On July 4, HR 1, the 2025 tax legislation was signed into law. The measure features the extension of several expiring tax cuts passed in 2017 and new tax reductions including new federal tax exemptions for qualifying tip and overtime income. There’s a lot to unpack here for clubs. In this episode, we’re joined by Brad Steele, a longtime collaborator, to talk more about what this means for the club industry. We’ll explore what we know about these two impactful changes and learn what details remain to be released with further regulatory guidance.

In this episode, we sit down with Tyler Bloom and Rachel Ridgeway, SHRM-CP, of Bloom Golf Partners to discuss Bloom Golf’s 2025 Workforce Trends Study. Released earlier this year, this study provides a comprehensive analysis of the current landscape, uncovering the expectations of workers in the golf industry, their views on career opportunities, and their thoughts on the key factors influencing their job satisfaction and retention. With a focus on both recruitment and workplace culture, this study offers valuable insights into how golf course leaders can adapt to the evolving workforce.

Access the study here: https://bloomgolfpartners.com/research/

In June, GGA Partners and CMAA released the 2025 Club Leaders Perspective Report, a report that benchmarks operational data and examines current trends across a wide spectrum of private club facilities. On this episode of the podcast, we dive into that report and other research with Michael Gregory from GGA Partners. Access the full report on CMAA Connect: https://connect.cmaa.org/viewdocument/gga-partnerscmaa-club-leaders-per-1?CommunityKey=43e436dc-e513-4cc6-94b0-34a8e734968f&tab=librarydocuments

It’s never a bad time of year to take time to review your club’s policies and procedures. They are essential for managing effectively and making sound decisions for your members, employees, and volunteer board members. What are these policies and what are the best practices for implementation? Let’s find out!

In this episode, we are diving into the article “Seven Essential Policies for Your Private Club in 2025”. We are excited to have all three authors from PKF O'Connor Davies with us today to dive into this important topic.

It is Hurricane season for our members on the Atlantic coast, running from June 1 to November 30. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) predicts an above-normal 2025 Atlantic hurricane season. It’s the perfect time to talk about disaster preparedness specifically when it comes to communications. Marc Ray, MCM, CCE, CHAE, is an expert in this area and we are so glad to have the opportunity to tap into his knowledge today. His monograph, Hurricane Communications with Internal Audiences in Private Gated Communities, provides communication guidance outlining recommendations for general managers to use in the event of a hurricane and addresses communication before and after a hurricane event.

You can read Marc’s monograph here: https://connect.cmaa.org/browse/mcmdocs

Advocate for the PAR Act: www.clubindustryvotes.org

We are thrilled to welcome back to our podcast, our favorite cyber security experts at Pulsar Security, a CMAA Alliance Partner, for answers to our questions. Pulsar Security is a cybersecurity company whose mission extends to protect clubs and their members against malicious attacks. The company is a Veteran, privately owned business built on vision and trust, whose leadership has extensive military experience enabling it to think strategically and plan beyond the problems at hand. We are excited to welcome back the CEO and Founder of Pulsar Security, Patrick Hynds and Chief Technology Officer Duane Laflotte.

In this episode, we’re joined by our 2025 Shark Tank competition winners: Molly Passow and Katherine Foerg from Niagara University. Their entry, Schedule Genie, uses Artificial Intelligence to assist in schedule coordination and management. You can view their whole presentation at World Conference (along with the other finalists’ presentations) on CMAA’s YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PYkor-0fuvM

The world of wine is constantly evolving, and staying updated with the latest trends is essential for enthusiasts and professionals alike. In this episode, we welcome back to the podcast Sam Lindsley and Chris DeChillo from Kopplin Kuebler and Wallace. Sam and Chris each have extensive experience in food and beverage and bring their perspectives to how you can enhance your members’ wine experiences at your clubs.

Books mentioned in this episode:

Cote D’Or: A Celebration of the Great Wines of Burgundy - https://www.amazon.com/C%C3%B4te-DOr-Celebration-Great-Burgundy/dp/0520212517

Wine Folly: Magnum Edition The Master Guide - https://www.amazon.com/Wine-Folly-Magnum-Master-Guide/dp/0525533893/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3KV1ARYX2C6NN&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.9d7RyDqPXlj2z0Q_iQW2Vdt7ahnF0kc-8huvyOgs0M0JPFbZg0p74ub_YZ7BrghgbY3ty4w6NVpY6o4tyFd60j0qwoVPgDe6qxCdAkgpvbWR6-LtcZF3WJCyPgjwfn1sGDVLVE_8OpTj51T6DihAsft8anBRN75ijbbJVzd739ofDtydJ8immmy7MKhoIBJsI0x0SRE2x6M8f6SbhjVEekvB6mkeRl_CqpQ-KgVTkmY.yTzgZWoi-RHg1-6PrH6bi5YwnYIwBU3fbFSDzcgdNJ0&dib_tag=se&keywords=Wine+Folly&qid=1745933051&s=books&sprefix=wine+folly%2Cstripbooks%2C316&sr=1-1

Windows on the World - https://a.co/d/6KNCwsA

On this episode, we are thrilled to be talking to the researcher behind a study published in the International Journal of Hospitality Management in January. The study focused on measuring the relationship benefits of membership in a private club. Milly Njeri Ph.D., Assistant Professor at the Dedman College of Hospitality at Florida State University, joined us to dive into her research and explore the questions she asked and the results that she found.

Read the article: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0278431924002834

On this episode, we are thrilled to talk to CMAA’s 2025 Chair Richard LaRocca, CCM, CCE. He shares his family history in clubs and hospitality, as well as his plans for the year and what’s most important to him.

Learn more about Richard: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZCR5y-RIZ_s

View Richard’s acceptance speech: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z1303Zc470I