The Club Management Association of Europe (CMAE) is delighted to announce that Paul Mills, General Manager of Nairn 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 individuals who demonstrate excellence across leadership, governance, finance, operations, and member experience. Paul’s achievement marks the culmination of years of development, education, and hands-on experience within the club industry.
Paul has served as General Manager at Nairn Golf Club for the past four years, leading one of Scotland’s most respected traditional members’ clubs. Situated on the shores of the Moray Firth in the Scottish Highlands, Nairn is renowned not only for its outstanding golf course but also for its strong sense of heritage, community, and hospitality.
Torbjörn Johansson, CEO of CMAE, commented:
“Paul’s achievement of the CCM is a fantastic accomplishment and a reflection of his dedication to learning, leadership and the profession. His journey from greenkeeping into general management highlights both the diversity of pathways within our industry and the value of continuous development. We are delighted to welcome Paul into the CCM community and congratulate him on this well-earned success.”
Before moving into club management, Paul built his career in greenkeeping and agronomy, developing a deep understanding of the game from the ground up. His transition into management reflects both his ambition and his passion for the wider club environment, combining operational leadership with a strong appreciation for the traditions and values of the game.
Now a CCM, Paul joins a global network of club management professionals who are setting the standard for excellence across the industry.
Q&A with Paul Mills, CCM
General Manager, Nairn Golf Club
Congratulations Paul – You are now a CCM. What is your feeling after three tough days on the review course before sitting the exam and passing it?
Relief and elation. This is a culmination of development, training, education, and experience since starting my first MDP 1 online during COVID. Until Jason and Toby embraced me upon confirming my CCM, I had not really thought about how much it meant to me. For someone that tries to keep his cards close to his chest, the weight of emotion hit me like a steam train. I caught myself whistling when making my way across London on the Friday morning. The study week is intense but was essential for me. My preparation had not gone as I would have liked because of the reality of life at the Club, probably the exact reason the course was devised. Pleased it is all over and I can enjoy this. Delighted and proud.
You have spent the last 4 years as GM at Nairn Golf Club in Northern Scotland. How have you enjoyed those years and how would you describe the club?
It was a source of immense pride to be appointed as successor to Colin Sinclair (now Secretary of Royal St George’s GC) at Nairn Golf Club. Colin left me a good hand and had contributed to some good Governance work at the Club amongst other things. It has been a privilege to work for the membership and Board of Management in the last 4 years and I hope that I will have the opportunity to continue to do so in the future. I inherited good people, and we have a fine team. We are looking to progress all of the time, and you will have seen a lot of them starting their MDP journeys with CMAE over the last few years. Kiefer Brown CMdip just leaving us to take up his first role as General Manager at Boat of Garten. He will do great, and I am sure will be a future CCM.
The Club is in a beautiful location on the shores of the Moray firth in the Highlands of Scotland. First and foremost, the Club is a private members club. This is reflected in the way we display our heritage, demonstrate our pride, and promote the club through our hospitality and Highland welcome. The Highlands and its people combine to make a special place. I get to collaborate externally with great people and Clubs through my Golf Highland role. With the Highland Golf Links Partnership, I have fantastic mentors and examples in Neil Hampton at Royal Dornoch and Mark Wright, Jeremy Matte and previously Stuart McColm at Cabot Highlands. Our three Hotel partners in that group are a wealth of information and experience. I am a happy Club Manager, and I am truly appreciative and grateful for my Club’s support in my development and for the support they allow me to afford our brilliant people with their training and education.
Before becoming a GM, your background was in greenkeeping/agronomy – what made you decide to move into Club Management?
Yes, a great passion and fascination is the art of Greenkeeping, I miss the lifestyle very much. The free exercise, the elements. It is a healthy lifestyle and a great career choice. But Club Management fascinated me, and I always envisaged progressing towards that career at some point. Admittedly later than materialised. As we know the various disciplines of Club Management make it extremely diverse, challenging, interesting and compelling. As stated above, I have a great group of people here at Nairn who are very talented.
If someone asks – who is Paul Mills – what would you answer?
45 years old, son to my dear old Mum, Dad to two wonderful daughters Nell and Beatrice, fiancé to the beautiful Sophie. Working class lad who left school with very little academic achievement that wanted to work. Fell into a job he loved in Greenkeeping because of the game he loved – Golf. Got lucky from then on.
Privileged to meet, learn and try to plagiarise the thoughts and behaviours of the many talented people that have and do tolerate me to this day. Not as soft as I look or sound, fortunately. Proud Englishman with a strong affinity for Scotland. Idolise Sir Alex Ferguson, Eric Cantona, Paul Gascoigne, and Jim Arthur. Fascinated by London and the USA, dream of retirement spent between Scotland and Spain. Glass half full kind of guy.
You have been on the CCM Pathway for a few years now, what are some of your best memories from it?
MDP2 in Stirling, announced as the Joe Perdue Bursary winner at that MDP, attendance at my first World Conference as a result of that bursary and seeing Les Durno CCM collect his award after many years of hard work. Mine and Les’s housemates on that trip that included Michael Braidwood, CCM. Seeing Jason’s team in operation, what a show they put on at that Conference. MDP3 in Budapest, what a city to spend time in with great people, learning. European Conference in London, staying with Mr Edward Plunkett, CCM at his wonderful City of London Club, downing G&Ts at George Best’s, best session rate in the wonderfully named Churchill’s bar. All equally special moments but the consistent threads amongst them are people, education, CMAE and CMAA. If I had to highlight names it would be remiss of me not to name Toby, Jason Koenigsfeld, Kevin Fish, CCM and Debbie Pern, CCM. But all of those involved deserve huge credit for the environment they have and continue to create. I have had the best time, thank you all.
With regards to your career in golf – now being a CCM – what would you recommend to young people thinking about career development?
If I can achieve CCM, anyone can. Latch on to good people, good people that are successful, and listen. Without doubt in my mind CMAA/CMAE Management Development Programme is the best course for your Club Management career trajectory or understanding. Experience European and World Conference, the latter blew me away with its quality, and I can’t wait to attend St Andrews 2026 and Chicago in 2027.
