonard, Scott Verplank, and more. The Point and Western Am have also seen a few celebrities, including Michael Jordan. The Western Amateur has been a prestigious national tournament since its founding in Many of the great names in golf have won the Western Amateur. Many more have competed in the championship but were unable to conquer the grueling test that is the Western Amateur. Head Golf Professional Position The Head Golf Professional (HGP) will report to the Board of Directors as part of a three member senior management team (Club Manager, Head Golf Professional, and Superintendent). The HGP has clear ownership for day-to-day golf operations of Point O Woods Golf & Country Club (POW). He/She is responsible to ensure that these operations are consistently managed and run with an especially strong member and guest focus, and to be highly visible and interactive, leading this operation with enthusiasm and engagement commensurate with the strong golf centric culture at POW. This includes all member touch point areas of outside operations, range and practice areas, caddy services, shop services and tournament and activity play, among others, as well as being sincerely cooperative and interactive with the clubhouse operation and golf course maintenance, with whom you regularly interact as part of the senior management team. The Head Golf Professional is expected to provide motivated and passionate leadership to his/her team, and fellow management team members relative to key golf events and activities programming. The HGP will recognize the need to lead in balancing multiple member inputs, personal interests and levels of golf ability, and the Club s business and financial objectives. Keeping the golf program fresh, innovative and relevant are critical expectations of the new HGP. Golf is the key amenity at POW. The need to ensure that all elements of the golf experience are fun and organized is critical, as is the need for someone to ensure that all members are enthused about the program and their involvement. The HGP is the face of golf at POW. While being a an excellent instructor and a good player is important, being the proactive ambassador and leader of hospitality, committed to service excellence for both members and guests, and ensuring that his/her team---from bag drop to shop to assistant professionals---consistently understands and delivers this commitment, is most important to long term success. The golf experience is the strongest element of member recruitment, retention and satisfaction at Point O Woods Golf & Country Club, and as such needs a HGP who is highly visible and approachable, communicating and understanding

4 expectations to necessary constituencies (staff, members, etc.) and executing upon it once in effect. Active involvement with both the women and men s golf groups is a critical success factor. His/her assertive hospitality approach must be intuitive and easily followed and emulated by the rest of the POW golf operations team. Working in close conjunction with the Club Manager, the HGP must be capable of making thoughtful, necessary, sometimes difficult decisions, considering what is in the overall best interests of the Club while meeting the success factors of the Club. Being able to respectfully communicate with the membership, encouraging greater participation in the golf operation because of the visible passion for the game, and excellence of delivery of services, is an important expectation. The ability to grow participation and interaction among different components of the membership is a critical success factor. Balancing group play objectives with reasonableness and inclusion of all members, regardless of handicap or gender, is a critical and necessary skill set of the new HGP. In addition to leading all golf operations, the HGP will work closely and cooperatively in the preparation of annual golf operating and capital budgets. He/She will work with the senior management team and Board of Directors to identify annual initiatives and budget objectives, presenting plans and recommendations to the appropriate groups for approval. These plans will be backed with reasoned, well-conceived tactics, which he/she will be accountable to attain. The HGP assists in the Club s long range planning process and also identifies and recommends opportunities that would improve the golf program and experience. The Head Golf Professional, working in conjunction with the Club Manager, is also responsible for membership recruitment, retention, and onboarding and integrating new members into the club culture. Point O Woods Golf & Country Club has a strong golf culture and the course is highly regarded nationally. While the position is year-round and full time in nature, all club facilities are open to member access nine months per year (closed January, February & March) and requires passionate, visible, and engaged leadership from the Head Golf Professional. The new HGP will need to have the maturity to lead effectively in a very hands on, small staff operation with active membership involvement. Critical and Necessary Qualifications; Key Characteristics A Team Builder who has a history of attracting, developing and retaining a high performance golf staff, and ensuring that they consistently meet well defined service standards. This is especially important in this highly seasonal operation, and there is a strong desire to have a Head Golf Professional who has developed a strong relationship with a golf management school, and/or is able to attract and develop an active intern program.

5 An intuitive, personable style resulting in a sincere and visibly engaged presence with Members, Guests and Staff. Playing with members on a regular basis is an important part of this role, especially as it relates to then being able to help connect members with like styles and playing abilities, and with other and new members in order to quickly integrate them into this wonderful club membership. Able to develop a training and on-boarding plan for new and existing staff members so that everyone clearly knows what is expected of them and how to deliver upon that goal. Someone with the ability to quickly engage members and get them enthused about golf, their enjoyment of the game at POW, and who provide relevant, fresh and desirable programs for club members. General Qualifications, Traits, Skills and Competencies & Experience Candidates for this position must have a minimum of five years of top golf professional experience, preferably in a private, member owned club. Having already been a Head Professional would be very desirable. Alternatively, a candidate may be an experienced assistant ready to step up. In any event, this person must have a record of working closely and successfully with active golf committees and club senior management and a career track that demonstrates a record of tenure as well as a commitment to a career in golf management. Preferably, a college graduate with a Bachelor s Degree in Business Administration or Golf Management with a minimum of 5 years of experience in a similar, private, well-respected, member-owned club with a verifiably great reputation in golf operations. A verifiable record of working closely and successfully with a member owned club with active Committees. Good communication skills are a must both as an instructor and golf operations manager to promote the game to all constituencies of the club. Personal presence and verbal skills must be appropriate for a discerning membership. A confident, diplomatic and competent professional who is a doer and take-charge person, who also recognizes the importance of accountability. A proven leader and professional with a diverse skills and competencies base, encompassing a multitude of critical areas necessary for success, including but not limited to: staff development, organizational skills, management and coaching, merchandising expertise, outside services, caddy programs, strong written and verbal communication skills, interpersonal skills, drive, integrity and respectful diplomacy. A golf professional and person who brings out the very best in those around him/her by setting clear goals and expectations, providing consistent feedback and support, and who is respectful and consummately professional in all interpersonal dealings.

6 A good player who appropriately represents the Club in day-to-day member play. An excellent golf instructor, who personifies an appropriate style and desire to help members regularly improve their play and further enjoy the game; Point O Woods has an active lesson tee, but the expectation is that the Head Golf Professional recognizes the need and an appropriate balance of time in this area along with running the golf operation and being highly visible and engaged with members. Having a record of developing strong assistants is critical, as is getting them involved and supported in providing member lessons. A creative innovator of new or improved member events and activities, who is further able to effectively convey those ideas to others for support and the ability to work with the senior management team and club leaders to ensure successful golf programs and events. A person with proven follow through skills and a history of responsiveness and proactive leadership in his/her golf operation. A professional possessive of strong organizational skills and an obsession with all things golf, covering the details necessary to consistently achieve high levels of quality, satisfaction and outstanding member experiences. Experience dealing with a seasonal golf operation where staff needs to be ready once the season commences; there is no on the job training for the team in this role, but rather a need for fully trained and prepared team members from the start of each season. An individual who possesses a style and presence, in addition to personal and professional integrity, commensurate with the culture of Point O Woods Golf & Country Club---a small, close knit group of members and staff who enjoy the golf centric low-key nature of their Club. A personable individual with a sense of humor and style that is commensurately appropriate with the culture and expectations of a friendly, fun and supportive membership and staff prepared to serve them. Possessing of PGA Class A Certification status. Salary: Compensation includes a base competitive for experience as well as the size and location of the club, plus bonus based on success, and teaching income. Application We prefer to have you upload your resume and cover letter (in that order) to our resume service. Please note that you should have your documents fully prepared to be attached when prompted for them. IMPORTANT: Save your resume and letter in the following manner: Last Name, First Name Resume & Last Name, First Name Cover Letter (These documents should be in Word or PDF format)

7 Once you complete the application process for this search, you are not able to go back in and add additional documents. For directions on how to upload your resume and cover letter visit this page here. Click here to upload your resume and cover letter. If you have any questions please Nan Fisher: Lead Partner on this search is: Richard Kopplin KOPPLIN & KUEBLER