Service Excellence Awards
February 2013 saw 59club host its third Annual Service Awards Ceremony recognising Service Excellence within golf. The ceremony was attended by the UK’s leading independent and private golf clubs along with leading golf and hotel groups from within the 59club system.
All Award nominations and winners work diligently within the 59club scheme to initially improve and then maintain higher levels of customer service standards across their venue. Just like gaining 4 or 5 Star recognition, the awards earned offers venues the opportunity to market themselves as a club delivering Customer Service Excellence in a particular field, or in the 'Major Award Winners' case, as the Leading Service Providers in the UK, a great accolade to earn and market in any industry.
59club highlights the excellent work that takes place within golf venues across the country by awarding the following Individuals, Clubs and Groups in their respective category:
Major Award Winners:
The Ultimate Golf Experience
2012 Winner The Belfry
2012 Runner Up Celtic Manor Resort
2012 Third Place Stoke Park
Golf 'Group' of the Year:
2012 Marriott
2011 De Vere
2010 De Vere
Golf Sales Office Team of the Year:
2012 Slaley Hall (De Vere)
2011 Carden Park
2010 Cameron House (De Vere)
Golf Operation Team of the Year:
2012 The Belfry
2011 The Belfry
2010 Breadsall Priory (Marriott)
The Best Conditioned and Presented Golf Course:
2012 Celtic Manor 2010
2011 The Belfry
2010 Forest of Arden (Marriott)
Gold Flag Awards
The Belfry, Celtic Manor Resort, Stoke Park, Wentworth, Forest of Arden (Marriott)
Silver Flag Awards
Dalmahoy (Marriott), Mannings Heath (Exclusive Golf), Goodwood, Broadstone, The Carrick (De Vere), Formby Hall, Close House, The Vale Resort, Slaley Hall (De Vere), St Pierre (Marriott), The Dukes St Andrews
Leading 'Service' Provider:
2011 Dunston Hall (De Vere)
2010 Wychwood Park (De Vere)
Striving For Excellence Awards
Leading Individual Golf Sales Performance:
2012 Emma Ansell (Stoke Park)
2011 Rachael Davies + Leighton Williams (De Vere Carden Park)
2010 Nicola Smith (De Vere Wychwood Park)
Most Improved Golf Sales Team:
2012 Woldingham (Alton Wood)
2011 Breadsall Priory (Marriott)
2010 Wokefield Park (De Vere)
Leading Individual Golf Operations Performance:
2012 The Belfry
2011 The Belfry
2010 Dunston Hall (De Vere)
Most Improved Golf Operation Team:
2012 Woldingham (Alton Wood)
2011 Linden Hall (Macdonald)
2010 Portal (Macdonald)
Best Golf Retail Experience:
2012 Worsley Park (Marriott)
2011 Formby Hall
2010 Forest Pines (QHotels) + Forest of Arden (Marriott)
Most Improved Golf Retail Experience:
2012 Newark
2011 Hellidon Lakes (QHotel)
Best Food & Beverage Experience:
2012 Stoke Park
2011 Spey Valley (Macdonald)
2010 The Belfry
Most Improved Food & Beverage Experience:
2012 St Pierre (Marriott)
2011 The Oxfordshire (Leaderboard)
Best Greens:
2012 Wentworth - The Edinburgh Course
2011 The Dukes, St Andrews
Golf Membership Sales Team of the Year
2012 Carden Park (De Vere)
Leisure Membership Sales Team of the Year
2012 The Vale Resort
Mystery Testers Independent Awards
Favourite Course to Play:
2011 Forest Pines (QHotels)
2010 The Wales National (The Vale)
Most Memorable Golf Hole:
2011 17th at The Oxfordshire
2010 18th at The Belfry
Best Presented and Tastiest Food:
2012 Tudor Park (Marriott)
2011 Stoke Park
2010 Goodwood Golf
Most Picturesque Golf Course:
2011 Brocket Hall
2010 Spey Valley (Macdonald)
Friendliest & Warmest Atmosphere in Golf:
2012 Manor House (Exclusive Golf)
2011 Manor House (Exclusive Golf)
The 59club scheme is designed to work at every type of golf venue, be it resort, pay and play or private and simply ensures that the customers of those venues, be they visitors or the venues members consistently receive the high level of service they deserve.
Alison Ainsworth, Senior Director of Golf, Leisure & Spa Operations Europe for Marriott Hotels
said “We were very happy to win this prestigious award which is testament to the effort shown by all staff across the group. The 59club mystery shopper feedback allows up to constantly monitor our service levels, this award recognises our commitment to consistently deliver a high level of customer service to all our golfers, in turn creating an exceptional customer journey from start to finish. It was a great night for everyone in the golf industry to be together and to be part of something which recognises the hard work and commitment that goes on in our industry, irrespective of who we work for”
Steve Dacre, Group Golf Sales Manager for the De Vere Group, commented, “There’s no question that standards across the industry have improved in the last twelve months, and we’re delighted to have picked up the main award for the second consecutive year. The 59Club offers us invaluable feedback and ensures that we have all the information we need to not only react, but improve the ways in which customer service is delivered in golf. For six of our venues to be recognised with the highest standard that the 59Club has awarded is testament to our consistently high standards and dedication towards delivering the ultimate experience for our guests and members. The 59 club scheme is firmly ensconced into the day to day routine of De Vere staff and is a key tool in their quest to deliver excellence.”
Gary Silcock, Director of Golf at The Belfry “To be recognised as the top golf operations team by 59Club, who are the ultimate bench markers in golfing customer service, is a great honour. Our main aim at The Belfry is to provide the very best experience for the golfer from the moment they enter the resort to the moment they leave. The fact that we manage to provide this despite the large number of golfers visiting last year is testament to the great effort by every member of staff”
Robert Maxfield, Commercial and Property Director at the PGA, when presenting the awards
went on to say “The eight venues that achieved this standard really work hard at their golf
customer service and deserve the recognition this award will give them.”
Daniel Hodson, Director of Golf and Leisure for the DeVere Group spoke about how the
management information that the 59club scheme provides is inbuilt into the daily routine of
DeVere staff and what a key tool it is in their quest to deliver excellence.
"59club will be the industry standard for measuring service and is open for all golf venues to join"
