Club Management - March/April 2008 - (Page 24)

For larger events, Oakmont Country Club employs a committee structure typically comprised of 12 couples. Meetings are held during the early evening. The club provides wine, and most members stay for dinner. The bonding that occurs between members and staff gives the committee confidence and comfort. While safety and member relationships are always vital concerns, managers often credit the success of club events to different sources. Jim Story, CCM, has long believed the secret to his success has been his staff. “We always involve our staff in the decision-making process,” Story said. “They are the ones who touch the members the most.” While events may be initially planned by senior staff members, the involvement of all levels of staff builds creditability and esteem. For Mark Ferretti, CCM, of the Jonathan Club in California, communication is paramount. “In 1983, while working at the Waldorf Astoria, I booked a breakfast for 10 guests and had to mimeograph 98 copies of the Banquet Event Sheet for the hotel,” Ferretti said. “Nothing has ever taught me more.” It’s All in the Details The importance of a detailed and correct Event Sheet cannot be overstated. If there is a last-minute change in staff or an emergency, the staff handling the party will be able to carry off the party as it was planned. “Every detail must be in writing,” Ferretti said. When best practices are implemented, events are a success. Members and their guests have a wonderful experience, perhaps by trying something unique and establishing a new tradition. At Apawamis, each October the club hosts “Family Camping.” Utilizing the fairway of the club’s 15th hole, members provide their own tents and sleeping bags and spend the night on the course. The club provides two large bonﬁres, dinner, a movie under the stars and adult refreshments around the campﬁres after the kids go to sleep, and breakfast is served the next morning. Almost 150 members and their children attend. Duncan Burns of New York’s Union League Club hosts an annual indoor putting tournament. Utilizing the club’s ballroom carpet as a foundation, the room is transformed into a replica of the current House Committee’s favorite nine holes. A designer builds hazards using trees, sand and whatever is necessary for an authentic feel. Members graze through dinner and putt to their hearts’ content. The length of the evening is a direct correlation to the temperature outside (the event is always held in the dead of winter) and alcohol consumption. A fun and proﬁtable night for the club. For Oakmont Country Club’s 85th anniversary, the club utilized the entire facility to accommodate 500 members and guests for its Wine Country-themed party. Included in the festivities were 26 wineries pouring samples, food tables tied into various varietals and multiple bands. And as a surprise, a hot air balloon offered free rides throughout the evening. Members were given the opportunity to purchase wines at 15 percent above cost, and the revenue helped offset the club’s expenses. For many years, Ansley Country Club hosted a Fall Festival for its members. When Jim Story managed Ansley, the haunted house segment of the festival took on special meaning. “The haunted house took 90 days to plan and 30 days to build,” Story said. “Our employees planned it and built it themselves on a volunteer basis. In the average year, it contained more than a dozen lighting systems, ﬁve sound systems and featured three levels of terror.” Three thousand members and guests visited the haunted house in a week, and Story said employee morale skyrocketed. Prepare for Damage Control Even with the best planning, best practices and good luck, disaster can strike. Ask Hockett about the evening 400 members and guests came to the club to celebrate the new driving range. The barbecue was over and the 35-piece band was on its third song when a sprinkler doused the band. Hockett had checked the irrigation system multiple times with other staff 8/8/07 8:38:42 AM SIGNATURE SERIES SHOREA WOOD COLLECTION OXFORD 24 • CLUB 338077_Oxford.indd 1 MANAGEMENT GARDEN www.oxfordgarden.com 877.866.3331 http://www.oxfordgarden.com

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Club Management - March/April 2008

Club Management - March/April 2008 Contents President’s Message Board Governance Technology Human & Professional Resources 2008 CMAA President Peter Homberg: A Profile in Courage, Perserverance Welcome, CMAA 2008 Board of Directors Club Events: Bring Magic to Your Members Club Adopts 'Dependent Parent' Membership Policy Paving a Path to Success Groundbreaking Project Measures Environmental Data for Golf Courses Paradise Preserved HFTP Insight New Directions Global Outreach Products and Services Marketplace Advertiser Index/Advertisers.com Club Wrap

Club Management - March/April 2008

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