Focus on the Facts

Photo Courtesy of Island Country Club, Marco Island Florida

Florida’s Island Country Club Lays Solid Foundation for Future Success

Debuting as Marco Island’s only golf club, Island Country Club first opened for business in 1966. Offering an 18-hole...

10 Key Takeaways from the 2024 Club Governance Survey

In early June, we released the initial findings from our 2024 Club Governance Survey. That research was focused on understanding how clubs manage and build their volunteer leadership teams....

In our work with private club boards, we have met many officers who are concerned about maintaining the confidentiality of boardroom discussions. Their harrowing tales about the messes that ensue when those efforts fail are the inspiration for this...

In our 2023 Club Governance Survey Report, we noted gaps in board education and alignment across the industry. For clubs that did not embrace comprehensive board education, the result was inconsistent practices and understanding in such key areas as...

Like It or Not, Dues Increases are the Appropriate Response to Inflationary Pressure.

Labor shortages and other inflationary pressures are budget busters. In the current environment, private club leaders are scrambling to cover current year...

Originally published by the National Club Association in the Experts Corner section of Club Director Magazine (Spring 2022)

CLUB BENCHMARKING has conducted a Club Governance Survey annually since 2017. In every survey, succession planning for...

Originally published in the Winter 2022 issue of National Club Association's Club Director magazine

If you are a leader of a top-tier private club (or a club that aspires to be top tier), you understand that relevance is not just a buzz word—it is...

Taking on long-term debt at a private club is one of the most important decisions a board can make. The long-term consequences of taking on debt will limit the flexibility of the club and future administrations for many years to come.

After more than a decade of supporting private clubs on the journey to strategic governance, we are convinced that it would be impossible to overstate the importance of planning in that process. For those who might question our conclusion, we ask...

Private clubs operate in an industry that is highly fragmented and they are far more complex than revenues might suggest. Constitutions, bylaws and operating practices tend to be homegrown. Board member terms are relatively short by commercial...