The CMAE is delighted to announce that Phil Jones, General Manager has gained the internationally renowned Certified Club Manager (CCM) certification.
With over 22 years of international management experience, Jones has significantly contributed to the growth and success of various organisations across the Middle East, Russia, Azerbaijan, and more recently, Saudi Arabia.
The CCM designation has been the hallmark of professionalism in club management since 1965 and is the cornerstone of CMAE’s education programme. It is recognised globally as a valuable and widely respected mark of a manager’s commitment to professional development and the club industry.
The CCM certification, awarded by the Club Management Association of Europe (CMAE), is a testament to Jones’ comprehensive knowledge and professional expertise in club management.
In this Q&A we look at Phil’s journey towards gaining his CCM
Well done on achieving the CCM, Phil Jones. How happy are you right now?
Delighted to finally sit the exam back in the UK, after attending the World Conference in March 2024, the CCM qualification was next on the list.
You are back in the UK now after a long time away – tell us about your journey. What are your plans now?
Looking back, my club management journey started internationally in 2001 when I left the UK for Bahrain as a PGA professional coaching the game. Moving into Club Operations and Management has given me the opportunity of living in many “newer” golf countries such as Bahrain, Kuwait, Russia, Azerbaijan and more recently Saudi Arabia. It’s been rewarding to support owners and investors with the pre-opening of courses, residential gated communities, a branded hotel and share the benefits of “What is Golf and Why Golf?”
The growth of golf within a country’s economy is at an exciting point in time with governments seeing it as a great opportunity to support their future vision. Whether it’s offering a lifestyle and new sport for their citizens, or creating unique hospitality experiences for visiting tourists to enjoy, Golf covers so much more than the traditional club model.
As regards my next chapter, I am already looking forward to what that will entail and getting the passport and suitcase back in use! You don’t realize how much a break refreshes you from the day-to -day, so having some down time has been great.
What about your own CCM journey? You started early, have taken your time with it – what are Your highlights from them?
The pathway has developed a lot since I started on MDP 1 in Stirling several years ago. Newer MDP’s such as F&B and Strategy & Leadership have been stand-out weeks for me. Based overseas I have taken advantage of MDP’s held in the UK and Spain, as well as attending a couple of World & European conferences to keep in touch with as many peers as possible. Seeing the education offering grow in the UAE has helped many colleagues from the Gulf countries start their pathway closer to home which is a huge positive.
Any recommendation for people considering the MDP Pathway? Or becoming a CCM?
I encourage all Club associates to run their education parallel to the “day job”. In a service environment it’s great to give yourself something in return for the commitment to the clubs and entities we operate. In terms of career progression, the CMAE qualifications certainly support opportunities overseas as well as assisting the work permissions and visas needed when employed outside your home country. I would strongly encourage everyone who has gained the CM Diploma to go ahead and choose the level 3 MDP’s that suit their career path and push on towards CCM certification!
