This week, we had a chat with golf club General Manager Scott Steward. Scott recently oversaw his club’s major rebuild after being hit hard by Cyclone Gabrielle, and he also reveals his cack-handed golf handicap, and why young people are so important to the game.
What golf course do you manage and how long have you been there?
I am the General Manager at Napier Golf Club. I started here in September 2022, about 5 months before we got hit hard by Cyclone Gabrielle. So very early on my role changed dramatically, from golf club manager to a recovery and rebuild project manager of sorts. It was tough, but it has been hugely rewarding helping the club rebuild to a point where the club is thriving again, with a great golf course, strong membership and, an awesome team.
We are very proud to have recently been awarded Golf NZ Club of The Year, which is a huge honour! It is a testament to all the hard work the staff, volunteers, members, committees and the board have put in to rebuild the club after the massive losses we faced during Cyclone Gabrielle.
What inspired you to pursue a career in golf management, and how did you get started?
I just followed my passion, to be honest. I have always wanted to be in the sports industry and my two biggest sporting passions are cricket and golf, so I started working in cricket, before transferring to the golf industry and taking on this role at Napier Golf Club.
What are the biggest challenges you face in managing a golf course?
I think the biggest challenge is wearing so many different hats all at once. There are so many aspects of managing a golf course, from membership, food and beverage, the pro shop, course maintenance and development, guest experiences, events and functions, golf tournaments and calendars, marketing, sponsorship, staff etc. With so many different elements, it is difficult to excel at all of them.
What trends or changes do you see shaping the future of the golf industry?
The most interesting participation trend that is very relevant to our type of community golf course is the growing interest in the game of those aged between 18 and 30. They want to play a different type of golf, not golf that takes 5 hours on a Saturday afternoon, but something that is fun and fast, and less traditional. We are seeing a lot of younger golfers playing in carts, listening to music, and trying different formats such as Ambrose. We need to make sure that we can offer an experience that these golfers enjoy too, which can be difficult in clubs that are built on tradition.
If you weren’t working in the golf industry, what would you be doing?
Prior to working in the golf industry, I was working in cricket. Sport is such a huge passion of mine, if I wasn’t working in golf, I would be working in another sport somewhere.
If you could play a round of golf with three people dead or alive, who would they be and why?
A bit cliché, but I’d have to have Tiger because he’s Tiger. My Dad is an obsessive golfer, and we always have great battles on the course, so the old man would be there, and then depending on availability, either Steph Curry, or Michael Jordan.
What’s your handicap?
2.6 (cack-handed)!
Ever had a hole in one?
Nope, still searching. I have a few near-miss stories, but no one wants to hear about those.
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