The Club Management Association of Europe (CMAE) is proud to announce that Tom Scott, General Manager of Harpenden Golf Club, has achieved the prestigious Certified Club Manager (CCM) designation.
The CCM is the highest level of professional recognition in club management, awarded to leaders who demonstrate excellence across governance, strategy, finance, operations and member experience. Tom’s achievement reflects years of dedication to professional development and a commitment to continuous improvement both personally and for the benefit of his club and its members.
Tom has served as General Manager at Harpenden Golf Club since 2018, leading the club through a period of significant progress and development.
Torbjörn Johansson, CEO of CMAE, commented:
“Tom’s achievement of the CCM is a testament to his professionalism, focus and dedication to the club industry. The CCM journey requires commitment, resilience and a genuine desire to grow as a leader. Tom embodies those qualities, and we are delighted to welcome him into the global community of Certified Club Managers. Congratulations to him on this outstanding accomplishment.”
Q&A with Tom Scott, CCM
General Manager, Harpenden Golf Club
Congratulations Tom, our newest CCM. What are you feeling right now?
Thank you! I am very honoured and delighted to be recognised as a CCM. Achieving the accolade is far from just sitting an exam, in fact just gaining the industry experience and education to start thinking about sitting the final exam is an achievement in its own right. But to focus and get across the line brings a great sense of pride, alongside the inevitable relief.
You have been GM at Harpenden since 2018 – what do you love most about your job?
I absolutely love leading the Club and we have achieved an incredible amount in eight years; and we will see the same level of progress in the next chapter. Harpenden is a wonderful Club, with the current, and future, Members front and centre of the decision making. I am fortunate to work alongside such a committed team of staff and volunteers who genuinely want the very best for the Club for many years to come.
You started your career at Celtic Manor — how important was that in getting your career going?
It was probably the best possible start to my full-time working career. I was fortunate to gain exposure to a variety of roles which gave me a strong grounding and broad understanding of the various departments that come together to make the resort operate successfully. Growing up amongst a more traditional golfing environment, the exposure to what is achievable from a large-scale member and golfing experience really opened my eyes before moving back to club life.
When you think back on your MDP journey to CCM — what are the things you remember most?
The standout memories for me are all about coming together with your peers for the MDP courses. Stepping away from the day-to-day demands of work for five days to focus entirely on personal development, surrounded by like-minded professionals and quality presenters, was both enjoyable and incredibly valuable. It may sound cliché, but you genuinely learn just as much outside the classroom as you do within it during those weeks. The relationships built and conversations shared are a huge part of the experience, and I look forward to returning in the future.
You studied at Bournemouth University, Sports Management with Golf. Have you always known this was your pathway in life?
I realised a career within the golf industry was likely to be my path very early on, so studying at Bournemouth made perfect sense. It was actually the work placement from university that led to my first full-time role at Celtic Manor, so I am grateful for that introduction into the industry. Without that initial opportunity, my career may well have taken a different direction.
