February 28, 2025
Professional Development
Ray and Sutton Achieve Master Club Manager Designation
The Club Management Association of America (CMAA) announces that members Marc D. Ray, MCM, CCE, CHAE, and Ward Sutton, MCM, CCE, PGA, have earned the prestigious Master Club Manager (MCM) designation. This significant achievement recognizes their outstanding contributions to the club industry, as well as their commitment to advancing the profession through knowledge-sharing and innovation.
In 1990, the CMAA Board of Directors entrusted its Certification Committee with the responsibility of developing the MCM designation. Since then, the committee has implemented a robust set of requirements and procedures, collectively known as the MCM Portfolio. This framework was designed to provide CMAA members with a professional development journey that is both meaningful and challenging, yet attainable, supporting excellence in the club management profession.
The MCM designation was officially bestowed to Ray and Sutton at the Opening Business Session of the recent 2025 CMAA World Conference & Club Business Expo in Tampa, FL. As the 24th and 25th members to achieve this distinguished CMAA designation, they join an accomplished group of club management professionals. Additionally, both new MCMs presented education sessions to attendees on their respective monographs during the World Conference.
Marc Ray is the General Manager/COO of St. Andrews Country Club in Boca Raton, FL. His monograph, Hurricane Communications with Internal Audiences in Private Gated Communities, provides communication guidance outlining recommendations for general managers to use in the event of a hurricane and addresses communication before and after a hurricane event. Ray explains “The best time to respond to a hurricane is before it happens. A relatively small investment of time and money now may prevent severe damage and disruption of life and business in the future. These communication recommendations are vital for managers to follow to mitigate the angst and uncertainty that comes with a natural disaster.”
Ward Sutton is currently the General Manager of Kent Country Club in Grand Rapids, MI. His monograph, Employer of Choice Principles at Private Clubs, provides strategies for building a motivated team, and practical tips for club executives striving to become employers of choice. He explains, “Employer of choice is a term that gets thrown around a lot, but its meaning can vary widely. For me, it’s about attracting and retaining staff by treating them with the same care and respect as members. Amenities attract employees, but relationships keep them. Building meaningful connections with staff, being engaged in their lives, and supporting their goals—whether they’re at the club or pursuing opportunities elsewhere—are critical. It’s not just about providing competitive compensation and benefits; it’s about creating a culture where people feel valued and part of something bigger than themselves.”
All MCM monographs are available to the entire club industry online
Membership and Member Benefits
Chapter of the Year Winners Announced at Conference
Outstanding chapters were honored at CMAA’s World Conference & Club Business Expo in Tampa, FL. The Chapter of the Year (COY) award competition recognizes outstanding work, participation, and accomplishments by CMAA Chapters. Many chapters worked hard to fill the top spots, a fact that was reflected in the extremely close races in each of the chapter size categories. Top honors went to:
Small Chapters:
First Place: Nebraska Chapter
Second Place: Alabama Chapter
Third Place: Utah Chapter
Medium Chapters:
First Place: Oregon Chapter
Second Place: City of New York Chapter
Third Place: Upper Midwest Chapter
Large Chapters:
First Place: Golden State Chapter
Second Place: (tie) Carolinas Chapter and Connecticut Chapter
Third Place (tie): Greater Illinois and New Jersey Chapters
Congratulations to these chapters on this time-honored achievement. To reward the winning Chapters’ efforts, each first-place Chapter is eligible to receive a $3,000 Education Grant; second-place Chapters are eligible to receive $2,000 Education Grant; and third-place Chapters are eligible to receive a $1,000 Education Grant, all sponsored by The Club Foundation.
Impressive accomplishments were abundant—all CMAA members should be proud of the level of excellence that exists within the Association’s chapter system.
Congratulations to the Student Chapter of the Year Winners
At the 2025 World Conference & Club Business Expo, we recognized the 2023-2024 Student Chapter of the Year winners. They exemplified outstanding Student Chapter activity, excellence, and met all requirements and criteria.
- Small Chapter of the Year: University of Delaware
- Medium Chapter of the Year: Virginia Tech
- Large Chapter of the Year: Johnson & Wales, Providence
Congratulations, once again, to these Student Chapters for their achievements!
Student chapters are encouraged to apply for the 2024-2025 Student Chapter of the Year award. The Student Chapter of the Year Award recognizes the outstanding work and successful accomplishments of the Student Chapters.
This program reflects the student academic year and runs from August 1-April 30. There will be a Student Chapter of the Year winner for each size category. Any information submitted after April 30 will NOT be considered, so be sure your chapter turns in documents in a timely manner.
The Club Foundation proudly funds complimentary conference registrations for five members of each winning Student Chapter to attend either the CMAA World Conference and Club Business Expo (WC) or CMAA’s National Student Education Conference (NSEC). The winners will also be recognized during the National Student Education Conference and the World Conference and Club Business Expo.
Entries are due May 15. Don’t miss the opportunity to showcase your chapter’s impact and accomplishments!
Features
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Resources
Could No Tax on Tip Proposals Impact the Future of Tipping in Private Clubs?
A notable 63.2 percent of clubs have transitioned away from traditional tipping models to service charges for member dining. However, with new legislative proposals aiming to make tips tax-free, clubs may soon find themselves reevaluating their approach.
Recent legislative proposals from may provide insight into what the final language under the new Congress and Administration could look like.
Read more in the Legislative Report blog
Kudos to Our Partnership Network
Thank you to our amazing Partners for all they did to make the 2025 World Conference and Club Business Expo such a success!
Additionally, thank you to the more than 360 companies that participated in the Club Business Expo.
Find the full list of exhibitors
Club Leader's Perspective Survey—We Need Your Help
To help understand the trends and issues impacting our industry, we need your help completing the 2025 Club Leader's Perspective survey.
This year's survey, conducted in partnership with GGA Partners, focuses on generational differences and creating value for members, along with a review of governance practices with clubs.
All survey participants will be invited to attend an exclusive webinar to preview the results and will have access to a detailed report of the findings.
The deadline to complete the survey is March 5. As always, the survey will be confidential, and only trends and summary data will be shared in the report.
If you have any questions, please contact Amilcar Davy, CMAA's Director of Research, at 703-739-9500 or Dr. Eric Brey, Director at GGA Partners, at 715-505-7716.
Complete the World Conference 2025 Survey Today
Thank you to all attendees of World Conference in Tampa! Please share your thoughts on your World Conference experience so we can ensure that this event meets and exceeds expectations. The deadline to complete this survey is February 28, so don’t delay!
The deadline to complete World Conference session surveys is March 1. To receive Education Credits for your attendance, you must complete these surveys. You can find these surveys in the Conference App.
Submit Your Data to the Compensation and Benefits Survey
The 2025 Compensation & Benefits Survey is now open. Get the data you need for informed decision making and support this important research initiative, benefitting club management professionals throughout the industry. All CMAA members submitting complete data prior to the April 1 deadline will receive:
- A complimentary copy of the 2025 Compensation & Benefits Report for their club, and
- An invitation to an in-depth webinar exploring the results (date TBA).
Get the resources you need to create a competitive compensation strategy for your club's team!
CMAA collaborates with Club Benchmarking, a CMAA Executive Partner, to power CMAA’s annual surveys.
Please Note: Confidentiality of all data is guaranteed. Data will only be presented in an aggregated format. In addition to overseeing data gathering and analysis, Club Benchmarking is committed to providing full support for survey participants. If you have any questions or need assistance, please contact the Data Management Team.
If you have any questions, please contact Amilcar Davy, CMAA's Director of Research, at 703-739-9500, or Bryan LaBlue, Club Benchmarking’s Data Management Specialist, at 774-571-8427.
Trends and News
Your Feedback is Needed: Potential Impacts of Changes to Daylight-Saving Time
The American Golf Industry Coalition (AGIC) is exploring the potential impact of permanent Daylight-Saving Time (DST) or Standard Time (ST) on the golf industry. The US Congress is considering the Sunshine Act, which would make DST permanent, while the new Administration has explored adopting permanent ST. These decisions could have lasting effects on the industry, influencing course operations, maintenance, and revenue.
DST extends evening daylight, potentially increasing revenue by allowing more tee times but delaying morning maintenance due to darkness. This shift may also complicate employee scheduling. On the other hand, ST provides earlier morning light, benefiting maintenance crews, but reduces evening play, potentially limiting revenue and flexibility for working golfers.
AGIC is gathering industry feedback to advocate for policies that best support golf businesses and communities. Members are encouraged to participate in the survey by February 28 to help shape advocacy efforts and ensure their interests are represented in these policy discussions.
Register for National Golf Day, May 1
It’s time to advocate for our industry! More than 200 industry professionals will head to Capitol Hill this May to advocate for the industry and educate lawmakers in Washington, DC. National Golf Day serves as the pinnacle advocacy event of the year for the American Golf Industry Coalition, formerly known as We Are Golf.
The 17th annual National Golf Day will take place on Thursday, May 1, with advocacy training and education on April 30, and volunteer opportunities available on May 2. There is no cost to register.
Join CMAA’s Advocacy Committee in this important opportunity to make your voice heard on issues impacting our industry, including potential non-profit taxation.
We are seeking to have representation from every state represented in CMAA.
For additional questions, please contact Melissa Low, CAE, CMAA’s Vice President, Communications & Advocacy.