A welcome return to a “Live Event”, saw the very best venues, teams and individuals from across the UK, Ireland and Europe South assemble at The Belfry Hotel and Resort on March 3, 2022, ahead of 59club’s annual Service Excellence Awards ceremony that has long been regarded as the ‘Oscars’ of the golf & hospitality Industry, since the 59club’s honours list began some 12 years ago.
On the night, 59club presented awards across 29 categories, recognising ‘service excellence’ spanning all areas of the businesses – sales, service, operations, retail, spa, golf course, food & beverage and management. With 59club continuing to reflect the very best performances, regardless of a venue’s size, scale or profile, by segmenting several individual accolades in to three categories based on a venue’s average green fee rate.
Portmarnock Golf Club and Gleneagles collected the highly prized awards of Ultimate Golf Members’ Club and Ultimate Resort. Portmarnock achieving success in their first year of working with 59club, with Gleneagles recapturing the title they last won in 2018. Andrew Whitelaw, general manager of Portmarnock Golf Club, said: “I am absolutely delighted that the team have won the Ultimate Members Club Experience through their hard work and dedication to service excellence, truly one of the toughest awards to win it is recognition on how hard the team have worked. It really was a team effort in every department, which it has to be with 59club. To win an award that recognises our commitment to our members is extremely satisfying and motivating. After a couple of challenging years when the club operated in unusual circumstances the teams ability to change and deliver a world class experience was wonderful to be part of.”
Of their success Andrew Jowett, PGA head of golf of Gleneagles added: “This award underlines an incredible team effort, not just in golf, but across every facet of our 850-acre estate. It is an important accolade because it recognises world-class customer service and experience, something we strive for every day at Gleneagles. The fact this award comes as a direct result of authentic, independent and benchmarked visitor feedback, underlines its importance and value to us as a leading hospitality and leisure business.”
The Awards was a great showcase for The Mere Golf Resort and Spa, after they claimed five of the six available sales awards, their success included a magnificent performance from Alice Cox-Cooper, adding a further two individual titles to their awards cabinet as well as having led her membership team to success in both the golf and leisure categories. The Mere also celebrated Max Cornes, after he scooped one of the Golf Event Sales Awards, and the venue went on to secure their first ever Gold Flag Designation.
Of their achievements, Gary Johnson, general manager of The Mere, commented: “These awards are paramount to the continuing success of our business. It has been our strategic plan to focus on all of our service standards and procedures to ensure we are always aiming for excellence. 59club and Matt have proven that with a proven formula and competitor set analysis drilled down and determination the goals can be achieved and the team at The Mere Golf Resort and Spa make me a very happy and proud leader.
“Finally… that gold flag was always in our cross hairs and it is sat on full display on our trophy wall.”
For other venues there were double celebrations on the night, firstly The Grove saw Phil Chiverton and Brad Gould retain their greenkeeper and golf manager of the year titles. Next it was Foxhills Club and Resort, who were left revelling after Sean Graham and his Golf Operations Team picked up Awards, and finally, Worsley Park Marriott Hotel and Country Club enjoyed 2 victories with an individual win for Stephen Hindle and a team accolade for his Golf Operations team.
Special recognition must go to Glenn McNaughton of Long Ashton Golf Club after being named F&B Manager of the Year for the third consecutive year, while Matt Aplin of Goring and Streatley Golf Club fended off tough competition to be named Greenkeeper of the Year for an unbelievable fourth year in a row.
Of this year’s awards, Will Hewitt, general manager of 59club UK, commented: “It was an honour to recognise and celebrate our leading service providers in person once again, and while the past year presented huge challenges for the golf industry, relating to both the operation and the people within those businesses, that only added to the splendour. It was an incredible feeling seeing all those familiar faces and many newcomers united by their shared passion for delivering the very best customer experiences, the excitement in the room was electric.
“Golf has been incredibly fortunate to benefit from a significant surge in demand, and it is extremely encouraging that more venues than ever before are choosing to work with 59club to focus on their service offering and sales levels whilst working to engage and keep this new audience. 59club’s focus will remain the provision of objective and accurate performance data, providing greater market insights and a supportive network of likeminded professionals which will further aide performance enhancement.”
