If you’re an enthusiast of golf, stunning scenery and celeb-spotting, the perfect job vacancy may have just opened up for you — but it requires some serious credentials.
The world’s leading golf journalists recently deemed the Royal County Down Golf Club to be the best in the world, and now, the enviable site is seeking a new chief to take charge of the entire establishment.
Earlier this month, Golf Digest’s annual golf course rankings said “there is no lovelier place in golf” when describing the club, which is set against the beautiful backdrop of the Mourne Mountains.
Famous golfers and celebrity sport lovers often flock to Royal County Down as well, with Shane Lowry, Rory McIlroy, Rory Best, Shane Filan and Jimmy Nesbitt appearing on the course earlier this month for the Irish Open.
It was only the second time since 1935 that Royal County Down has hosted the Irish Open (the European Tour also visited the Northern Ireland venue in 2015), and other than a few Senior Open Championships, the only other time Royal County Down would’ve been seen on a big international stage was the 2007 Walker Cup, when coverage of the amateur matches was scarce.
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But, the Championship Links Course, rated by Golf Digest as the No. 1 golf course in the world outside the USA, is regularly listed among the top five courses globally, even beating the iconic St Andrew’s in Scotland — and it is now on the lookout for a new General Manager.
A job listing for the position states that “behind the scenes, a great deal of work is involved in orchestrating and managing the day-to-day operations of the Club, which ultimately rests with the General Manager”.
It is not essential for the successful applicant to have a background in the golf industry, but knowledge of the game will obviously be helpful.
The General Manager will be responsible for overseeing the club’s operations, “delivering exceptional service and upholding its global reputation”.
Clarendon Executive, which is overseeing the hiring process, added: “This role requires an assured and visible leader who can manage and inspire a multidisciplinary team, navigate relationships with members, guests, and external partners, and oversee a range of service improvement initiatives and capital investment projects.
“It requires at least five years experience in a senior or general management role, a strong understanding of high-end service delivery, financial acumen, resource and project management skills, with the capability to execute strategies.”
“On a clear spring day, with Dundrum Bay to the east, the Mountains of Mourne to the south and gorse-covered dunes in golden bloom, there is no lovelier place in golf,” reads the course’s description on the Golf Digest website.