This week Leeds Golf Centre were crowned with the illustrious England Golf title of Club of The Year. A massive achievement for a club that has come on leaps and bounds from when I joined as head professional back in 2008.

This is more of a personal post rather than a Harewood Asset Finance post but there is definitely some synergy in how investment can really set the groundwork for great things.

When I joined Leeds Golf Centre in 2008 the club was on a downward spiral. There had been minimal investment in the previous years and the clubhouse and course were both showing signs of wear and tear. This was my first job as a head pro and I was determined to make it work. There was the nucleus of a good team and the place just needed some direction. We did everything we could within the financial restraints we had and to be fair probably kept the club trading for longer than it should have!

Then came along the knights in shining armour in the Parklane group who bought the club in 2011. This was to be the foundations for something great. They came in with a vision and a plan and enthused and backed everyone to make Leeds Golf Centre the great venue it once was. Redevelopments of the facilities were a massive priority both on and off the course, but I think the biggest thing was the desire to make the club completely open to all, a venue for golf, regardless of status or ability. When I look back now I can see how this award started back in 2011. And as they say Rome wasn’t built in a day.

Anyway, enough about my time there (I left in 2015) and more about 2018 and the modern Leeds Golf Centre.

For me there are 3 key reasons behind the success:

1. The Owners

The Ahmed family’s passion for this facility and what it could be is infectious. The must succeed attitude is now all the way through the club. Even the members are now proud to be a part of a great facility and not only that, a golfing community. The investment and redeployment that has been put into the club is immense, but not beyond its means by anyway. Everything, is done with a greater plan in mind and that is ultimately to be the best it can be. This also comes with a sense of realism, there was never a consideration of trying to be better than others, just an attitude of being the best they possibly could, the rest would follow, and hasn’t it just!

2. The Staff

The team at the golf club is probably second to none. From the senior management team to the cleaners, everyone has a vital role in making sure the facility can run and look it’s best at all times. Not one department works against the other, which, I think a lot of clubs could look at and take note of.

Under the guidance of Nigel Sweet and Mark Foster the club is in safe hands. Their roles may not be easy and a lot is demanded of them, but without them the vision would not evolve into day to day activities.

Matthew Pearson, retail manager has transformed how the retail environment looks and performs. You only have to look at the brands in stock now to realise that the club is moving somewhere special. 7 years ago those brands wouldn’t have even entertained being associated with the club, now they are fighting to be involved.

Chris Green, probably the forgotten hero. Chris is the Head Greenkeeper and was brought in whilst I was still there. He was probably too young to be a head greenkeeper in all honesty, but there was just something about him that made you feel he was the right person. He and his team have created an unrecognisable course from that one back in 2008. I don’t think people realise and appreciate how hard they have worked. I know the award the club has won is more based around the initiatives done to bring people into golf, but without the hard work those guys do come rain or shine, there would be no product to market.

3. Joe Feather

I know you shouldn’t really single out individuals as everything they have achieved is very much a team effort but, for me, this guy is Leeds Golf Centre.

Joe was my assistant back in 2008 and from day 1 of me working there you could tell this guy just loved the club. If something needed doing, he was always my go to man, with his nothing was too much trouble attitude. I fully feel that this award is very much down to the work and passion Joe has put into this club. You can’t help but love the guy and this definitely rubs off onto customers, members and staff alike. He has transformed the whole junior programme and introduced so great initiatives to get first time adults into golf as well. The Academy is thriving under his guidance and long may that continue.

Congratulations

Personally, I am over the moon that the club have received this award and it really is fully deserved. They have worked tirelessly to turn the club around and to make it into a place accessible to anyone and everyone. Well done to all associated with Leeds Golf Centre, take time to reflect and enjoy on the recognition, but don’t think that you have now done it! This is the platform to keep going, be the best and strive for more. You have the team, you have the support and ultimately to have the venue.

Congratulations and good luck