Exeter G&CC are the most welcoming club – official

Exeter Golf and Country Club members were presented with The Most Welcoming Club Award by England Golf, at London’s Royal Lancaster Hotel

IT’S OFFICIAL… Exeter Golf and Country Club offers the best welcome in England after being named as the winner of England Golf’s Most Welcoming Club of the Year Award.

The Devon club’s success was applauded by more than 400 guests at last night’s England Golf Awards, sponsored by adidas Golf, at London’s Royal Lancaster hotel.

They heard how the judges were won over by the way the club has blended the best of tradition with contemporary style to open its doors and appeal to golfers of all ages.

General manager Chris Jones said: “On a scale of one-to-10, this is 11!  It takes us to quite another level.”

Marketing manager Jenni Ashford added: ”It’s fabulous for the club. The members are really positive and it’s a great boost for the staff.”

The secret of the club’s success, according to Jenni, is: “To treat every customer as an individual and to make sure our staff team feel valued.”

Investment in training, says Chris, makes the staff ready to put forward ideas and to find “ways to create the wow factor, to create memories.”

Over recent years the club has taken positive steps to open its doors to both golfers and non-golfers, who can enjoy the swimming, spa and racquet sports.

“We have really placed the emphasis on making the club much more open and accessible,” said Jenni.

“We have worked really hard to make it a place where people come to lunch, or the spa or to take up golf.”

The result is that there’s a waiting list for men’s golf membership and a thriving women’s section, which is reaping the benefits of a recruitment campaign, and a growing junior section.

“The Saturday competitions attract entries from around 180 players.

There’s a members’ app, buddies to help new members settle in, free membership for the over-85s to keep them playing and, new for 2019, the Topsham Academy which combines an eight-bay floodlit driving range with short game practice facilities.

The club is also looking to the future with refurbishment plans to make it even more welcoming.

The club was challenged for the award – sponsored by HowDidIDo – by three other outstanding clubs. They were:

  • Branston Golf and Country Club, Staffordshire
  • Burghill Valley Golf Club, Herefordshire
  • Horton Park Golf Club, Surrey

 

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