Desert Mountain Club in Scottsdale, Ariz., recently unveiled an innovative technology that provides hikers critical information to selecting and enjoying the club’s 20-mile private trail system—via QR code. Members and their guests take more than 12,000 hikes each year on Desert Mountain’s trails, consisting of
Massive trends are shaping society, readjusting behaviors, preferences and priorities for millions of Americans. Many of these trends will continue to become more pervasive, making it imperative for clubs to understand and acknowledge how they can impact their own environments. TECHNOLOGY Technology has dramatically changed
The membership places those charged with club governance in a position of trust, which imposes a duty on them to put the interests of the membership above any individual interests. Various policies are critical for sound governance and to ensure that club procedures adhere to
PRIVATE CLUB GOVERNANCE is about much more than just having a voice in the decision-making process. Board members assume a fiduciary duty to the club and to their fellow members to preserve, protect and grow the club’s assets. While some clubs are doing well, Club Benchmarking
MORE OFTEN THAN NOT, a club’s Grievance Committee can be its biggest asset when dealing with a troublesome member. However, what happens when the exact opposite occurs and there is a grievance with your Grievance Committee? Dealing with a troublesome member can be a minefield of
One of the most valuable lessons I learned as a leader is one I wish I knew earlier in my career. This lesson, however, was not even hinted at in any of the leadership training I underwent. In fact, this lesson runs counter to virtually
While the country’s political divide has never seemed greater, with gridlock in the halls of Congress and harsh language launched for both sides of the aisle, the private club industry stands uniquely unified. In Washington, D.C., and Congress, where what’s important is often “who you
WITH LABOR DAY BEHIND us and football season underway, I find myself reflecting on my third summer at Interlachen Country Club. The club recently completed a more than $10.5 million renovation of our facilities and our membership reached a waitlist that is now approaching three years—for
Have you ever taken the time to analyze your membership and the demographics of your club? If your facility is like most, your demographics are made up of various age groups, especially baby boomers. Along with being boomers, comes the likelihood that some of your
The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) put the private club industry on notice this month when it delivered letters, unannounced, to 501(c)(7) private clubs encouraging them to monitor their gross receipts from nonmember sources and to notify them that the agency will increase its enforcement of