Mission Statements for Private Clubs

[Bruce Bearer]

There has been many references in past posts about clubs adhering to their "Mission Statement" and various short quotes of portions of certain clubs Mission Statements.  If my club has a Mission Statement I am not aware of it.   One example was "to maintain the course as one of the toughest tests" or something to that effect.

I think it would make a good discussion and I would be very interested to see examples of Mission Statements of clubs that can be shared on GCA.  It would be interesting to see how these clubs have adhered (or not) to their Mission Statements and why.

Even if some of the Mission Statements might be for the Green Committee in it's oversight of the golf course only, please share these as well.

Thanks,
Bruce 

[Mac Plumart]

...the purpose for which the club is formed is to establish, maintain, and operate a golf club for the general use and enjoyment of the members.  This statement means that nothing would be done in operating the club that would interfere with the quiet enjoyment of the facilities by the members.

[Mac Plumart]

to maintain the course as one of the toughest tests



The phrase immediately made me think of Oakmont.

[Dan Herrmann]

We had a GM once (long gone) who wanted to make the golf club the finest dining destination in the county. 

You wonder where they fins these guys

[Patrick_Mucci]

Mission statements are usually directives given to outside parties contracted by the club, or as a roadmap to protect the golf course.

Each club has it's own unique vibe/culture.

Mission statements often fade away over time if the will of the membership (culture) doesn't adopt them as an inherent part of the club's fabric.

Usually, they're adopted by the Board, but have to be reinforced every decade or so, as Boards experience turn over and short memories

[Mac Plumart]

Pat...yes, sir. Wonderful post and food for thought and consideration.

[Jeff_Brauer]

Someone posted a nice master plan here a few years back.  I forget the details, but do recall that their mission statement was very businesslike.  In assessing their role in the local golf world, they came to the conclusion that they were a "move up" or intermediate club.  While there were many waiting at the golf factory type clubs to get into their slightly better club, there were just as many hoping to move to the next level.

Recognizing that so clearly helped them define the improvements they might, or not make to their club.  In essence, they probably found that members weren't so keen to pay for improvements if they felt they were only going to be there 2-5 years before moving on.  So, it sort of limited them.

To me, that is a realistic mission statement, not some vague Faber College "Long tradition of existence" sort of motto......

[Dan Herrmann]

Patrick.  How would you contrast a mission statement from an equity vs a non- equity club (where profit is the major goal)?

[Joel_Stewart]

to maintain the course as one of the toughest tests



The phrase immediately made me think of Oakmont.

or Olympic Club.

[John Kavanaugh]

How about, the same thing I tell the people who work for me, if you don't like it quit.  

[Mac Plumart]

" stupid is as stupid does"

A mission statement sets out the agenda that the leadership of an organization follows. It is essentially the guidebook that management follows, if someone doesn't like a club's mission, objectives, or goals they have no business being a member.

[Josh Tarble]

How about, the same thing I tell the people who work for me, if you don't like it quit.  

This might be the best thing I've read on here. I think if more clubs followed this, there wouldnt be some many NLE

[Tom_Doak]

I do not know if clubs need to have a mission statement for general operations -- if they do, it had better be realistic, because there can't be 300 courses in the top 100.  But they had sure better have one before someone brings a bulldozer onto the property!

I've asked the committees at a couple of clubs where we were taking on consulting work to write a mission statement, because I thought there was some disagreement among the members about what the goals were for architectural work -- whether it was to preserve or restore the work of the original designer, to host big tournaments, to maintain a position in the rankings, or to keep the course fun for the members and their guests.  

If the membership can't agree what direction they are headed, an architect is going to have a hard time.  You can't succeed without some definition of success.

[Bruce Bearer]

Tom,

You point out what I was looking for - Statements that define goals and values the club desires to maintain.  Since posting this I Googled "private club mission statement".  Several well known clubs have their Mission Statement on the home page of their website.  Most are very generic.  I think it is Hazeltine that states their course will be maintained in such a manner to be considered a host of USGA events. 

[Jason Topp]

I assume this is the mission statement of my club:


XXXXXXX Golf Club is a club offering a classically designed, superbly maintained golf course in an informal atmosphere for those who love the game of golf.

It identifies many things I like about the place.

[Patrick_Mucci]

Patrick.  How would you contrast a mission statement from an equity vs a non- equity club (where profit is the major goal)?

Dan,

No substantive difference.

If you bring in outside vendors/contractors/architects you need to instruct them as to their mission and the perameters therein.

Equity or non-equity, the purpose of the mission statement is the same.

It's a guideline of sorts and the objective usually has little to do with the profit motive.

[Patrick_Mucci]

Jason,

I would disagree.

That's more of a P.R piece.


I assume this is the mission statement of my club:


XXXXXXX Golf Club is a club offering a classically designed, superbly maintained golf course in an informal atmosphere for those who love the game of golf.

It identifies many things I like about the place.

[Bruce Bearer]

I assume this is the mission statement of my club:


XXXXXXX Golf Club is a club offering a classically designed, superbly maintained golf course in an informal atmosphere for those who love the game of golf.

It identifies many things I like about the place.

That says just about everything I'd like in a golf club.  Including the statement "for those who love the game of golf" is beautiful!!  

[Bruce Bearer]

From Hazeltine:

“The mission of the founders of Hazeltine was to build and maintain a golf course suitable for the conduct of national championships. An important part of the mission was to develop a membership that supported this concept - a membership that felt a responsibility to the game of golf and its rules and traditions. Similarly, it requires the highest standards of conduct by all members and guests as they play the game.”

[Patrick_Mucci]

From Hazeltine:

“The mission of the founders of Hazeltine was to build and maintain a golf course suitable for the conduct of national championships. An important part of the mission was to develop a membership that supported this concept - a membership that felt a responsibility to the game of golf and its rules and traditions. Similarly, it requires the highest standards of conduct by all members and guests as they play the game.”

Bruce,

That's not a "mission statement", that's "fluff"

Mission statements tend to be objective and/or guideline specific and don't deal in vague generalities.

[Bruce Bearer]

Here is Oak Hill's Mission Statement:

OAK HILL GOLF CLUB MISSION STATEMENT

The mission of the Oak Hill Golf Club is to provide an excellent golf experience while at the same time promoting fellowship and camaraderie among its membership.

This mission will be accomplished by

(1) presenting our golf course to a consistently high standard and maintaining its natural characteristics,

(2) retaining our identity as a true golf club, welcoming those who share our core values of a challenging course with playing conditions that are not congested and having modest facilities,

(3) making our club enjoyable, accessible and affordable for our members, their families and guests.

The Oak Hill Golf Club will consistently promote the game of golf
and be a responsible member of the community.

Pat - I'm just copying what I find online.  These clubs are calling them "Mission Statements". 

[Patrick_Mucci]

Bruce,

They can call them what they'd like, but, in reality, it's fluff, P.R., hype, marketing.

Call it whatever you want, but, it's not a mission statement.

It's a vague generality.

And, I've played Oak Hill and I can tell you that some of the members were outraged when changes were made over a winter when many if most of the influential members were in Florida or Palm Springs.

Hence, the statement about maintaining it's "natural characteristics" is a croc.

[John Kavanaugh]

These "mission statements" serve two purposes:

1. They are useful in defense of exclusionary practices when keeping out serious golfers who don't meet the status quo...and

2. They help sell memberships to non-golfers with money and the right connections.

What I can not get my mind around is the class of golfer who joins a club and immediately tries to make the club conform to his needs and tastes.  The only mission any club should have is to keep the people who are happy and get rid of those who aren't.

If I were a membership director I would keep a mission statement in my desk and automatically disqualify any applicant that asked to see it.

[Carl Johnson]

I find most mission statements, be they for a country club, museum, charity or whatever, to be BS.  Most are generic, and who wants to be anything but the "best," "superior," or the "finest"?  "Our mission is to provide a just-o.k. golf course and mediocre service to our members" would not work.

I actually like the statements in Bruce's posts on being: "one of the toughest tests" of golf and: "The mission of the founders of Hazeltine was to build and maintain a golf course suitable for the conduct of national championships."  At least they are relatively specific and give a prospective member some idea of what he's getting into.  I'd know not to put in my application.

Less specific is: “XYZ Club is a private golf club dedicated to providing its members, their families and guests with a classic, carefully restored and maintained golf course and superior golf-oriented programs, services and facilities while maintaining the legacy of our history and traditions."

However, all the general mission statement BS in the world does not help without some very specific guidelines about how the "mission" will be carried out.  That is what really counts - the flesh on the bones.  What those guidelines are called does not matter, whether they be "guidelines," a "strategic plan," an "operating plan," or whatever.  What matters is having something concrete against which plans and actual performance can be reasonably  judged or measured.  What matters after that is having a Board that continuously measures and reviews its decisions and outcomes against those guidelines.

[Mark Bourgeois]

If I were a membership director I would keep a mission statement in my desk and automatically disqualify any applicant that asked to see it.

Keep it in there for profiling purposes, huh?
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