Leadership Done Right With Rob Selley

07/18/22 • 65 min

On this episode of The GIG Podcast, we were joined by Rob Selley, Executive Manager, New South Wales Golf Club, located in Sydney, Australia. Ranked #33 on Golf Digest’s list of the ‘World’s 100 Greatest Golf Courses’ and known as one of the World’s great golf experiences, New South Wales Golf Club overlooks Botany Bay where Captain James Cook first sailed into Australia on the SS Endeavour in 1770. Designed by Dr. Alister MacKenzie, the course is a wonderful combination of undulating fairways, beautiful scenic vistas, and a spectacular clubhouse which is a magnificent combination of traditional architecture and five-star comfort.

In this episode, we discussed the following questions with Rob:

How do you help a new employee understand the culture of your club?
When faced with two equally qualified candidates, how do you determine whom to hire?
How do you encourage creative thinking amongst the leadership and front-line teams at NSWGC?
In your opinion, what is the biggest challenge facing leaders in the club industry today?
What is one leadership characteristic that you believe every club manager should possess and what advice would you give someone going into a leadership position at a club for the first time?
What are you doing to ensure you continue to grow and develop as a leader?
What advice would you give to a GM who does not have alignment and unity with their board about how to achieve that type of connection?

Rob Selley has a Bachelor of Commerce degree, PGA qualification, and 20+ years of General Manager/CEO experience at some of the world’s premier private members golf clubs, golf resorts, and golf estates. Over an extended period, he has established a proven track record of achieving significantly improved outcomes for the clubs he has managed, particularly where there has been an ambition to position or reposition a club and bring about positive progress.

Be sure to spend this hour with us, and then return to your golf business with new tools and tangible plans for improving operations. You’re also going to learn from Rob about how to level up your approach to leading your team and learn some new techniques and tactics when it comes to the development of the team at your club.

There’s no better way to learn from one of our industry’s best, and this must-listen episode will surely help position you and your team for greater success going forward!

To learn more about Golf Industry Guru, and to gain access to online golf business education from the world's most successful business, golf, & hospitality industry leaders, visit us at www.golfindustryguru.com.

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In this episode, we discussed the following questions with Rob:

How do you help a new employee understand the culture of your club?
When faced with two equally qualified candidates, how do you determine whom to hire?
How do you encourage creative thinking amongst the leadership and front-line teams at NSWGC?
In your opinion, what is the biggest challenge facing leaders in the club industry today?
What is one leadership characteristic that you believe every club manager should possess and what advice would you give someone going into a leadership position at a club for the first time?
What are you doing to ensure you continue to grow and develop as a leader?
What advice would you give to a GM who does not have alignment and unity with their board about how to achieve that type of connection?

There’s no better way to learn from one of our industry’s best, and this must-listen episode will surely help position you and your team for greater success going forward!

Previous Episode

"Major" Leadership with Colin A. Burns, CCM

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Winged Foot has a storied history of hosting national championship golf on their two A.W. Tillinghast-designed courses. Winged Foot has hosted six U.S. Opens including the 2020 United States Open Championship which saw Bryson DeChambeau win his first major title, the 1940 U.S. Amateur, the 1949 Walker Cup, and a PGA Championship on their West Course. Their East Course has been the site of two U.S. Women's Opens and the inaugural U.S. Senior Open. The 2004 U.S. Amateur was played over both courses.

In 1991, Colin Burns joined the storied Winged Foot Golf Club as General Manager and today he is the longest serving GM in the history of the club. Colin’s longevity in this role speaks volumes to his commitment to a club that he reveres, as well as his keen management style and unparalleled ability to guide and nurture a staff of over 150 employees.

On this episode of the GIG Podcast, Colin joined us to share his thoughts, expertise, and unique perspective on leadership, team building, and a variety of trends that are shaping the golf industry as we continue to progress through the 2022 golf season in North America.
Specifically, we discussed the following questions with Colin:

What does good governance at a club look like to you?
In your opinion, what is the biggest challenge facing leaders in the club industry today?
How do you achieve a work/life balance?
What can a “normal” golf course who is hosting their year-end club championships learn from your experiences hosting majors?
What are your favourite places/restaurants/clubs and as such, how do you create a great member experience?
What do you look for in a mentor? How do you be a great mentor?

Be sure to tune in and then return to your golf business with new tools and tangible plans for improving the operations at your club. You’re also going to learn from Colin about how to level up your approach to leading your team and you’ll learn some new techniques and tactics when it comes to the development of the team at your club.

There’s no better way to learn from one of our industry’s best, and this must-listen episode of the GIG Podcast will surely help position you and your team for greater success going forward!

Next Episode

Creating Culinary Excellence With Diana DeLucia

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The Golf Kitchen concept was initially born at a meeting at Sebonack Golf Club in Southampton in 2010. With some solid ideas, Diana DeLucia, created her first book and proof of concept titled Golf Club World, Behind the Gates which published in 2013. The recipes and culinary stories proved to be very popular and thus the Golf Kitchen book concept was realized. DeLucia traveled the USA and the world to uncover some of the finest Private Golf and Country Club and Resort teams. The first Golf Kitchen book was launched at Winged Foot Golf Club in Mamaroneck, New York and hosted by Executive Chef Rhy Waddington and a star-studded line up of Private Golf and Country Club Chefs from the USA and abroad cooking a food and wine tasting menu for the members and guests that will always be a night to remember. A similar event quickly followed at Cassique at Kiawah Island Club, South Carolina which was hosted by Executive Chef Doug Blair and once again included a collaboration of an elite group of chefs from Private Golf and Country Clubs from the USA and abroad. It was at Cassique that the magazine concept was born, and Golf Kitchen Magazine is now in its second year.
Golf Kitchen Punta Mita, a four-day golf and culinary extravaganza was hosted in Punta Mita, Mexico - which boasts both Four Seasons and St. Regis resorts on the property and two renowned Jack Nicklaus Signature-designed golf courses, Pacifico and Bahia – on April of 2018 and 2019 with the help and support of Punta Mita, Golf Kitchen participating chefs and clubs, friends of Golf Kitchen chefs, residents and guests.
Golf Kitchen Magazine is now a luxury, biannual collectable magazine and 2022 will be it's fifth year in production.

Highlights from this episode of The GIG Podcast that you don’t want to miss include:

Diana tells us about her journey from food photographer to CEO of Golf Kitchen.
Find out what attracted Diana to feature golf clubs as opposed to yacht clubs or city clubs.
In all her travels putting together your Golf Kitchen publications, find about Diana’s favourite place or experience.
Learn about some of the common traits Diana finds in the Chef’s that she has interviewed.
In Diana’s opinion, what makes for a world class Chef.
Hear about what Diana thinks are the challenges are facing this unique industry.
Find out what a small club with a few staff can learn from a world class club and chef
Learn about how a Club can qualify for the Golf Kitchen Culinary Excellence Awards.

About Diana DeLucia

Diana DeLucia is an internationally acclaimed Australian photographer and journalist who now resides in Stamford, Connecticut, U.S.A.
Diana’s passion for highlighting talented Chefs in the Golf world has inspired a culinary movement across the world at golf clubs and resorts. As she challenges these golf destinations, she knows that awareness of enhancing the golf culinary lifestyle can bring more enjoyment to the game – and help sustain the growth of golf and travel worldwide.
Diana has since created Golf Kitchen Magazine, a luxury biannual print publication and a second book in the Golf Kitchen series is in production titled Golf Kitchen America.
Diana has held two successful events in conjunction with Punta Mita, Mexico and established the Golf Kitchen Culinary Excellence Awards in 2018 at Edgewood