A glorious outlook with David Roodt
By Murray White
There is absolutely no doubt about it and more importantly than ever, how the many golf businesses and clubs are embracing change and being innovative after the monumental challenges and many speed bumps experienced in the past 18 months.
Enter and a warm welcome to David Roodt who has recently joined Glendower Golf Club as General Manager. If you have not played Glendower yet, then you really are missing out on something truly special. A genuine historic venue within Johannesburg. Humble beginnings from 1935 when 10 businessmen formed a company and purchased “Glendower” farm with the intention of developing a country club. English golf architect Charles Hugh Alison and South African professional golfer A.F. Tomsett headed up the initial design. Opening in March 1937 and within 2 years was able to host it’s first major tournament “The Transvaal Open Championship” won by the legendary Mr A.D “Bobby” Locke with a world record score at the time of 265 (rounds of 66, 69, 66 and 64). Another bragging right was in 1946 when 40 professionals from South Africa and Rhodesia played in a tournament for the largest purse in SA tournament golf – £100 pounds.
Having been the host club to eight South African Opens, there is no doubt about it, that this is a real championship course. In 1997, Vijay Singh became the first non-white player to win a South African Open at the course. In 1973 the club was proclaimed a nature reserve in order to protect the phenomenal birdlife (I would term this as an early adopter on the visionary ecological aspect of the club). Bearing in mind that the Blue Crane is the logo for the club.
As you enter the clubhouse you can feel this rich golfing heritage and get a warm greeting from the Irene (the receptionist) and you instantly feel welcome at the club. I was so impressed with the many great “hello’s” and a massive contrast to other courses in the area who completely miss this authentic hospitality. David understands this and has injected his own brand of “sweetness”, and I for one am super excited to see where his innovative thinking and collaborative approach go in the years to come. The small things say everything, as David welcomed me in for this interview and I just couldn’t help but notice how he leads by example, by picking up a piece of paper and smiling the whole way through while en-route to a newly revamped clubhouse and restaurant area.
You can’t call it innovation unless it hasn’t been done!
This welcoming and warm atmosphere is all a part of David’s plan as he would love to see it become more of a “club” than just a top-rated championship course and golf destination. A place where people can eat, work, relax and play. More traffic will always increase revenue and as a golf business you just cannot turn your nose up at that fact. Older members do struggle to see this sometimes, as they have their own agendas and historic entitlement, but find me an established club with older members who doesn’t have this issue? The other argument is, what’s fair after decades of support for the club from those loyal and great members? It is sometimes tricky and certainly not something to disregard.
The range at Glendower was sold off recently and plans include a retirement village and safe housing development for the elderly in the area. This has given the club a good capital injection and a portion of the money will go into further developments and upgrades into the clubs future and growth. David is pretty honest about this and one can admire this attribute.
David’s upcoming ideas and future plans
- – Building two Padel courts. (Padel is one of the fastest-growing sports in Europe and an incredibly fun game for anyone who enjoys playing a racquet sport).
- – Development of the first maintenance-free and interactive golf range in South Africa. Full astroturf with different coloured greens (that could also double up as a mashie course for golf clinics, activations and events). Natural ball collection and funnelling, zero water usage, interactive and all-round access to swing data for members and invested parties. Now that is innovative thinking.
- – A Hybrid Trail for trail runners and mountain bikers.
- – Fully genderless and offering total equality with memberships. Ladies will have equal voting and booking rights.
- – Parking bays are auctioned off instead of the committee entitlement and yes, archaic thinking. More importantly, this is another revenue-generating idea for the club.
- – Converting the Clubhouse into a double-decker venue with a gin bar on the upper floor where the younger members can embrace the lifestyle and grow the culture of mixing with fellow members.
- – Develop a thriving junior golf and development program.
David has his one, three and five-year strategies and plans in place. What’s also really optimistic and promising is that he has the support and belief from his committee and other stakeholders. They have hired him to do a job and back his extensive experience and vision of where golf should be going.
Davids Tip…
Be a true gentleman, great manners will always make a bad situation so much easier to deal with. If your staff are unable to say hello and make your members feel at home. Then you have a serious problem and are completely missing the point of the service industry. Golf should be fun, fun for all and it is a lifestyle.
If you are looking to sign up or enquire about membership you can call the club on 011 453 1013 or email golf@glendower.co.za or visit www.glendower.co.za. There is a midweek special on at the moment, plus year-end functions and golf days bookings are available. There is certainly something for everyone at Glendower this coming festive season and for 2022.
