Club Captain - Role and Responsibility

[Deleted member 16999]

Been a few posts from people handing over Captaincy lately and was wondering is it a standard role with a chance for you to a have a power trip, is it no more than a honorary position with no responsibilities? What did you expect to do and is it what the members think you do?

 

[Hobbit]

Been a few posts from people handing over Captaincy lately and was wondering is it a standard role with a chance for you to a have a power trip, is it no more than a honorary position with no responsibilities? What did you expect to do and is it what the members think you do?

different clubs do it differently. Some they're figureheads, others an MD.

 

[Robster59]

different clubs do it differently. Some they're figureheads, others an MD.

I've just been announced as next years Vice Captain at our club.
As we now have a Management Committee the Captain role is more of a figurehead rather than one of any real power.
I don't see it as a power trip as I hate the type of people who use it for that reason and try to be the big "I Am".
There are responsibilities and it does take a fair bit of your time so that's something I had to seriously think about before accepting. I didn't want to take the role and not carry it out to the best of my abilities.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Ours sits on the committee and is deeply involved in the day to day function of the club and so is more than a mere figurehead. I don't see it as any sort of power trip and speaking to those that have held the post, it's a year and half (ramping up from the Vice role to be ready for the full roll from day one) where golf can take a back seat and handicaps can rise. It's tiring, pleasurable, frustrating in equal measures but no-one I know has regretted a moment of it

 

[Deleted member 16999]

I've just been announced as next years Vice Captain at our club.
As we now have a Management Committee the Captain role is more of a figurehead rather than one of any real power.
I don't see it as a power trip as I hate the type of people who use it for that reason and try to be the big "I Am".
There are responsibilities and it does take a fair bit of your time so that's something I had to seriously think about before accepting. I didn't want to take the role and not carry it out to the best of my abilities.

Maybe the use of the words power trip are excessive, no ulterior motive in asking the question, what are the responsibilities he/she would have?

 

[Deleted member 16999]

Ours sits on the committee and is deeply involved in the day to day function of the club and so is more than a mere figurehead. I don't see it as any sort of power trip and speaking to those that have held the post, it's a year and half (ramping up from the Vice role to be ready for the full roll from day one) where golf can take a back seat and handicaps can rise. It's tiring, pleasurable, frustrating in equal measures but no-one I know has regretted a moment of it

If deeply involved in day to day function, how much authority do they carry?

 

[HomerJSimpson]

If deeply involved in day to day function, how much authority do they carry?

Not 100% sure but as they are on the management committee I would think they have a reasonable say. I assume (having never served I cannot be certain but will ask) that he'll get a vote same as everyone else on the committee about any changes to be made. Whether he gets a casting vote (I don't think so) or not I can't say

 

[Lump]

Dependant on the club, it can also be quite a sizeable financial commitment. Which, rightly or wrongly can rule out people from taking up the role. (only speaking from experience of the 2 clubs I've been members of)

 

[Bratty]

I did it a couple of years ago, while working full time.
Westerham is a propriety club, so the management take care if a lot of the running.
We have a committee, but the roles consist of Captain, Vice-Captain, Lady Captain, Vet's Captain, three handicap/comp secretaries and the GM and membership secretary (both management).
We meet every two months, get an update from management on works and general club information. Then over to each of us for any feedback from members and thoughts on potential improvements/works.
As for captaincy, you don't pay subs for the year, but are expected to spend that on prizes and events throughout the year.
You host three competitions, paying for everything from prizes to halfway house to auction/raffle prizes, but the other competitions pay for themselves generally.
You need to play in as many men's and mixed matches as possible, as well as all the stablefords and medals.
You can hold an away day or weekend, but don't have to.
And that's about it.

 

[Sats]

No idea really, they get their own parking space and sit on a committee to make decisions.

 

[Bratty]

No idea really, they get their own parking space and sit on a committee to make decisions.

Oops! Forgot to mention you get a parking space!

 

[bobmac]

Oops! Forgot to mention you get a parking space!

And free green fees at the majority of clubs

 

[moogie]

Main role, hopefully, is NOT to think he is the NEW OWNER of the Club....!!
I've seen examples at 2 clubs I've been at, where they suddenly think they're in charge of every aspect of the club, and cause mayhem and discontent.
Ranging from trying to redesign holes, plant trees, time and motion study on greenkeepers, and launching a vendetta against a steward, until he left.

A good captain, will just be a figurehead for the club, representing them at meetings, team events, big competitions, presentations, and social events.
Anything really above this, IMHO, is over stepping the mark.

My current club, has committees, and a management committee, (directors), our captain does sit on committee for his term of office too, but nothing more.

I've seen some very good club captains in my golfing life, but also 2 or 3 complete egotistic, destructive, KNOBS, that set out to leave their mark on a club, and succeeded, but in a very negative way

 

[Bratty]

And free green fees at the majority of clubs

Which I never had time to take up!!!
There's a chance I'll be doing it again in a couple of years time, and now I know how it all works, I'll definitely be making time to play some other courses on that basis.

 

[chrisd]

Main role, hopefully, is NOT to think he is the NEW OWNER of the Club....!!
I've seen examples at 2 clubs I've been at, where they suddenly think they're in charge of every aspect of the club, and cause mayhem and discontent.
Ranging from trying to redesign holes, plant trees, time and motion study on greenkeepers, and launching a vendetta against a steward, until he left.

A good captain, will just be a figurehead for the club, representing them at meetings, team events, big competitions, presentations, and social events.
Anything really above this, IMHO, is over stepping the mark.

My current club, has committees, and a management committee, (directors), our captain does sit on committee for his term of office too, but nothing more.

I've seen some very good club captains in my golfing life, but also 2 or 3 complete egotistic, destructive, KNOBS, that set out to leave their mark on a club, and succeeded, but in a very negative way

Pretty much this ^ with some variations

 

[JohnnyDee]

Just stepped down on Thursday night after having been ours for 2015.

It's was two year commitment, first as Vice and then my own year in office and anyone treating it as an ego-trip (and some do) is pretty pathetic.

Personally I saw it as an opportunity to give something back to the club that has given me so much. Captain should really be a figurehead who meets visitors, takes members day to day issues to board meetings and turns up to 'grip and grin' at all the major comps and events.

I was working during my tenure and thought hard before accepting the role, however I'm delighted to have done it and it was probably the only way I was going to get my name on an Honour Board too

It's something that I will look back on with immense fondness and pride.

Oh, and am I going to miss the parking space?

Hell yeah!!!

 

[richart]

Just stepped down on Thursday night after having been ours for 2015.

It's was two year commitment, first as Vice and then my own year in office and anyone treating it as an ego-trip (and some do) is pretty pathetic.

Personally I saw it as an opportunity to give something back to the club that has given me so much. Captain should really be a figurehead who meets visitors, takes members day to day issues to board meetings and turns up to 'grip and grin' at all the major comps and events.

I was working during my tenure and thought hard before accepting the role, however I'm delighted to have done it and it was probably the only way I was going to get my name on an Honour Board too

It's something that I will look back on with immense fondness and pride.

Oh, and am I going to miss the parking space?

Hell yeah!!!

Surprised you had time to join the forum, and to start so many threads.

 

[JohnnyDee]

Surprised you had time to join the forum, and to start so many threads.

When I joined here I'd just been on a "Multitasking for Men" course at the local night school that HID had got me for last Christmas - so it was all pretty easy and I made activities on this place my course work.

 

[chrisd]

When I joined here I'd just been on a "Multitasking for Men" course at the local night school that HID had got me for last Christmas - so it was all pretty easy and I made activities on this place my course work.

E - !

 

[Captainron]

Parking space is a great perk.
I remember a previous Captain at Spalding saying that the year had cost him around £7000 with all the functions and whatnot. Think most of that was in the bar mind.