Pro-active PGA pro wins Golf Club Manager award

Andrew Minty believes effective marketing and good communication are the keys behind his success at Langland Bay which has helped land him the GCMA’s prestigious Golf Club Manager of the Year award.

The PGA Advanced Professional and director of golf at the Swansea club beat off competition from 140 nominations including fellow finalist and PGA pro Stuart Leech from Formby to become the youngest ever winner of the accolade.

Minty picked up the award from past winner Emma Clifford, also a PGA pro, at the GCMA annual gala dinner at St George’s which was attended by PGA chief executive Sandy Jones.

The 34 year old took over the role at Langland Bay in 2010 and transformed the club’s marketing to the extent that in recent months Sky Sports, the BBC and Visit Wales have all showcased the venue.

During his tenure, the club’s membership has almost doubled from 560 to 996, and green fee income nearly trebled from £34,000 per year to £81,000.

There have also been projects at the club to introduce beginners to golf, which have led to 120 trying the game and 85 of them joining the club, and there has been a well-received restructuring of the golf course in the last four years.

“The key has been effective marketing, good communication with the members, incentivising the staff and making sure everyone is singing from the same hymn sheet,” said Minty.

“We’ve also worked closely with the Golf Union of Wales to bring in various initiatives and there is a very good board of directors who’ve allowed me to do the initiatives and to follow them through.”

Minty is no stranger to career achievement and was also the youngest recipient of the PGA’s director of golf qualification which he credits with standing him in good stead for his current role.

“It sets you up, it gives a very good grounding and was a springboard to undertake the different things I have done in my career. It was invaluable and I’ve a lot to thank it for, definitely,” he added.

“The first person I saw as I looked up after the announcement that I had won was Sandy Jones and I did make reference to the PGA in my speech as I’m a very proud PGA Member as I am now a GCMA member.

“It was amazing to win, it is quite a lengthy and thorough process you go through to reach the final. They do a Dragon’s Den type interview at your club, speak to the staff and find out all about you and what you do so to win is a special feeling.

“When I turned pro I had aspirations starting out to be a player but I was never going to set the world alight and did more coaching and then as I developed my career I got more involved in the business of golf and developed a love for general club management and the director of golf type role. It was something from an early stage that I wanted to do.”

Despite his recognition, Minty will not be resting on his laurels.

“It will be case of carrying on developing and implementing the five year plan that we have which is on-going, driving through the initiatives and keeping the members happy.”

The competition is sponsored by HowDidiDo and Fairstone and HowDidiDo Media’s managing director Barry Dyett commented: “Andrew’s achievements speak for themselves. He is a worthy winner and a credit to the industry.”

Fairstone Group’s Verony Chalmers added: “We are delighted that Andrew has received the recognition for his outstanding achievements at Langland Bay. A truly exceptional manager.”

PGA Members interested in finding out more about the PGA Director of Golf qualification click here.