Gray's colourful career from Scotland to Singapore

Elliott Gray talks about the career that has taken him around the world, from his native Scotland to North America, South Africa, Dubai, Saudi Arabia, and now Singapore.

Gray was recently appointed General Manager at Tana Merah Golf & Country Club in Singapore, a 36-hole private members’ club which is also a popular venue for top professional and amateur events.

How did you hear about your current role at Tanah Merah and what attracted you to the job?

I heard about it through a headhunter that the club had appointed to fill the position. I had been working as the Director of Operations with Golf Saudi in Riyadh since 2019 and was part of the team working on the growth of the game in the Kingdom as part of the country’s 2030 Vision. My family was still based in Dubai following my previous role with Emaar Properties at Dubai Hills, so I was going back and forth between Dubai and Saudi, and it wasn’t the ideal work/life balance, especially when I got locked down in Saudi for long periods of time during the pandemic.

The role at Tanah Merah – which I started in 2021 – piqued my interest as my wife is from Asia and we had always talked about potentially working there. We've been to many parts of Asia and Southeast Asia on holiday, but, as we all know, going somewhere on holiday and living and working there is completely different.

What facilities are on offer at Tanah Merah and what is the general operational set up at the club?

The facilities here are quite exceptional. We have two courses – the 6,400-yard Garden Course and the 7,500-yard Tampines Course. The former is a Robert Trent Jones II redesign that is fun to play, yet also a challenge, while the latter is a proper championship layout, with undulating fairways, tricky greens, and is real strong test of golf. It first opened in 1988 but was redesigned by Phil Jacobs in 2019.

We have separate clubhouses for both venues, with the Garden clubhouse featuring an Olympic-size swimming pool, and indoor and outdoor gym, squash courts, tennis courts and multi-purpose hard courts.

We have about 2,500 members in total and a staff of around 210. As general manager, I report to the president of the club, and there is a general committee which governs the club. The club itself is leased from the Singapore Land Authority.

What are the most rewarding and the most challenging aspects of your job?
The most rewarding aspect is getting involved in our course development projects. We’ve recently completed a greens renovation programme on the Tampines course. We changed a couple of the exit and entry points to the holes and reduced the size of a couple of bunkers. We hosted the Asian Tour’s International Series Singapore in 2022 and did so again in 2023 which attracted a strong field.

Have you hired any PGA Members at Tanah Merah since you joined in 2021?

I recently brought in Brodie MacDonald, a British PGA member, as our new Director of Golf. He's been here for five or six months. Brodie has also worked in the Middle East and Asia before, including spells in Thailand and Bali, which was very important, because there are quite a few cultural changes coming from the Middle East to Asia and certainly coming from the UK or Europe to Asia, so you have to be able to adapt to that – and he could and has.

How would you describe your management style?
I’m all about giving people the power to develop in their roles, make decisions and be team players. I operate an open-door policy, both figuratively and in practically, and invite the management team to lean on me whenever they need advice. I do all that is necessary to ensure that the operation of the club remains seamless from day to day.

What do you like most about living and working in Singapore?
Singapore is very easy going and the work ethic is a bit different to Dubai. There’s a lot to do and lots of places to see, and the food is amazing, whether it’s from a street stall in a local market or a five-star hotel. Our children are really enjoying school, so it's been very easy to settle in here. Housing is expensive though, so that needs to be factored in when working here.

What advice would you pass on to other PGA Members who may be interested in working abroad in general and Asia specifically?

Always speak to people the way you would like to be spoken to. Also, surround yourself with good people and empower them to make decisions. The more autonomy they have in their roles, the more they will grow as employees and as people, and hopefully make your life easier. I’m always keen to learn from others and pass on my knowledge. I like to develop relationships that endure beyond specific projects or jobs I’ve had.

Also, keep your options open when you’re young and don’t be too quick to narrow down your career choices to say custom fitting or coaching unless that is your absolute passion. There are so many different types of job now available for qualified PGA Professionals beyond the traditional duties of a club professional.

And finally, don’t be afraid to go to new places and try new things. Nothing lasts forever, and if it doesn’t work out you can always try something else. Nothing ventured, nothing gained, as they say!