Membership Question For Today: When is a Club No Longer a Club?
Successful clubs foster personal, social environments through a member-first approach, kindness, and excellent service, combining quality amenities with a welcoming atmosphere to build lasting friendships and loyalty.
Read MoreDriving Value at Any Distance: The Long Drive and the Short Game
The article explains that the real expense of club membership is travel time, which requires clubs to customize their offerings—providing convenient, frequent experiences for nearby members and distinctive attractions for those farther away—while investing in amenities that justify the journey and enhance member value.
Read More“Dos and Don’ts” for Successful Club Improvements Part III
This article emphasizes that effective capital improvements should prioritize social engagement over technology or aesthetics, with strategies centered on clarifying purpose, encouraging member interaction, and ensuring operational feasibility to boost member experience and investment returns.
Read MoreGolf in Smaller Bites: The club of yesterday added fitness. The club of tomorrow adds frequency.
Highlights how technology has made golf more flexible and social through shorter, off-peak play, broadening its appeal, with Laredo Country Club exemplifying how automation and smart design can boost capacity and engagement without additional staff, showing that expanding the golfing experience is key to growth.
Read MoreOne Club, Many Dining Occasions
A strategic refresher enables clubs to identify members’ varied dining needs, guiding the development of purpose-specific venues that enhance operations, satisfaction, and member engagement, transforming dining from a simple amenity into a key connection point.
Read MoreThe Hidden Cost of the Waitlist: Why Long Lists Need Active Management, Not Just Patience
The article emphasizes that private clubs need to actively manage their waitlists by engaging prospects, confirming genuine interest, and considering financial impacts, rather than treating them as passive queues, to better reflect demand and support growth.
Read MoreWhat’s Going On in Southwest Florida? …And What Can We Learn?
The article highlights Florida’s Gulf Coast as a growing hotspot for affluent newcomers, leading to high demand, long waitlists, and increased initiation fees for private clubs, with top clubs investing in upgrades and strategic locations to capitalize on the region’s lifestyle, amenities, and tax benefits.
Read MoreTaking the Long View: Stewardship Over Experience
Club stewardship involves members acting as responsible owners by making strategic investments and proactive decisions to preserve and enhance the club’s legacy for future generations, emphasizing long-term relevance, shared responsibility, and disciplined planning over short-term fixes.
Read MoreUsing Surveys Effectively to Assure Good Membership Input
Membership surveys are valuable tools used for over 40 years to assess satisfaction and guide major club decisions. When tailored and strategically implemented with expert analysis, they provide crucial insights that help shape the club’s future, prevent conflicts, and support informed decision-making.
Read MoreStrategic Planning: Is it Just For Today, or Should it Shape the Future?
Strategic planning for private clubs is an ongoing, collaborative process that assesses the current state and envisions the future by focusing on members, offerings, quality, and market position, helping clubs remain relevant and competitive amid changing circumstances.
Read More“Dos and Don’ts” for Successful Club Improvements – Part II
The McMahon Group’s 2026 Pulse Survey highlights fitness/wellness and casual bars/lounges as important areas for club upgrades, emphasizing the need for flexible, well-located spaces that encourage social interaction and boost member engagement through effective programming and staffing.
Read MoreCourse Correction: How Strategic Issues Surveys and Strategic Refreshers Keep Clubs on Track
Private clubs face challenges in prioritizing and executing Facility Master Plans amid changing governance and member needs. The Strategic Issues Survey and Refresher align leadership and maintain plan relevance, enabling clubs to turn strategy into actionable progress with the McMahon Group’s tailored guidance.
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