Eminent Collection Awards 2024

The Finest Properties & Leaders Iconised with Eminent Status in 2024.

What’s your leadership style?

Andy Siddall is the Director and Co-Founder of Robincroft Consulting. For 20 years he held leadership roles within both educational environments and professional sport as an elite cricket coach and he has worked as a personal performance coach since 2015.

How 59club work with the TPC Network

Vic Aliprando is the Senior Vice President of TPC Network Operations. Owned, operated, and licensed by the PGA TOUR, the TPC Network comprises 29 premier private, resort and daily fee golf properties designed by elite architects.

Managing major change at The Belfry

Chris Eigelaar is Resort Director at The Belfry Hotel & Resort. He has been in the role since 2020, having previously been General Manager. Home of the world famous Brabazon course, the Warwickshire property is going through a significant upgrade.

Engendering customer loyalty

The Viya app allows consumers to book golf and leisure activities across hundreds of venues in Dubai. We asked Julian Danby, Viya’s Director – International Business, to explain how it is driving global business.

Preparing to host a major

Andrew Whitelaw led operations at Emirates Golf Club in Dubai – the first property in the region to work with 59club. He is now General Manager and Chief Operating Officer of the 2026 PGA Championship venue Aronimink.

First Global B2B Customer Experience Insights Magazine has landed

59club’s commitment to elevate Sales & Customer Service across the entire golf & leisure industry, has seen the Customer Experience Management Specialist launch the industry’s first independent B2B magazine, concentrated solely on excelling standards, service optimization and elevating club profitability.

59club Academy Leadership Programme

Read the full course prospectus here!

TAGMARSHAL ANNOUNCE NEW PARTNERSHIP WITH 59CLUB UK

Tagmarshal, the market leader in golf course optimization technology, is delighted to announce its partnership with 59club UK. This collaboration presents an exciting opportunity for Tagmarshal to engage with and elevate the experiences of Golf professionals across the region.

UK & Ireland’s Leading Properties celebrate success at 14th Annual 59club Service Excellence Awards

More than two hundred of the finest Venues, Teams and Individuals from many of the leading Resorts and Clubs across the UK and Ireland came together, as 59club UK recognised their very best customer service providers of 2023. As the 14th annual celebration of service excellence, descended on the iconic Titanic Hotel in Liverpool on February 29th, 2024.

Unveiling the 2024 Service Excellence Award finalists…

59club will bring together their network of partner venues from across the UK and Ireland as their 14th Annual Service Excellence Awards Ceremony comes to Titanic Hotel Liverpool on the 29th February 2024.  

Service Excellence Awards 2024

59club’s 14th Annual Service Excellence Awards Event comes to Titanic Hotel in Liverpool on 29/02/24.

59club Eminent Collection

59club's spotlight shines as the 2023 Eminent Collection is announced.

An Interview With: Rocío Sánchez, Finca Cortesin

In the tranquil haven of Costa del Sol, where the lush greens meet the boundless blue skies, Finca Cortesin stands as a testament to golfing magnificence.

Technology always at the ready! 

59club is all about detail & data, and our technology plays a vital part in all of that, providing you with the ability to collect survey data direct from 1-1 survey invitations, or the simplicity of a well-positioned QR code or shareable link. We’ve also made some loyal friends along the way via mutual clients, and working together we can generate even more intelligence, while eradicating human error - that’s right, today we’re opening your eyes to CRM & POS hook-ups!  

Getting greedy with Group Golf Sales

The greatest thing about golfers is that they like to play in groups. No one likes to play golf alone and that gives us a huge advantage, whether that’s a monthly seasoned away day, or an annual group of 40+ visiting golfers, we want them to choose to visit us, right?! But are we consistently hitting all the high notes during their enquiry? After all, they’re probably canvasing a few other venues for the best rates.

Hospitality waits for no one!

From the second an employee arrives for work, and even before they’ve slipped their coat off and settled into their daily duties, there are customers waiting to be supported & served, and we expect that interaction to be delivered with a smile and genuine interest to help. (As well as hitting all the high notes within our Mystery Shopper audit criteria)  

Eminent Collection Returns

59club’s ‘Eminent Collection’ celebration is set to return this fall, as we continue to recognize the finest properties & leaders across the world of golf & hospitality, for their unwavering dedication to Customer Service Excellence.  

The Club Company partners with 59club UK

The UK’s largest golf & country club operator, The Club Company, has enlisted the services of leading customer service analyst and training provider, 59club UK, as they endeavour to further enhance the member and guest experience across their portfolio of 15 clubs. In addition to significant financial investment to both the on and off course facilities, The Club Company is keen to ensure that service levels are elevated to match.

Jason Hanna; Redefining Member Experience

In the competitive world of golf and country club management, staying ahead of the curve requires a combination of dedication, innovative strategies, and utilizing the right tools.

Employee Development Trends

In the world of club operations, having the right people, in the right places, behaving in the right way is paramount to success. A customer only has to receive one bad experience to disassociate themself with a brand or organisation, while spreading news of that poor experience far and wide. 

Written confirmation, what’s the point?

As the world continues to blaze the digital frontier, there are now more ways than ever to book a tee time or make a dinner reservation at your club. At face value, that’s a good thing. Additional ways to sell tee times and restaurant covers mean more ways to make your club more accessible and potentially profitable.  

We’ve hit our first milestone!

Last year, 59club announced its commitment to become carbon neutral across its global operations by 2030, and is unbelievably excited to have taken a huge step on that journey, with its UK & Ireland business now officially accredited with achieving neutrality in 2022. 

Are you a new age radical?

In the ever-evolving world of golf club and hospitality management, being a successful manager involves juggling multiple roles. In the whirlwind of these responsibilities, there isn't enough time to play guessing games about your member or guests’ needs. The best way to learn what your customers want at your club?  Ask them !!! 

Spotlight: Bernat Llobera, Arabella Golf

The game of golf has seen significant changes over the past few decades and so have the people who play it. Once stuck with the stigma of being stuffy and elitist, golf is now showing signs of getting younger, more inclusive and available to players of all abilities.

Eminent Collection

The very best performing properties and leaders, having achieved the highest long-serving standards of customer service excellence are invited into The Eminent Collection.

Bridge the gap between Expectation and Experience

A case Study exploring global New Member Onboarding trends In the modern landscape, data stands as the pivotal cornerstone guiding our actions and shaping our strategies. It offers insight, reveals patterns and uncovers hidden opportunities.

Celebrating Simon Wordsworth

We are thrilled to share some great news about our founder, Simon Wordsworth, who was recently recognised as the latest PGA Member to achieve PGA Master Manager status. This announcement comes from the Professional Golfers' Association itself, marking a new milestone in Simon's illustrious career and adding another feather to his cap. 

Boost your F&B operations

Golf clubs aren't merely venues for a beautiful round of golf; they're spaces where members bond over a meal or drink. As such, food and beverage operations play an essential role in shaping the member experience. However, balancing quality with profitability is a delicate dance that golf clubs across the world grapple with, especially during off-peak days. 

Avoid this costly question

In the world of retail, there is a common question that has plagued salespeople for years. It’s an easy question to ask, an easier question to answer and it does exactly nothing for your bottom line.  

Think Tank

Have you been here before? It’s an innocuous and generally harmless question with enormous upside.

Spotlight: Matt Barr, We-Ko-Pa

In today's competitive golf industry, it's crucial for golf clubs to deliver exceptional customer experiences to attract and retain players. One golf club that has successfully navigated this challenge is We-Ko-Pa Golf Club, located in Scottsdale, Arizona, which – under the leadership of General Manager Matt Barr – has seen significant growth in retail and F&B sales over the past two years. Their secret? Unbiased, actionable data collected from regular mystery shopping audits. 

Prospective Member Enquiry – The Power of the Phone Call

Members are the life-blood of many clubs; failure to convert them can prove expensive in both the short and long-term. But maximizing the opportunities which present themselves often comes down to having the correct person adopting the correct policies.

59Club Study – Connects Managers with Industry Insights and a Global Community

For those of you who are new to 59Club Study; the platform connects curious Club Managers and industry personnel from around the globe, creating opportunities to explore operational decision making from a wide range of operators in different locales, under different cultural norms, as we learn from each other.

59club Think Tank: Employee Retention

Which is more important for employee retention: higher wages or schedule flexibility? Employee turnover can be costly and time-consuming, and it's essential to keep your top talent motivated and engaged. Any club manager will tell you it’s much harder to find and train a new employee, than it is to keep good staff members happy.

Spotlight on Service – Featuring Abu Dhabi City Golf Club’s General Manager; Rhian Lobo

Running a golf club located in one of the most luxurious destinations in the world, Abu Dhabi, certainly puts a premium on excellent customer service. The city attracts a diverse range of visitors from all around the globe, from business executives to leisure travelers, all of whom expect a high level of service and experience and are accustomed to top-notch treatment wherever they go.

The F&B Upsell Engine

Making members and guests feel valued and welcome is an absolute no brainer for any hospitality venue, but for golf course F&B establishments which often operate with smaller margins and lower foot traffic than traditional restaurants, the line between success and failure is razor thin.

Leading Clubs & Resorts honored at 13th Annual 59club Service Excellence Awards

Many of the UK and Europe’s leading Venues, Teams and Individuals were in attendance as 59club recognised those who delivered the very best service to their Members and Guests during 2022 at their Annual celebration of Service Excellence, which this year took place at The Hilton, St George’s Park on Thursday 2nd of March.

Golf’s Customer Service Management Specialists expand operations as 59club Nordic launches

59club, the industry leading Customer Service Analysts and Training Provider has today announced its expansion into the Nordic regions of Iceland, Finland, Norway, Sweden & Denmark, bringing their wealth of Mystery Shopper Audits, Satisfaction Surveys and Employee Training Programs - created specifically for the golf & hospitality industry - to the fore.  

59club’s 2023 Award Nominations have been announced

59club will bring together their network of partner venues from across the UK, Ireland and Southern Europe as their 13th Annual Service Excellence Awards Ceremony comes to Hilton St. Georges Park on the 2nd of March 2023.

Service Excellence Awards 2024

59club’s 14th Annual Service Excellence Awards Event comes to Titanic Hotel in Liverpool on 29/02/24.

59club Eminent Collection

An exclusive event hosted aboard the Sunborn London; a floating super-yacht hotel in Royal Victoria Dock, marked the special occasion for those having achieved the highest long-serving standards of customer service excellence. With a previous soiree delivered days before at one of Dubai’s leading restaurants; Carine at Emirates, as 59club’s first inductees were welcomed.

59club, the global force in Customer Service Management opens eighth division serving Australia & New Zealand

The CX Management Specialist has today announced its global operations have expanded into Australia & New Zealand. Bringing with them over 15 years of global customer service intel, plus a wealth of industry leading mystery shopping audits, satisfaction surveys, and employee education pathways.

59club Spotlight on Service as told by Karl Hepple of Stoke by Nayland

Stoke by Nayland is one of the busiest 36-hole venues in the UK with a significant membership who like to play a lot of golf.

59club expands operations into Canada with perfect Club Study pairing.

59club, the industry leading sales & customer service analysts has today announced its global operations are expanding into Canada.

59club universal insight confirms service is on par

If the last few years have taught us anything, it’s that Michael Gove MP was wrong when he said: “the people of this country have had enough of experts”. If you require a medical diagnosis, consult a medical professional, don’t Google it; if you want accurate information about a pandemic, listen to a virologist, don’t believe social media; and, if you wish to discuss the challenges and opportunities of the global golf and hospitality industries, few organisations are as well placed to offer comment as 59club.

Leading Clubs & Resorts honoured at 12th Annual 59club Service Excellence Awards

A welcome return to a “Live Event”, saw the very best Venues, Teams and Individuals from across the UK, Ireland and Europe South assemble at The Belfry Hotel and Resort on March 3rd 2022, ahead of 59club’s annual Service Excellence Awards.

59club releases “live feedback App” for members, boards and managers

59club’s performance management tools have proved hugely beneficial for clubs across the globe - but now clubs can go one better in their efforts to streamline operations management and evaluate and advance member experience; by utilising the new mytell App.

NOMINEES UNVEILED AHEAD OF THE 59CLUB UK SERVICE EXCELLENCE AWARDS CEREMONY

The very best individuals, teams and venues have been unveiled for 59club’s 12th Annual Awards Ceremony, celebrating excellence across sales, service, operations, retail and management, with some of the highest-profile and best-loved venues in the running for a hospitality industry ‘Oscar’.

59club Service Excellence Awards 2022

Four-time Ryder Cup venue The Belfry Hotel & Resort will host the 12th annual 59club Service Excellence Awards ceremony, in March, as the leading performance management specialists return to a ‘physical’ event for its prestigious ‘golf industry Oscars’. Popular BBC TV presenter Dan Walker, fresh from his starring role in 2021’s series of Strictly Come Dancing, will once again host the two-day UK&I event that has also become renowned for its educational and networking opportunities in addition to being a celebration of 59club’s clients’ achievements across the year.

59club’s Spotlight on Service Featuring Farleigh’s Award Winning; James Ibbetson

What a year it’s been for James Ibbetson, General Manager of Farleigh Golf Club, having been crowned Golf Manager of The Year in the prestigious 59club service excellence awards, whilst simultaneously leading his team to a second victory, earning the enviable ‘my59 Ultimate Service Excellence’ title, in recognition of the club’s commitment to engage, analyse and enrich their members and guest experience utilising the my59 survey tools. All while dealing with the pressures presented by the pandemic, and after only one year with the Surry club.

International benchmarking specialist partners with golf’s leading HR & employment law firm.

59club UK, the Industry’s leading Customer Service and Sales Analysts and Training Provider, has today announced a partnership with Golf HR, the expert Employment Law and HR Specialist supporting golf clubs in the UK.

59club goes green to champion climate change

59club Headquarters are delighted to announce their commitment to becoming carbon neutral by the end of 2022, and their division serving the UK joins them in this promise 8 years earlier than planned.

59CLUB GOLF FLAG OF HONOUR MARKS QUALITY FOR LEADING CUSTOMER CENTRIC PROPERTIES

At a time when golf clubs might well cite the pandemic as mitigation for a drop in standards, it’s all the more creditable that so many venues across UK and Europe were recognised for their service quality with the annual award of 59club’s coveted ‘golf flag destinations’.

59CLUB RENEW ITS VOW TO BE CARBON NEUTRAL WITH NEW PARTNERSHIP

With many corporations paying lip service to the reduction of their carbon footprint, it’s refreshing to learn of a company which has genuinely taken further action towards its aim of becoming carbon neutral.

MULTIPLE WINNERS HONOURED AS 59CLUB INDUSTRY ‘OSCARS’ GOES VIRTUAL

The golf industry ‘Oscars’ went ‘virtual’ this year, with hundreds tuning in online to watch their contemporaries receive a coveted 59club Service Excellence Award, as the market-leading performance-management specialist continued to honour its best performers across the UK & Ireland.  

NOMINEES UNVEILED AS GOLF’S ‘OSCARS’ PREPARE TO CELEBRATE EXCELLENCE

While 2020 was an unpredictable year, the appetite across 59club partner venues to deliver the greatest customer experiences across golf, leisure and hospitality didn’t falter.  

STANDOUT PERFORMANCE RECOGNISED AS 59CLUB ANNOUNCE QUARTER FOUR AWARD WINNERS

- Sponsored by 3D IFS, CGI Insurance, Comesto, Golf Genius & Toro; 59club’s regular accolades reward individual staff performance throughout the year -

59CLUB PUTTING THE SUCCESS IN SUCCESSION

59club; the leading sales & service analysts and training provider, have today announced its exciting new personal development program; ‘Succession’. www.succession.digital

Have you joined the 59club?

Excellent article below written when one of the 59club team, Will Hewitt recently spoke to editor of Golf Retailing,  discussing how 59club can help your business in 2021.

STANDOUT PERFORMANCES RECOGNISED AS 59CLUB ANNOUNCE QUARTER THREE AWARD WINNERS

- Sponsored by 3difs, CGI Insurance, Comesto, Golf Genius & Toro, 59club’s regular accolades reward individual staff performance throughout the year -

JAMES BEESLEY LEADS 59CLUB’S EUROPEAN EXPANSION SERVING SPAIN, PORTUGAL, ITALY & GREECE

59club, the industry’s leading Customer Service & Sales Analysts and Training Provider, has today announced additional growth across the South of Europe with the formation of a dedicated regional team supporting golf and leisure clubs, hotels, restaurants and spa destinations to drive customer service & sales performance across their respective properties.

ADVANCE EMPLOYEE SATISFACTION & ENGAGEMENT WITH 59CLUB’S NEW HR SURVEY SUITE

59club, the industry leading Customer Service Analyst and Training Provider has launched three Human Resource Survey templates that address all areas of the employment roster, from measuring the New Employee Experience, general Employee Satisfaction, plus an Employee Exit Survey.

59CLUB PARTNER WITH COMESTO TO ELEVATE FOOD & BEVERAGE QUALITY & CHOICE

59club; the industry’s leading Customer Service & Sales Analysts and Training Provider, has today announced a partnership with Comesto; the UK’s most dynamic food & beverage wholesaler.

59CLUB LAUNCHES NEW VIRTUAL MENTOR EXPERIENCE

59club the leading sales & service analysts and training provider, have today released my59 Mentor, their intelligent virtual learning experience, safeguarding clients triumphant return to golf.

59CLUB DELIVERS FINANCIAL INTELLIGENCE TO GOLF WITH NEW METRICS PLATFORM

59club the industry’s leading sales & service analysts and training provider, continue to support golf clubs with a move to produce financial comparable data alongside their famed benchmarking tools.

59CLUB PROVIDES COMPLIMENTARY EMPLOYEE SURVEY TOOLS, HELPING THE INDUSTRY IDENTIFY STAFF NEEDS DURING CHALLENGING TIMES

The customer service analysts and benchmarking firm 59club announced today they will also provide COVID-19 specific employee survey tools to golf and other hospitality venues free of charge amid the current crisis. The survey tools capture employee challenges, concerns and potential opportunities all in one easy-to-use snapshot.

59CLUB EXTENDS THEIR COMMITMENT TO HELP, WITH ADDITIONAL COMPLIMENTARY SURVEY TOOLS AND MEMBER COMMUNICATION APP TO SUPPORT THE INDUSTRY

Customer service satisfaction and benchmarking firm 59club have announced today that they will further extend their complimentary offering amid the global COVID-19 pandemic, as 59club help the golf & hospitality industry to make the right choices and provide the right options for its customers, members and staff.

59CLUB PROVIDES COMPLIMENTARY SURVEY TOOLS, HELPING CLUBS IDENTIFY MEMBER NEEDS AMID CHALLENGING TIMES

59club, the Industry leading Customer Service Analysts and Training Provider firm, 59club announced today they will offer complimentary use of their proprietary survey tools amid the current COVID-19 crisis. Golf clubs and other hospitality venues may use the survey tools to communicate directly to their membership and identify member and guest needs for free through till 31st May 2020.

LEADING SERVICE PROVIDERS HONOURED AT 59CLUB’S 10TH ANNUAL INDUSTRY OSCARS

High-profile venues across the UK and Europe recognised for service excellence in glitzy ceremony at the Forest of Arden Marriott Hotel & Country Club

STANDOUT PERFORMANCES RECOGNISED AS 59CLUB ANNOUNCE QUARTER FOUR AWARD WINNERS

Sponsored by 3difs, CGI Insurance & Gunners, 59club's regular accolades reward individuals staff performance throughout the year

NOMINEES UNVEILED AHEAD OF 59CLUB’S EUROPEAN SERVICE EXCELLENCE AWARDS CEREMONY

The very best individuals, teams and venues in golf unveiled for 59club’s 10th Annual Awards Ceremony, celebrating excellence across sales, service, operations, retail and management, with some of the highest-profile and best-loved venues in the running for a golf industry ‘Oscar’.

FOREST OF ARDEN & ABU DHABI GOLF CLUB ARE SET TO HOST 59CLUB’S 10TH ANNUAL INDUSTRY ‘OSCARS’

Former host of the British Masters and HSBC Championship venue are chosen to host 59club’s glitzy ceremony as Forest of Arden Marriott Hotel & Country Club will welcome 59club clients from across Europe on the 12-13th March 2020. An extension to the ceremony will see The Westin Abu Dhabi Golf Resort & Spa host the awards to recognise excellence across Asia, The Middle East & Africa on the 20th April 2020, as the Service ‘Excellence’ Awards are split for the first time.

PAUL ARMITAGE TO DRIVE 59CLUB’S EXPANSION OF CUSTOMER SATISFACTION SERVICES ACROSS WEST EUROPE, MOROCCO AND TUNISIA

59club continues growth with formation of West Europe & North Africa division to improve sales and service etiquette, increasing customer satisfaction, revenue and profits

59CLUB ANNOUNCES QUARTERLY AWARD WINNERS TO RECOGNISE STANDOUT PERFORMERS

Sponsored by 3DIFS and CGI Insurance, 59club’s newest accolades will reward individual staff performance throughout the year

ANOTHER CLOSE RACE FOR 59CLUB QUARTERLY AWARD WINNERS AS STANDOUT PERFORMANCES ARE RECOGNISED

Sponsored by 3difs, CGI Insurance & Gunners, 59club’s regular accolades reward individual staff performance throughout the year

59CLUB ACCELERATES EXPANSION WITH LAUNCH OF 59CLUB MIDDLE EAST AND AFRICA

59club cements its position in the Middle East and Africa with establishment of local office and formation of dedicated ‘MEA’ division amidst international growth

CMAE AND 59CLUB SIGN PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT

The CMAE is delighted to announce a new partnership with leading Sales & Customer Service analysts, 59club. The partnership will see the two organisations work together offering a strong bond between education in management (CMAE) and following that up with analysing Sales & Customer Service (59club).

59CLUB BUSINESS INTERFACE NOW AVAILABLE FOR CONCEPT CUSTOMERS

Concept has partnered with 59club to provide its golf, leisure & spa clients with new service analysis intelligence to measure customer satisfaction levels within their businesses via its high-end operations software suites.

59CLUB FOOD PARTNERS WITH DRAUGHT COCKTAIL INNOVATOR GUNNERS TO DRIVE F&B SERVICE STANDARDS

59club, the industry’s leading Sales & Customer Service analysts, with more than 12 years’ experience in the hospitality sector, has announced a partnership with the UK’s premier draught cocktail brand, Gunners.

GOLF CLUB SUCCESS STORIES

At a very basic level, as golf professionals, whichever direction our career has taken, we all aim to offer the best products and services to our customers. We all inspire to deliver the level of professionalism that our PGA training instilled within us. The pro who thinks smarter, who sets their own agenda to push the boundaries to achieve success, is the pro who stands to win the most!

THE GOLF INDUSTRY’S LEADING SERVICE PROVIDERS REWARDED AT 9TH ANNUAL 59CLUB AWARDS

High-profile venues across the world recognised for service excellence in glitzy ceremony at the Home of Golf . 

GOLF INDUSTRY LEADERS TO BE RECOGNISED AT THE HOME OF GOLF IN 59CLUB’S SERVICE EXCELLENCE AWARDS

The very best individuals, teams and venues in golf unveiled for 9th annual awards celebrating excellence in sales, service, operations, retail and management

59club Dazzle in Dubai, assisting UAE clubs to do members & club life best…

59club Director, Mark Reed is back from his Tour of the UAE where he has been busy corrupting the teams at Dubai Golf & Yas Links empowering them to convert more member sales and retain more club members.