59club Middle East and Africa has announced the winners of its inaugural Service Excellence awards supported by Golfbreaks.com. The presentation of the awards were due to take place at a gala dinner ceremony in the Westin Abu Dhabi Golf Resort and Spa this month. However, due to the outbreak of COVID – 19, the ceremony had to be cancelled.
The awards criteria was based on mystery service audits data, which was captured and benchmarked across 18 golf venues that 59club MEA supports in the region, during 2019. The awards recognise the most successful venues across the region in sales performance, staff attitude, internal processes and facility standards.
Gold, Silver and Bronze service excellence flags are also awarded to venues that have delivered the most consistent golf experiences throughout 2019, rewarding the overall team effort across each element of the 59club mystery testing report.
Dubai Creek Golf and Yacht Club managed to scoop an unprecedented total of five awards including Golf Operations Team of the Year and Golf Manager of the Year won by Michael Major.
On receiving the awards, Julian Danby, Commercial Manager at the Dubai Creek Golf and Yacht Club said:
“We are thrilled to have been recognised by 59club Middle East & Africa Service Excellence awards. This represents fantastic achievements across each area of our operation and rewards our team for the drive and passion they continually show in helping to deliver the highest of golf experiences for our members and guests.”
The Royal Golf Club, Bahrain also won two awards including Best Greenkeeper of the Year, William Evans and Food and Beverage Manager of the Year, Kim Marshall.
Neal Graham, Director 59club Middle East and Africa commented: “The Service Excellence Awards recognises the delivery of high levels of customer service and facility standards provided by venues across the region. Our non-subjective criteria assist clubs to constantly review and evolve their customer journey experience.”
Full list of Winners and Nominees:
Leading Individual Golf Membership Sales Performance, Winner: George Wearden, Dubai Creek Golf and Yacht Club
Nominees: Rhys James, Emirates Golf Club and Khay-Gin Aniciete, Trump International Dubai
Golf Membership Sales Team of the Year, Winner: Dubai Creek Golf and Yacht Club
Nominees: Emirates Golf Club and Trump International Dubai
Golf Retail Manager of the Year, Winner: Gregorio Gonzales, Dubai Creek Golf and Yacht Club
Nominees: Ervin Cabiles, Trump International Dubai and Alex Heler, Abu Dhabi City Golf Club
Golf Manager of the Year, Winner: Michael Major, Dubai Creek Golf and Yacht Club
Nominees: Phil Waine, Trump International Dubai and Cian Hurley, Emirates Golf Club
Golf Operations Team of the Year, Winner: Dubai Creek Golf and Yacht Club
Nominees: Trump International Dubai and Jumeirah Golf Estates
Food and Beverage Manager of the Year, Winner: Kim Marshall, Royal Golf Club, Bahrain
Nominees: Pattabi Raman, Dubai Creek Golf and Yacht Club and Andy Heath, Trump International Dubai
Greenkeeper of the Year, Winner: William Evans, Royal Golf Club, Bahrain
Nominees: Ben Griffiths, Trump International Dubai and Matthew Perry, Emirates Golf Club
Gold Flag Winners
- Abu Dhabi Golf Club
- Dubai Creek Golf and Yacht Club
- Emirates Golf Club
- Jumeirah Golf Estates
- Royal Golf Club, Bahrain
- Saadiyat Beach Golf Club
- The Els Club, Dubai
- Trump International Golf Club, Dubai
Silver Flag Winners:
- Abu Dhabi City Golf Club
- Education City Golf Club, Doha
- Yas Links Golf Club
