Anna Darnell: A journey to senior management at The Grove

08/11/2023

Anna Darnell, the Director of Operations at The Grove, reflects on her remarkable career journey spanning nearly two decades at the prestigious Hertfordshire venue.

From her early golfing days to ascending to a senior management position, Anna shares insights and advice for aspiring PGA Members seeking a path to management roles.

Early golfing roots:

Anna began playing golf at a young age, joining Thorpe Hall at nine. She developed her skills and passion for golf, eventually choosing to work in the golf industry.

PGA training opens opportunities:

Anna's PGA training broadened her skillset beyond coaching, encompassing business development, golf club management and tournament organisation. It offered a well-rounded experience.

Transition into management:

Anna's progression into management roles was a journey. She started in golf sales management and gradually moved into more prominent positions, learning and adapting along the way. A critical step was becoming Golf Operations Manager. She said: “It was tough because I was managing a shop as well as managing massive teams of people. It was busy. I was working long days, weekends and unsociable hours, but it was a great learning curve.”

Supportive leadership:

Anna's approach to management is collaborative and inclusive. She believes in teamwork and open communication to foster creativity and cooperation. Delegation and understanding when to let go were key lessons. “I’m not a dictator in the way I lead people,” said Anna. “I think it’s very much a team effort – I’m very collaborative in my approach to managing people. You learn a lot from each other.”

PGA training and diverse opportunities:

Anna observes that today's young professionals, undergoing PGA training, are more open to diverse career paths within golf, driven by their education and exposure to various aspects of the industry. PGA training provides a robust foundation for these varied roles. Anna said: “There are more young professionals who don’t want to go down the traditional club professional route. Right from the get-go they are thinking about other avenues to work in golf that they can do through the PGA training.”

These key insights from Anna Darnell's career emphasise the value of PGA training, adaptability and teamwork in achieving success in golf management roles.