By Ed Shanaphy, Club Governor
As summer kicks off and members return to the courts and courses, here’s a reminder I carry with me — from college admissions to club management: It’s not where you go. It’s what you do there.
That same principle applies to who we hire at our clubs. It’s not the résumé headline — it’s the service, the presence, the professionalism. A national tennis title or a five-star resort on the CV doesn’t guarantee great hospitality.
It’s not the great golf course that makes a great club. A truly great club is created by the staff through a dedication to member service.
Want to know who’s truly the right fit? Ask them if they ever go off duty. If they say never, you’re on the right track. Ask them if a member comes over to their table at a restaurant downtown, if they stand up and say “hello.”
Great clubs are built by great staff. Let’s hire for service — not just pedigree.
Ed Shanaphy did a lot at Duke University where he served as features editor at The Chronicle and completed his tenure as a music scholarship recipient majoring in history and political science. He received his Master’s degree at The London School of Economics. Ed served as a board member and then club president at Blackheath Lawn Tennis & Rugby Club in London. He is presently a member at Quail Valley Golf and River Club in Vero Beach, FL, Waccabuc Country Club in Westchester County, NY and Beverly Yacht Club, in Marion, MA. He is a former member of the Royal Automobile Club, Cumberland Lawn Tennis Club, and Home House in London, England and The Racquet Club in Manhattan, NY