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Golf Club Secretary

Harry Hanover is Secretary of Whitley Bay Golf Club in the North East of England. He has always been actively involved in a number of sports, both as a player and committee member. Prior to his job as Secretary of Whitley Bay GC Harry worked in the police force and was a member at the club. When he retired from the force and the Secretary's post at his golf club became vacant he decided to apply. He was appointed at the beginning of 2000, so a good start to the new millennium for Harry.


What the Job Involves
My role is very diverse and includes:
Looking after the finances of the club.
Organising bookings and administration for visiting societies and all clubhouse activities.
Management of greenkeeping staff.
Liaising with the committee on all aspects of club management.
Being flexible and working long hours,
As well as dealing with all the general administration and correspondence for the club.

Best Part of My Job
I've always loved sport and being involved in sporting activities so to have a job in sport is great. The whole job is very rewarding and I get a great deal of job satisfaction. I come into contact with so many people. I enjoy helping people and being able to deal with their queries.

Qualifications Needed
There are no formal qualifications necessary for the job of Golf Club Secretary. However, the ability to relate well to a wide range of people is essential. The Secretary is responsible for the efficient management of the club, in accordance with policies that are decided by the club's committee. You've got to be able to work well with the committee, be conscious of the club members and their needs, liaise with staff, make visiting societies feel welcome, etc. When disputes or problems arise it's important that you are able to deal with people sympathetically and with compassion. Something that may appear trivial to you may seem very important to the other person. Experience in relating well to people at all different levels is important for this job, and patience and a sense of humour are principal requirements. It's also essential that you have a good knowledge of golf, the rules and handicapping system, together with experience of running competitions. You must be computer literate and be able to deal with accounts. On top of all this, you will need a knowledge of employment law and will need to keep up to date with changes in relevant legislation, such as Equal Opportunities, Licensing, Stakeholder Pensions, etc.
There is however a great deal of help available. The Association of Golf Club Secretaries runs courses for people who are already working as a Secretary at a Club or are interested in the role. You can also contact specialists within different organisations for expert advice - for example, Customs & Excise will provide advice and support on VAT issues at golf clubs. There is also an excellent network system of golf club secretaries - as well as being able to get specific advice from the Association, we can get help and support from each other.

If you want my Job
The job is extremely diverse, and although no formal qualification is necessary, a wide range of experience certainly is. For this reason it's unlikely to be a suitable first career for a young golfer. However, if you aspire to a job as Golf Club Secretary for the future, there are a wide range of jobs where you can develop the necessary skills and experience.

Harry's Advice to Junior Golfers
Serve on the Junior Committee at your club. This will give you a good insight into what running a golf club involves. It will provide you with valuable experience and you will get an idea of whether managing a golf club might be a suitable future career for you. Some general advice - Always respect the golf course and other members.

People in Jobs | Qualifications | College/Uni Courses
Scholarships | Work Experience