The Glasshouse
Hi Joel, congratulations on your new role! How are you feeling about it?
It’s a dream come true. Taking on this role is something that I am extremely honoured by as I’ll be continuing to work alongside an outstanding team who offer world-class service and hospitality. I very much look forward to collaborating with the wider team to improve the golf experience and build on the legacy created by my predecessors.
Can you tell us more about your career background?
I started my golf career at Trump Aberdeen in 2012 as a caddy and did this for a couple of seasons before joining the Golf Operations team in 2014. I had stints working in the hotel in the Guest Services team, before taking on the role of Golf Coordinator which involved delivering and managing events. In January 2017 I joined the Sales and Marketing team to support in the launch of a new membership programme at Trump Aberdeen.
In October 2017 I sought slightly warmer climates down south and made the decision to join The Grove as Golf Events Manager. I quickly fell in love with The Grove and all that it has to offer and was often, and still am, in awe of the property and what we achieve day in, day out.
In 2018 I took on the role of Golf Sales Manager and took responsibility of the Group Golf business which was a great step for me and provided greater exposure to the wider business. Then, in 2021 I was promoted to Head of Golf Sales where I became responsible for the golf revenue and worked with our Director of Golf to strategise and continue to capitalise on the boom that the industry was experiencing. Despite this increase in demand, we were always conscious of delivering the most welcoming, world-class experience in golf – a mission in our department we live by every day.
I have been incredibly fortunate to have a fantastic mentor in Brad Gould, helping me along the way, and an amazing team who are a true asset to The Grove.
How is the golf course looking going into the warmer months?
As we head into spring, the golf course is looking fantastic. As we know, it has been an incredibly wet winter – one of the wettest on record – but despite this, Will Evans, our Golf Course and Estates Manager and Sam Reid, our Head Greenkeeper and their team, do an exceptional job of presenting the golf course day in and day out. They work with cultural practices that enable us to stand out from our competitors and other courses in the local area. I am really looking forward to the warmer (and longer) summer days and seeing the stunning fescue line our fairways once again!
Who is your favourite golfer and why?
Rory McIlroy – other than Tiger Woods in his prime, he for me is the modern-era golfer that on their day, would beat any other golfer in the field. He stands up for what he believes (rightly or wrongly) and he is a fantastic talisman for the sport.
What are your predictions for the next few years for the golf industry and resort?
Ever the optimist, I think the golf industry will continue to go from strength to strength. At a professional level, there is huge investment in the PGA Tour and LIV and I think the exposure the sport has received as a result of that will trickle down and increase appetite for people to engage with golf. Following a huge level of investment recently, I am confident that The Grove will continue to progress and evolve, as we continue to offer our unforgettable experiences to everyone who visits our 300 acres.
Walk in the footsteps of Tiger Woods
Play on our championship course
