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"The Strategic Planning Process"
Facilitated by Clubwise

The Planning Process uses THE DIRECTOR'S GUIDE FOR CLUB GOVERNANCE and THE GOVERNANCE CHECKLIST - Publications of  Premier Club Services and THE STRATEGIC MANAGEMENT HAND BOOK.

Strategic Planning is the process by which the club leaders envision the future of the Club and develop the necessary procedures to achieve that future. Once the Club sets the future direction, it must establish clear goals, with targets for completion within a specified time frame. These targets must be realistic and obtainable.

If a strategic plan is effective, it must fulfill the mission of the Club. Mission development is a process of facilitation of ideas to establish consensus for the overall purpose of the organization. Before the process of mission development is undertaken, all parties must understand the primary focus of the industry of which they are a part.

The Clubwise approach to strategic planning includes a discussion of the undeniable truths of the industry. The Club is a service business. All future efforts should be directed at enhancing service delivery systems that will maximize value and member satisfaction. Once the primary strategic planning template has been established, secondary missions, goals, objectives and strategies that provide the individual personality of the Club can be developed.

The key to a successful strategic plan lies in the ability of the facilitator to understand the nature of the industry. Your consultant must be able to complete a comprehensive operational audit and then have the capacity to analyze the needs of the organization within your individual marketplace. Clubwise offers the highest level of operating expertise available in the private club industry. This experience will help insure that the planning process remains focused on enhancing member satisfaction at all levels.

Another key to any successful strategic plan is to place the Club on track to maximize the potential within the financial constraints of the organization. To that end, a major part of the strategic planning process deals with value and cost / benefit relationships.

Since the club is a business, it is supported by a series of membership purchasing decisions. From an individual's first decision to pay their initiation fee, their ongoing decision to pay monthly dues through their daily decisions to buy products and services, members are making financial commitments. The Club needs to continually reinforce the fact that each decision the member makes is a good decision. Effective strategic planning deals with enhancing member satisfaction through the establishment of policies that result in good value to the membership.

One of the unique elements of a Clubwise strategic plan is the Board Strategy Survey included in the middle of the process. The strategy survey helps crystallize thinking and allows the leadership to focus on developing a plan that is measurable and achievable.
 

“Leadership Strategy Survey"

Periodically clubs want to approach strategic planning with a less time consuming approach. The club may need to update an existing plan or focus on targeted issues. The BOD 'Strategy Survey' is an alternative to the comprehensive strategic planning process.

 

Clubs that have established the critical issues, but are having difficulty making real progress, may need to refocus. The BOD strategy process is a method of doing just that. It will not only help clubs make progress, it will also introduce leaders to new ways of thinking about old problems.

 

It is easy to test products to ensure they will do what they are advertised to do. It is more difficult to test ideas. The Clubwise process will provide leaders to a way of ideas analysis that can determine if an idea can survive as a cost viable enhancement that will promote member satisfaction. This system of analysis is based on The Service Gauntlet, the new handbook for managers, officers and directors of private clubs. The book provides new insight into strategic planning and club operational thinking.
 

A BOD Strategy Survey includes:

• Preliminary research at the club. Meet with key leaders and selected staff regarding issues facing the club.

• Review club policies and methods of operation with GM in areas of finance, membership, capital replacement service levels.

• Develop survey for the BOD to be complete via email or fax.

• Set half-day strategy meeting, evaluate survey results and prepare handouts. (The meeting can take place in the morning, afternoon or evening)

• Present a power point presentation of the results and facilitate a discussion of the issues.

• Prepare a summary report of the results to the club

The survey process can be completed for minimal cost and includes two visits to the club, the facilitated half-day session and a final report. The BOD Strategy Survey has the potential of quickly identifying what the Board believes and helping set in place a process to make sound decisions. The overall goal is that the club can make real progress toward positive change in the organization.

 

“Capital Funding Template”
Clubwise is also a leader in developing and evaluating strategic plans and capital funding programs. A comprehensive spreadsheet template providing effective analysis has been created by Clubwise. By adopting its use, clubs can insure proper planning of revenue and expenses streams. This style of planning will provide credibility to both strategic needs and construction finance plans.

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"Operational Audits –
Food & Beverage Consulting"
Facilitated by Clubwise

 

“Operational Audits”
Clubwise will evaluate operations from the four-part perspective. We look at 1. Facilities, 2. Membership, 3. Products & Services and 4. Governance Practices, as each of these parts plays and important role in the success of the organization.

 

When a change is made in any of these four elements a ripple effect normally occurs on the other three. If operating audits, directed at policies, procedures or financial consequences, are to provide viable options for quality solutions, they must examine the strengths and weaknesses of the club from the four-part perspective.

A Review & Evaluation

of Club Operations

St Ives Country Club

Duluth, Georgia

 

“Food & Beverage Consulting”
During The Survey or strategic planning process several clients have realized shortcomings within their food and beverage services. Clubwise has been hired to complete a full F & B analysis addressing operational, facility and marketing issues that can position the club to meet member expectations and maximize satisfaction.

Westwood Club

Food & Beverage Analysis

& Recommendations

Prepared by

Clubwise

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“Internal Marketing”

Facilitated by Clubwise

Jerry McCoy has been involved in training over 1500 Managers at the Club Managers Association Business Management Institute held at Georgia State University. McCoy specialty includes effective internal marketing through social programming and newsletters. Using Mr. McCoy's expertise Clubwise specializes in a variety of internal marketing tools that include developing the club newsletter as a major communication vehicle for positive change.

Clubwise can offer the latest ideas for improvement to membership programs, revenue enhancement and improvement to the club’s key marketing vehicle – the club newsletter

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"Master Planning & Construction Services"

By Clubwise

 

Since the scope of need for services varies substantially from club to club, pricing of these services are estimated between the lower and upper ranges. Clubwise will visit your club for the cost of travel related expenses only to give a complementary assessment of needs.

 

FACILITY ANALYSIS

The purpose is to evaluate the existing facilities for operating issues, building conditions and systems problems. Services as part of the analysis include:

• Interviews with the club leadership, senior management and department heads to evaluate present operating issues and roadblocks to successful service delivery.

• Survey of member focus groups regarding existing and future services.

• Completing an analysis of existing facilities, including depreciation status, image appeal, level and quality of the competition.

• Review and status of building including construction, roof, HVAC, electrical, plumbing and other systems where appropriate, using local service companies.

• Development of future program elements for new services and facility needs. This includes square footage evaluations and demands within each area based on usage and growth.

The results of the finding will be presented in report form so that master planning considerations can be analyzed and marketing of new facilities can take place in an effective manner. A facility analysis does not include an architectural solution that will satisfy the program elements identified in the report.

MASTER PLANNING SERVICES

A full master planning effort that includes an operating and facility evaluation, development of program elements, focus group work, finance plan development, architectural and interiors solutions and a marketing program directed towards a presentation meeting to the membership.

 

Clubwise will lead the club through the process with independent architectural professionals. We can also assist the club in procuring permanent professional services from companies that will stay on to complete the project once it has been moved through the necessary political process associated with the club.

 

GENERAL PROJECT RELATED CONSULTING SERVICES

Clubwise offers multiple services to assist clubs as they deal with major capital enhancement. Our company will serve as a Club Operational Specialist (COS) to your club's planning needs. We can be retained for any or all parts of project development and management. Clubwise is hired as the representative for the club in dealing with architects, interior design firms, club planners or other companies to insure a smooth and effective planning process.

 

Clubwise believes that services can be procured at more competitive fee structures than the industry has grown to accept. We will negotiate contracts to insure the best fee structures for professional services, normally saving thousands of dollars on the outset.

 

General consulting is handled on a retainer basis depending on the scope of work.

Sample Brochure Pages

DESIGN DEVELOPMENT & CONTRACT DOCUMENT REVIEW

If construction and renovation projects are to be successful, they must be able to deliver on member expectations. Not only should they be aesthetically pleasing, but they also must have operating integrity and be able to maximize the club's ability to deliver products and services.

Clubwise specializes in bringing operating integrity to club design. Once plans and specifications are complete, a thorough review of the documents is necessary to insure a successful project. Document review can uncover errors that need to be changed prior to beginning construction. Adjustment at this time will normally save thousands of dollars in change orders during construction.

 

KITCHEN & BEVERAGE SERVICE DESIGN

Design and layout of kitchen and bar equipment is critical for the successful delivery of products and service once the construction or renovation has taken place. Clubwise has extensive expertise in design & layout of kitchen and bar equipment to maximize the functionality of the facilities in the future.

 

Clubwise will work with architectural, interiors and equipment suppliers to insure facilities can meet the operating expectations of management and allow club staff to perform at maximum levels.

OPENING SERVICES

Clubs will invest hundreds of thousands to millions of dollars on clubhouse facilities. Normally these projects stretch the resources of the club and normally exceed initial budgets. Clubwise understands that the success of a project is its ability to deliver on future services to the members. This requires that new facilities have all the operating equipment necessary to deliver on these expectations. Clubwise specializes in working with management to insure proper budgeting takes place for opening expenses.

 

Clubwise will review all operating equipment needs and work with management to insure ordering and purchasing takes place within the necessary lead times. Our company will assist in establishing equipment needs procurement and layout of, not only operating equipment, but also other systems such as telephone, security, and sound. Clubwise can procure the right companies to handle all your technology-related concerns.

 

Clubwise can offer creative solutions that will add special distinction to new service delivery programs. Providing guidance to new employee orientation and staff training prior to grand opening is included in the opening services.

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"Project Samples"

 

The Savanna Golf Club

 

 

 

Augusta Country Club Summer House

 

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