PGA pros nominated to win GCMA prizes

PGA Professional Amy Yeates has made the four-person shortlist to win a prestigious Golf Club Managers’ Association (GCMA) award.

Yeates, director of golf at Fairmont St Andrews, Scotland, has been nominated in the Manager of the Year category.

She has introduced flexible memberships at the world-rated venue and is described as an ‘inspirational’ leader of her team.

The 33-year-old began her golfing career at The Belfry where she graduated from the sports management course. She then took on roles at Mannings Heath Golf Club, West Sussex, and the Old Course Hotel & Spa, St Andrews, before moving to Goodwood Estate as an assistant manager.

She joined Fairmont St Andrews in 2015 and was promoted to director of golf, spa and leisure earlier this year.

“I am absolutely delighted to be a finalist for the GCMA Manager of the Year Award,” said Yeates.

“To win would be an amazing achievement and provide recognition for the superb team I am incredibly proud to work with at Fairmont St Andrews.

“As a team we have made many changes and seen the customer experience excel with record breaking financial results.”

The other contenders for the award are Alan Davey (managing secretary at Pyecombe), Stuart Gillett (general manager of Golf at Goodwood) and Martin Robinson (general manager at Fairhaven).

The winner will be revealed during an awards ceremony at the Golf Club Managers’ Association’s biennial conference at Brooklands, Surrey, next month.

ABOVE - Left to right - Robert Macey, Jackie Macey, Paul Thornton and Lee Grant.

Meanwhile, two other PGA Professionals hoping to win an award are Paul Thornton and Rob Macey after their club, Norwood Park, was included in the Team of the Year category.

The Norwood Park team, which also includes Jackie Macey and Lee Grant, has more than 750 members and a lengthy waiting list.

“We have a great team who all work hard to ensure customers enjoy their experience at Norwood from the moment they arrive to when they leave,” said general manager Thornton.

“We receive lots of feedback regarding the friendly atmosphere at the club and the quality of the courses and facilities.  

“We're delighted the team has been shortlisted for this award and to win would be absolutely fantastic.”

Pyle & Kenfig are the other club up for the Team of the Year Award, with PGA Member and the club’s director of golf, Dylan Williams, playing an integral role in 2017.

Williams has helped Pyle & Kenfig welcome 65 new playing members through its doors and green fees have been increased year-on-year by 7.5 per cent at the south Wales venue.

A judging panel made up of experienced GCMA staff, fellow members and industry experts will conduct a site visit to both clubs in October. They will spend a day with the nominees before an interview in front of the panel.

GCMA chief executive, Bob Williams, said: “After many tough hours pouring over the detailed nominations we were all proud and encouraged to be reminded of the high standards that exist in our industry.

“Choosing between such high calibre candidates wasn’t easy. I expect more of this as we head out to visit the shortlisted clubs and meet with the nominees at our final selection weekend.”

GCMA AWARD CATEGORIES:

Manager of the Year

Alan Davey –Pyecombe

Stuart Gillett – Golf at Goodwood

Martin Robinson – Fair haven

Amy Yeates – Fairmont St Andrews

Newcomer of the Year

John Reeder – Theydon Bois

Gordon MacLeod – St Ives

Team of the Year

Simon Hopkin, Dylan Williams and Paul Johnson - Pyle & Kenfig

Paul Thornton, Rob Macey, Jackie Macey and Lee Grant – Norwood Park