FOR SOME IN THE CLUB INDUSTRY, the term “Millennial” has almost taken on the air of a four-letter word as the generation composed mostly of twenty-somethings remains a bit of a mystery. With headphones permanently implanted and eyes that are seemingly unable to break the invisible
The phones lines at the National Club Association have been lighting up with private clubs asking specific questions related to member discipline. The across the board inquiries highlight the need for a comprehensive review on the law governing member discipline and how clubs can avoid
At Club Trends, we have observed that the private club industry continues to positively adjust to wholesale changes in the larger environment. In this particular issue, some of these “mega-trends” that have now become an accepted reality are highlighted: diversity in household composition; the influence
The private club industry has undergone an extended period of consolidation. In an environment such as this, it is tempting to shift the focus away from visions of growth to more practical concerns for survival. But to do so might be a costly error. Many
The Challenge: The club’s membership plateaued and then inched downward, precipitating an adjustment of the club’s offerings and its value proposition. Skaneateles Country Club is located on a peninsula that extends into Skaneateles Lake, which is one of central New York’s Finger Lakes. Surrounded by
The Challenge: Amarillo’s bill for deferred maintenance came due in 2012. A steep assessment led to the exit of about 150 families—substantially more than they had anticipated. The Great Recession delayed much-needed maintenance and improvement projects for clubs. When Amarillo Country Club finally counted the
Q: What are the most common issues addressed in the management letter following a club audit? How should management respond? A: Club operations have garnered increased attention from club boards during the recent economic downtown. Pressure to cut costs inevitably results in internal controls suffering—specifically
Every private club must recruit and retain a dues-paying base sufficient to cover its fixed costs, a process that includes replacing the roughly five percent of members who resign each year. In the previous article, Bill McMahon, Sr. focused on how to deal with controllable
The Challenge: With a wide selection of excellent country clubs in this densely populated and affluent market, Bethesda’s potential members were a discerning group—“shoppers,” if you will. Club leaders and members alike have had to squarely face the question, “What sets us apart?” The Bethesda
Every club manager has heard the phrase “I didn’t know anything about that” and “Oh, I never read the newsletter” multiple times in their career. Even more disconcerting is the rumor mill that is disseminating the mistruths about a variety of things around the club.