The Club Management Association of Europe (CMAE) is proud to announce that Domenico Di Bari, Club Operations Manager at Golf Club Lugano, has achieved the prestigious Certified Club Manager (CCM) designation.
The CCM is the highest level of professional recognition in club management, awarded to individuals who complete the BMI pathway, demonstrating excellence across leadership, governance, finance, operations, and member experience. Domencico’s achievement reflects a truly international career and a long-standing commitment to professional development within the club industry.
With a career spanning nearly 30 years in the golf industry, Domenico’s journey has taken him across some of the most historic clubs in Northern Italy before moving to Switzerland. Starting as an accountant at Golf Club Le Pavoniere, he progressed through a variety of roles before becoming a Club Manager and now Club Operations Manager at Golf Club Lugano.
Torbjorn Johansson, CEO of CMAE, commented:
“Domenico’s journey to achieving the CCM is a fantastic example of commitment, resilience, and belief in professional development. To pursue the pathway over many years, and in a second language, demonstrates real determination. We are delighted to welcome him to the CCM community.”
Reflecting on his CCM journey, Domenico highlights the people and experiences as the most memorable aspects, from building connections with industry peers to attending global events such as the World Conference in Las Vegas. He also credits mentors, including former CMAE President Arnaldo Cocuzza, for encouraging him to embark on the pathway.
Congratulations Domenico – You are now a CCM. What is your feeling after working for it for a long time, and also of course not having English as your first language?
This pathway started 10 years ago when I attended the only MDP programme organized in Italy, held at the Terre dei Consoli Golf Club. I knew about the CMAE thanks Arnaldo Cocuzza (Former President of CMAE) who was my first GM in the golf industry and one of my closest friends. He encouraged me to embark on the CMAE programme, knowing it would be a demanding challenge. I decided to take this opportunity because I need and I like challenges and it seemed like a great career opportunity. In Italy the CMAE at that time wasn’t known and it still isn’t so I had to support entirely all the pathway. Anyway, I’m happy and proud of me to do this pathway till the CCM Exam.
Your Journey within golf have seen you in a number of clubs in Northern Italy – plus now in Lugano, Switzerland? Tell us more about it.
30 years ago, I knew nothing about golf industry, but I was immediately captivated by it when I started working in my first Golf Club in Tuscany (Golf Club Le Pavoniere – Prato) where I’m from. I have spent most of my career at golf clubs in northern Italy, including in Piemonte (Royal Park-I Roveri Torino) and Lombardia (Golf Club Milano and Barlassina Country Club), and I am now at Golf Club Lugano in Switzerland. All historic golf clubs. I started as an accountant at Le Pavoniere Golf and after holding various roles, I took on the position of manager at Barlassina Golf Club; now I’m Golf operations in Lugano.
What is different in Switzerland compared to the clubs in Italy?
I can summarize three main concepts based on my personal experiences, 28 years in Italy and only 2 in Switzerland:
- Number of Golf Players – Budget
- Management (Board of directors)
- Staff (number of employees) and time for personal life
Number of Golf Players – Budget. In Italy many Golf Clubs are struggling with their budget. In Italy there aren’t enough golfers to support all the existing golf clubs. There are about 90,000 golfers and more than 400 Golf Facilities (from 36 holes to only Driving range). The golf tourism is not supported by Italian Golf Federation and Clubs.
Management. Most of the time in Italy the Golf Clubs are managed directly from the Board of Directors, and the Manager execute their directive. They feel responsible for everything. Here in Switzerland the Manger manage and the Board set the policy.
Staff. In Switzerland where the Clubs have an adequate budget, staffing levels are sufficient to ensure reasonable work schedules and give employees the time for their personal life. Nowadays, especially after the covid period, people give more importance to their personal belongings and need time to spend with them.
You have been on the CCM Pathway for a few years now, what are some of your best memories from it?
I have many CCM pathways memories but the most important for me are Connection with other managers, Organization and Professionalism of the CMAE Borad / Speakers and Learning Learning Learning, all of these aspects combined with amazing experiences as World Conference Las Vegas and all the MDP I attended, make an exclusive career development path.
I think that the desire of knowledge and professional development is inherent in us but as happen to me sometimes you needed someone to suggest the CMAE pathway because especially in Italy CMAE is not so known as much as in another country. In any case, in recent years, thanks to your participation in the AITG (Italian Association of Golf Technicians) conference and the efforts of some Italian CCM colleagues, the CMAE has gained recognition.
With regards to your career within golf – now being a CCM – what would you recommend young people thinking about career development?
In the future I would like to be the person who is going to push someone else on this pathway. CMAE gives the chance to work around the world and network with other managers to enhance your professional knowledge. I would strongly recommend the CMAE program to young people. I think the important thing is to get started, and then they’ll be definitely fascinated and drawn in by this pathway.
