What do you expect from your Club President

[Deleted member 18645]

Reason for asking is my friend's club looks like it will have two people standing at their AGM, the incumbent who is one of the worst players in the club and apparently knows sod all about the game, and one of the club's top players who officiates for the County.

So would you rather have someone who is simply mates with those who vote or someone who would more likely get things done because of his knowledge of the game?

 

[Lord Tyrion]

I feel you are leading the voters down a particular path here .

 

[ManinBlack]

At our club the President serves for a fixed term & is normally the longest serving past captain who hasn't previously been president. There is never a contest for the position.

 

[Deleted member 18588]

Depends upon what is the President's role.

In my view the Club President should be a figurehead drawn from the longer established membership and preferably will have previously had Captaincy/Committee experience.

His function should be to chair AGM's etc; and, if necessary, provide guidance and mediation when contentious issues arise.

The President, unlike Captain and Committee Members, should not be "hands on".

 

[Lord Tyrion]

In my past club the role was mainly ceremonial and as MM says, not hands on.

 

[GB72]

I will put my hands up and say I have no idea what the club president does or is expected to do. I shake his hand on presidents day and know that he has the best parking space but that is about it. I am sure there are plenty of duties but they are not made obvious to the average member.

 

[Deleted member 18645]

I feel you are leading the voters down a particular path here .

Heh heh heh - I've just found out this guy is not just off 28, he's not even scored over 26 points off that handicap in two years! So it's more a question of what sort of person would you want as the figurehead of your club.

 

[Lord Tyrion]

Dignified, a hand shaker, someone with the respect of the members of the club and likely to incur respect for your club when he meets Presidents or Captain's of other clubs. I would not say he needs to be the greatest golfer but he does need to be a decent person. He is your figurehead along with the Captain, perhaps even more so.

 

[Deleted member 15344]

The person's ability as a golfer should have zero baring on any position within the club

For me a president should be there to ensure everything ticks - he is the figurehead for the committee , helps out where he can but let's the day to day stuff be run by his committee

It's itrlevant if he plays of scratch or 28 and hasn't got over 20 points in his life

 

[Val]

Heh heh heh - I've just found out this guy is not just off 28, he's not even scored over 26 points off that handicap in two years! So it's more a question of what sort of person would you want as the figurehead of your club.

Neither has ours however he is an outstanding figurehead and longstanding member of our club and is looked up to by all members.

He is 77 years old (i think) and can hardly walk unaided now which may explain his game.

 

[Green Bay Hacker]

At our club the President serves for a fixed term & is normally the longest serving past captain who hasn't previously been president. There is never a contest for the position.

Pretty much the same as us. The president is an ex-captain and usually serves a two year term. They take up office in the same order they were captain, so as long as they are still members/alive it is a automatic. At a guess, there is about a fifteen year gap.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

We no longer have a president but our Patron is Prince Andrew so we expect very little from him. As a result we're rarely disappointed

 

[BesCumber]

Personally I would expect an approachable, friendly individual who treated everyone in the club with the same respect that they themselves would expect. Irrespective of age, gender or ability.
For me, the most important word in "golf club", is club. I can play golf anywhere, but my down time I like to spend somewhere I'm not being judged, because I'm cack at smacking a ball with a 3ft alloy stick.
Of course others may want something else, but it is largely a honourary position after all.

 

[MadAdey]

I think it depends really on the person. If both of them are suitable applicants for the position, then I would take the good golfer everyday of the week. I think that for the better golfer, he would take the role on as a chance to try and improve the course, rather than doing it for the social standing the position gets.

 

[louise_a]

Our president is from the men's section and serves for one year apart, from him hosting President's day I don't think he does anything else.

 

[Deleted member 18645]

Thanks guys - great feedback which is what this forum and the post was all about. From what I've been hearing, the current guy is a bit of a clown, knows nothing about the game, looks appalling out on the course and doesn't set a good example at all. Hence why I got asked what I thought. Seems like his days are numbered!

 

[rksquire]

I expect him / her to put on a great Presidents Day (with the pins in fairly accessible positions!), followed by food and drink. Maybe shake a few hands now and again.

Not sure their on-course ability has a bearing on their position - I imagine a 28 h/capper is equally capable as carrying out the role as a +3 player.

 

[Capella]

Depends a bit on the kind of club. In a very competitive, performance oriented golf club, I would expect the president to be a bit of a player himself, or at least to be well knowledged and passionate about the more athletic side of things, ideally has a few contacts to bring in sponsors + funds for tournaments etc. in a club that is focused more on social life, it is more important that he is a people's person, can speak publicly without embarrassing himself and is really interested in making the club an enjoyable place to be for all members.

 

[duncan mackie]

The person's ability as a golfer should have zero baring on any position within the club

For me a president should be there to ensure everything ticks - he is the figurehead for the committee , helps out where he can but let's the day to day stuff be run by his committee

It's itrlevant if he plays of scratch or 28 and hasn't got over 20 points in his life

Whilst it will vary hugely from club to club I agree 100% with this principle.

 

[DCB]

In a club that has a President, is there also a Club Captain ? I'm in a members club and we don't have a President, but, it looks as though his role is similar although not quite the same as our Club Captains role.