DRAFT

Ifield Golf Club - General Manager

Advert and Abridged Job Description

December 2023

Ifield Golf Club was built in 1927 by prestigious Architects Hawtree & JH Taylor. West of Crawley and due south of Gatwick Airport. Par 70 6319 yards, The Club hosted the Sussex Men’s County Championship in July 2023. A Members’ Club its 50-Year Lease came to an end in 2020. Due to the retirement of the current General Manager the Club are seeking a replacement from March 2024 for this 3-day-a-week, part-time role.

Ifield finds itself in a unique position, where the Freehold was purchased by Homes England in November 2020 who are pursuing plans to develop the site for Schools and Housing as part of the wider West of Ifield Development. The Club now has a 5-Year Lease which expires in May 2026, although the Lease contains a 6-month notice clause which has to be exercised by 1st November each year. At today’s date, the Club only has absolute certainty until 1st May 2025 although subject to Planning and inevitable appeals, there is every chance that the Club may survive beyond 2025 and enjoy celebrating its Centenary Year in 2027. However, it cannot be denied that the future remains uncertain. So it is a most challenging and unique role.

This of course has a significant impact on any prospective candidate for this role and the obvious implications that the short-term Lease contains. The job therefore may be most suited to somebody looking to reduce their working hours or considering approaching retirement in the years ahead. Equally a younger Assistant Manager may view this as an opportunity to gain an entirely different working experience the like of which rarely comes along. The Club believe that the job is most suited to a local applicant already living within commuting distance, therefore the vacancy has not initially been widely advertised on a national basis.

The GM role is laid out below in a brief Job Description which summarises the areas of responsibility, which is somewhat different to the normal GM job.

• The Staff comprise an extraordinarily experienced team of which the most senior members have 20+ and 30+ years individual service at Ifield.
• The Professional is also Director of Golf, supported by Office staff and assumes responsibility for all golf competitions, supported by the very efficient Golf Committee.
• There is therefore no need for GM involvement in any WHS or competition matters.
• The Head Greenkeeper approaches 30 years’ service ably supported by his Deputy with 15 years of experience at Ifield. Two other Greenkeepers and a part-time mechanic all combine many years more service between them too.
• The Head Greenkeeper enjoys a close working relationship with the Chair of Greens so GM involvement in course matters can depend very much on agronomy experience.
• The two highly capable Office staff both work part-time, having near 50 years between them managing the diary, bookings and all the SAGE bookkeeping responsibilities.
• The F&B is franchised, to a team of more long-serving capable staff who have also assumed responsibility for the day-to-day Clubhouse management matters.
• There is an Executive Management Committee of nine including the Director of Golf and G.M. who meet bi-monthly as a general rule.
• There are few sub-committees needing GM involvement due to the successful way the Club has operated and managed its affairs with a part-time GM for over a decade.
• All matters relating to the demanding interaction necessary with the Landlords are handled by the GM as first point of contact, representing the three Club Trustees and involve property, land, surveys, H&S issues and also any planning developments.
• There are three residential Flats with short-term tenancies managed by the Club.
• Additionally, there are four leasehold properties adjacent in the attached Dormy House building, the Freehold of which is owned by the Golf Club, not Homes England.

As can be seen there are many property matters to be managed outside the normal Golf Club Manager role and the GM is very much the first-in-line contact for these.
Financial control rests in the hands of the Treasurer, Bookkeeper, Chairman, Head Greenkeeper and Chair of Greens and supported by the GM.
The Club does have the benefit of significant cash reserves held on deposit.

This is an unusual and demanding position where the role is therefore significantly different from the norm. But it offers a challenging opportunity for the successful candidate to manage and maintain a successful Club for as long as the Lease with the Landlords remains intact. Therefore, it may be seen as a unique opportunity for a capable professional with the necessary experience and attributes to continue to help steer the Club through its uncertain future with optimism that the Development may not come to fruition.

In the meantime, under extremely challenging circumstances, the Club continues to operate successfully on a break-even path, and as with any other golf club seeks to maximize all income streams and future business opportunities.

Despite the part-time role, whilst ably supported by the experienced team of senior staff and supportive Committees, the successful candidate will be charged with leading the day-to-day operations and manage the Club into what the members hope will still be a successful future.

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Please submit your CV and covering letter to the Club Chairman, Richard Cowlard at gm@ifieldgolf.com 

Deadline for applications: is Monday 15th January 2024, with a view to undertake first interviews at the earliest possible opportunity in the latter half of January.  It is possible we may invite suitable applicants to interview prior to the closing date.

Start Date: Subject to availability and existing contractual notice periods we would hope to have a new GM in post by April 2024, sooner if possible.

Hours of Work: For the last decade, the GM role has been a part-time, 24 hours per week position. It allows flexible working arrangements in conjunction with existing office staff ensuring office coverage 9-5 summer (9-4 winter). Naturally evening and weekend working as required. However, the door is not closed entirely on the possibility of a full-time position being agreed for the right candidate.

Remuneration: From £30,000 for the existing part-time role although starting salary will depend on experience.  Should the posssibility of a full-time position be considered, an upper ceiling of £50,000 would be dependant upon finally agreed Terms and Conditions.

Benefits: Complimentary Club Membership; 15 Days Holiday plus Bank Holidays. GCMA membership subscription. TOIL can be arranged with the agreement of the Chairman.

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