In this Toro Partnership episode, we open with James Howard, General Manager, and James Cleaver, Course Manager, of Stratford Oaks Golf Club. They are joined by David Timms and Josh Nash of Reesink, with the discussion centred on Stratford Oaks' recent major addition of Toro machinery to their fleet.

The conversation explores how a club approaches the decision-making process around a fleet purchase, from identifying the specific needs of the club to evaluating long-term value and performance. The group also discusses the importance of distributor support, including equipment demonstrations and ongoing service, and how these factors help clubs find the right solutions to present their course in the best possible condition.

Leighton and James Brockington are then joined by the ever-insightful David Roy of Crail Golfing Society.

With more than 20 years at the helm, David has overseen a period of significant progress at one of the world's oldest golf clubs. During his tenure, Crail has evolved through major changes in board structure, governance, and club culture, emerging in a strong and sustainable position.

In this episode, we explore how David has managed this evolution while continuing to perform at the top of his game. He shares the importance of building and maintaining strong relationships, staying grounded, and cultivating interests outside of work. Those interests include a lifelong love of amateur dramatics, which has played an unexpected but valuable role in his leadership journey.

David also reflects on how steady leadership, clear decision-making, and a willingness to modernise have helped deliver healthy membership numbers, strong visitor revenue, and a more inclusive, contemporary club environment. The conversation even touches on Crail's refreshingly progressive approach to dress code policy, proving that tradition and modern thinking can successfully coexist.

Beyond Crail, David has also played a significant role in the success of the CMAE, contributing his time, experience, and leadership over a long period to help support and develop club management professionals across the industry.

A thoughtful and wide-ranging discussion on leadership, decision-making, balance, and the future of golf clubs.

https://crailgolfingsociety.co.uk/

A big thanks to our partners:

Toro - Click here for more information

The Revenue Club - Click here for more information

https://eddiebullockgolf.com/

Connect with Us:

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Website: Golf Club Talk UK

https://www.linkedin.com/in/leighton-walker-2708b627/

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Stephen Smith is a neuroscientist and one of only six professionals worldwide fully registered as both a sport psychologist and a business psychologist. Through his company, Sports Psychology, Stephen works with clubs to improve performance and commercial success by better understanding customer behaviour—what members and guests need, what makes them feel comfortable, and what keeps them coming back.

Stephen recently presented this subject at the GCAE Conference in Madeira, and we were keen to have him on the show to explore these ideas in greater depth.

In this episode, we dive into how highly successful businesses—particularly those outside the golf industry—design their spaces to maximise engagement, satisfaction, and loyalty. Stephen explains how these same principles can be applied within golf facilities by creating the right environments and surroundings.

This conversation takes us into new territory and offers a fresh perspective on how psychology, neuroscience, and design can directly impact the success of golf clubs.

A big thanks to our partners:

Toro - Click here for more information

The Revenue Club - Click here for more information

https://eddiebullockgolf.com/

Connect with Us:

Instagram: @golfclubtalkuk

Website: Golf Club Talk UK

https://www.linkedin.com/in/leighton-walker-2708b627/

Support us here:

https://buymeacoffee.com/gctuk

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In this unique two-part episode, we delve into elite performance at England Golf, covering girls, women, boys and men's national squads and exploring what it truly takes to succeed at the highest level of the sport.

Leighton spends two days on the ground at the National Golf Centre, gaining a real feel for the work that goes into driving success at national level. The episode not only highlights the structure behind the programme but also offers valuable insight and perspective directly from the players experiencing it first-hand.

Hosted by Jenny Henderson, Performance Manager for Female Golf, Leighton is guided through the training camps and world-class facilities that underpin the programme, with a clear overview of how athletes are developed and supported over time.

The episode also features expert contributions from Amy O'Donnell, the England Golf Nutritionist, and Dan Coughlan, Strength and Conditioning Coach, who explain the many components that come together to support elite performance. They also bring experience from professional tours.

We then hear from two members of the girls' national squad, Ellie Lichtenhein and Lauren Crump, who share their experiences at the training camps, reflect on their personal progress, and discuss how the environment is helping them develop as players.

Special thanks to Nigel Edwards, Performance Director at England Golf, for making this access possible.

If you want a genuine, behind-the-scenes overview of what happens at elite-level sport, this is an episode not to be missed.

In part two we'll get an overview from the Performance Managers of men's and women's golf, Putting coach and hear from two of the women's squad and one of the men's squad.

https://www.englandgolf.org/

Connect with Us:

Instagram: @golfclubtalkuk

Website: Golf Club Talk UK

https://www.linkedin.com/in/leighton-walker-2708b627/

A big thanks to our partner - Toro

Click here for more information

https://eddiebullockgolf.com/

Support us here:

https://buymeacoffee.com/gctuk

Rate & Review Please leave a 5-star review and share this episode with your golf circle!

Guests:

• Darren Redwood – Your Golf Marketing

• James Brockington – General Manager, Henley Golf Club & GCTUK

• Alastair Sinclair – Play More Golf

• Sarah-Jane (SJ) Shepherd – 59 Club

• Tony Adams – Hospitality in Golf

In the second episode of our three-part series, we take a deep dive into your club's brand and image. How is your club really perceived, and what are clubs doing to present themselves in the best possible light?

Joined by an expert panel with deep experience across golf operations, marketing, membership, service delivery, and hospitality, we explore what brand truly means in the context of golf clubs and how it shows up at every touchpoint.

What does brand mean in the context of golf clubs

How do you define your club's style of delivery and service, and what role does service play

How can clubs become more authentic in their messaging and member experience

How important are physical spaces such as the clubhouse, course, and practice facilities in defining your brand

What role does social media play in projecting your club's image and story

This wide-ranging discussion brings together a panel ideally placed to advise and guide clubs on one of the most important, and often misunderstood, elements of long-term success.

Please support the panelists:

https://www.yourgolfmarketing.co.uk/

https://www.playmore.golf/

https://www.59clubuk.com/

https://www.hospitalityingolf.com/

Connect with Us:

Instagram: @golfclubtalkuk

Website: Golf Club Talk UK

https://www.linkedin.com/in/leighton-walker-2708b627/

A big thanks to our partner - Toro

Click here for more information

https://eddiebullockgolf.com/

Support us here:

https://buymeacoffee.com/gctuk

Rate & Review Please leave a 5-star review and share this episode with your golf circle!

We're delighted to welcome The Revenue Club as our newest partner on GCTUK. In this episode, we take a deep dive into how The Revenue Club supports golf clubs in maximising their online revenue through a combination of dynamic pricing, digital marketing, and insightful performance reporting.

Founders Rob Corcoran and Chris Knight join us to discuss why online sales have become increasingly critical for golf clubs, and how better use of data can help clubs shape a stronger and more profitable visitor strategy. We explore what dynamic pricing really means in a golf club context, how it can be implemented effectively, and the common challenges clubs face when moving away from traditional pricing models.

The conversation also covers how golf clubs can make better use of their online marketing channels to drive demand, convert bookings, and build long-term value, as well as the evolving trends we're seeing in online bookings and consumer behaviour. Finally, Rob and Chris share insights on what comes next once clubs feel they've "cracked the basics" and are ready to take their online revenue strategy to the next level.

We look forward to future discussions with Rob, Chris, and the wider team at The Revenue Club as we continue working together to help clubs maximise their online revenue.

https://www.therevenueclub.co.uk/

Connect with Us:

Instagram: @golfclubtalkuk

Website: Golf Club Talk UK

https://www.linkedin.com/in/leighton-walker-2708b627/

A big thanks to our partner - Toro

Click here for more information

https://eddiebullockgolf.com/

Support us here:

https://buymeacoffee.com/gctuk

Rate & Review Please leave a 5-star review and share this episode with your golf circle!

In this episode, we recap both 2025 so far and the Golf Club Management Conference & Exhibition held in November.

First, we're joined by the GCMA team — Tom Brooke, Gareth Morgan, Darren Wood, and Natalie McColl — as we explore the key areas of the association. They highlight recent successes and provide an update on the value GCMA membership offers. The conversation covers professional development, partnerships, membership benefits, and new initiatives designed to support golf club managers.

We're then joined by Lisa Harrop of Marton Meadows Golf Club and Rhys Morgan of Newport Golf Club to reflect on the conference itself. Both were finalists in the awards, with Lisa and the team at Marton Meadows proudly taking home the Team of the Year award. They share their highlights, favourite moments, and key takeaways from the event.

Even if you couldn't attend the conference — or if you're not currently a GCMA member — this episode is well worth a listen.

www.gcma.org.uk

Connect with Us:

Instagram: @golfclubtalkuk

Website: Golf Club Talk UK

https://www.linkedin.com/in/leighton-walker-2708b627/

A big thanks to our partner - Toro

Click here for more information

https://eddiebullockgolf.com/

Support us here:

https://buymeacoffee.com/gctuk

Rate & Review Please leave a 5-star review and share this episode with your golf circle!

Brought to you by Toro

In this episode, we head to the striking Island of Madeira, an autonomous region of Portugal located off the northwest coast of Africa. While Madeira isn't traditionally thought of as a golf destination, it carries nearly 100 years of golfing history and features three courses across two islands—Palheiro, Santo da Serra, and Porto Santo. The islands have also played host to the Madeira Open on the European Tour for many years. And with a fourth course under construction at Ponta do Pargo, Madeira's golf future looks brighter than ever. (Stay tuned for an upcoming episode on that spectacular project.)

This episode focuses on "Golf in Madeira"—both the golf experience itself and the company of the same name. Our first guest, Andre Rodriguez, owner of Golf in Madeira, shares insights into:

• The unique character of golf on the island

• What makes each course distinct

• Why Madeira offers much more than a stand-alone golf holiday

Beyond golf, Andre highlights Madeira's incredible range of activities, including whale and dolphin watching, surfing, hiking, mountain biking, and more.

We're then joined by Henrique Duarte of Irrimac, the Toro distributor for the region, and Ricardo Abreu, CEO of Santo da Serra. They take us through the story of Santo da Serra's history and the extraordinary challenge they faced when trying to create an irrigation solution for the course—and the surrounding community—when it was believed no workable solution existed. Together with Toro, they found one.

If you're searching for an exciting, evolving, and authentic golf destination, Madeira deserves a spot on your map.

https://www.golfinmadeira.com/

https://www.palheironatureestate.com/palheiro-golf.html

https://santodaserragolf.com/

https://portosantogolfe.com/

A big thanks to our Show Partner - Toro

Check them out here!

https://www.golfclubtalk.uk/the-green-print/

https://www.instagram.com/thegreenprintgolf/

https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-greenprint-golf/?viewAsMember=true

www.golfclubtalk.uk

[email protected]

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As 2025 closes out and 2026 approaches, Leighton, James and Eddie sit down for a reflective year-end conversation. The trio shares personal takeaways from 2025, highlights the GCTUK episode that resonated most, and looks ahead to what trends might shape the golf industry—both in the UK and globally—as we move into 2026 and beyond. It's an easy, insightful, and genuinely enjoyable discussion.

The episode then shifts as Eddie interviews Geoff Swain. Geoff, a former World Trick Shot Champion, has built a global career as an entertainer through his trick-shot shows, clinics, presenting, and corporate appearances. Geoff's story is both inspiring and candid—he talks openly about the significant health challenges he has faced, how he pushed through them, and how he continues to deliver world-class entertainment. A great conversation with a great storyteller.

https://www.geoffswaingolfunplugged.com/

Favourite episodes mentioned in our review:

Rob Climas - 128

Tony Adams - 124

Joe Kelly - 123

Andy Brown - 121

PGA of Canada - 129

Inclusivity in Golf - 117

Connect with Us:

Instagram: @golfclubtalkuk

Website: Golf Club Talk UK

https://www.linkedin.com/in/leighton-walker-2708b627/

A big thanks to our partner - Toro

Click here for more information

https://eddiebullockgolf.com/

Support us here:

https://buymeacoffee.com/gctuk

Rate & Review Please leave a 5-star review and share this episode with your golf circle!

Guests:

• Darren Redwood – Your Golf Marketing

• James Brockington – General Manager, Henley Golf Club & GCTUK

• Alastair Sinclair – Play More Golf

• Sarah-Jane (SJ) Shepherd – 59 Club

• Tony Adams – Hospitality in Golf

In this first episode of our three-part series, we take a deep dive into the culture of golf—both at the club level and across the wider sport and industry.

Together with an expert panel immersed in golf operations, marketing, membership, service delivery, and hospitality, we explore:

• Where the culture of golf currently stands

• What the sport does well

• What needs to evolve to meet modern expectations

• How clubs can build environments that fit a range of demographics, age groups, and golfing ethos

• Why getting the offer, service, arrival experience, and welcome right is more important than ever

Part of the conversation focuses on inclusivity, especially within the women's game. We discuss the opportunities the industry is missing, the size of this underserved market, and what meaningful improvements could look like.

This is a fascinating, insightful discussion with people who shape the game and live club life every day. A must-listen for anyone invested in the future of golf.

Please support the panelists:

https://www.yourgolfmarketing.co.uk/

https://www.playmore.golf/

https://www.59clubuk.com/

https://www.hospitalityingolf.com/

Connect with Us:

Instagram: @golfclubtalkuk

Website: Golf Club Talk UK

https://www.linkedin.com/in/leighton-walker-2708b627/

A big thanks to our partner - Toro

Click here for more information

https://eddiebullockgolf.com/

Support us here:

https://buymeacoffee.com/gctuk

Rate & Review Please leave a 5-star review and share this episode with your golf circle!

In this episode, we dive into one of the standout industry events of the year: the GCAE Conference in Madeira (9-12 November). We're joined by Renate Roeleveld, CEO and organiser of this exceptional gathering, to explore event highlights and unpack some of the biggest themes shaping the future of the game.

From mindset and psychology, to technology, evolving business models, driving ranges, and the ever-relevant discussion of AI vs. humans, Renate shares valuable insights into how the industry is adapting and driving change.

To round out the episode, we feature three conversations recorded on-site, with key presenters from the conference:

• Jay Karen – CEO of the NGCOA

• Bartel Berkhout – CEO & Founder of SportsInq

• Monique Landman – Chief Empathy Officer at Unchain

Each guest brings thoughtful, practical takeaways from their sessions—ideal for anyone looking to better understand where the industry is headed.

Whether you attended the conference or missed it this year, this episode is packed with perspectives you won't want to miss.

https://gcae.eu/

Connect with Us:

Instagram: @golfclubtalkuk

Website: Golf Club Talk UK

https://www.linkedin.com/in/leighton-walker-2708b627/

A big thanks to our partner - Toro

Click here for more information

https://eddiebullockgolf.com/

Support us here:

https://buymeacoffee.com/gctuk

Rate & Review Please leave a 5-star review and share this episode with your golf circle!