Sunday, February 17, 2019

Country Club Strategic Planning Guide

By Martha Johnson


Country clubs are exciting places to relax and have fun with members, friends as well as family. To meet this goal for its members, a detailed country club strategic planning activity is necessary. While the process of developing a plan is almost similar in all situations, there are unique elements that need to be considered in this case.

Conduct a reality check of your current situation. This is done in conjunction with stakeholders who look up to the management for guidance. You are supposed to assess how well you have lived up to expectations, resources available, membership and how you are fairing compared to peers. Be as truthful as possible to enable you make realistic and workable plans.

The participation of stakeholders in your organization is crucial in the success of plans made. Clubs have owners and members but they interact with suppliers, workers, guests and neighbors, among other parties. By collecting the views of these partners, you will create an environment where everyone feels welcome and a partner. Once you propose changes, it will be easier to implement them because they will be embraced.

Focus on your vision for the club. Strategic planning is about enhancing the image and performance of an organization beyond making it competitive for the future. All your plans should focus on solving existing challenges and offering a competitive package to your members. The vision should involve all elements including the ground, partners and regulators. Do not forget where you have come from because shifting the base drastically could cause problems.

What resources are required and where will you get them from. It is the desire of all clubs to be at the top of the industry in an instance. This wish cannot be achieved without resources. Be realistic about what members can afford and how much the business can raise. Be realistic in your plans to avoid making ridiculous plans that will never turn out to be.

There is need to be conscious of the environment you are operating. There are industry changes that will either add or take away members. People might settle nearby or relocate. The economy will also affect service delivery. Old members or pioneers have a say but new members must also be accommodated. The government will also pass regulations that affect your operations. Be ready for such situations because they will definitely come.

Implementation of the plans made will be more taxing than developing them. People are always resistant to change. It therefore requires a lot of resources to make these changes. People also take time to accept and feel comfortable about the changes. Be prepared for this resistance but it should not be a reason to return to the old way of doing things.

Develop a plan that is unique to your situation and one that will serve your desired needs. Set time limits for implementation of ideas developed. Find the most effective way of involving everyone who has a stake in the organization to enhance effectiveness of the plans you make. Leave room for learning and implementing changes that may be necessary as you move forward.




About the Author:



No comments:

Post a Comment