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Rancho Mirage, CA
Director of Golf
ABOUT THE CLUB AT MORNINGSIDE
ABOUT THE CLUB AT MORNINGSIDE
Rancho Mirage, CA | The Club at Morningside serves as a “home away from home” for our Members, their families and guests. Nestled between the mesmerizing San Jacinto and Santa Rosa mountain ranges in beautiful Rancho Mirage, California, Morningside resides in the heart of the Coachella Valley, a place like no other on earth. Some might even say it’s magical.
Developed in the early 1980's and preparing to celebrate its 50th Anniversary during the 2031-32 season, The Club at Morningside is an intimate and friendly, full-service, boutique-style club focused on providing unique, high-quality lifestyle experiences for members, families and guests. The Club is situated on 175 acres and features an acclaimed Jack Nicklaus Signature Course – his first golf course design in California – in addition to our unique and award-winning clubhouse offering world-class dining, spa/fitness/wellness programming, a robust racquets sports program and a seasonal calendar ofspecial events, tournaments and planned activities.
The Morningside community is a separate entity – unaffiliated with the Club – 363 private residences, of which approximately 220 are Club Members. Morningside is renowned for its beauty, elegance, privacy and excellent security. Membership at the Club is by invitation only and limited (by intent); home ownership and club membership are separate and mutually exclusive. The Club currently offers two membership opportunities: Full Family Golf (225 member families, including eligible family dependents) and Social (100 members).
Morningside’s team is comprised of a number of hard-working departments that include Administration, Clubhouse, Food and Beverage, Golf Course Maintenance, Golf Operations, Racquet Sports, and Spa/Fitness. No matter what department our associates work in, their hard work and expertise continues to maintain the tradition of quality and excellence that was established many years ago.
The golf department is very active, with established men’s and women’s programs, regular group play (both club-sponsored groups and unofficial groups of members who play together frequently), weekly choose-ups and regular daily play available in addition to a robust tournament program and special event schedule during the season. Balancing daily operations, tournaments and events, and group play requests is a top priority for the Director of Golf and his/her team.
CLUB DETAILS
CLUB DETAILS
Facility: Member-Owned
Course Access: Private
Number of Holes: 18
Average Annual Revenue: $13.5M
Total Golf Memberships: 225
Full Golf Annual Dues and Fees: $41,750
Average Annual Rounds of Golf: 16,000
Total Golf Annual Revenue: $995,000
Golf Shop Annual Sales: $375,000
Golf Labor & Expense Budget: $945,000
Golf Team Members: 12-14
Caddie Program: No
Annual Member Tournaments and Events: 45-50
POSITION OVERVIEW
POSITION OVERVIEW
Title: Director of Golf
Reports to: General Manager/COO
Supervises: Head Golf Professional, Director of Instruction, Assistant Golf Professionals, Outside Services Team, Merchandise Manager and all other golf operations personnel
Position Description: The Director of Golf serves as the face and spokesperson of our golf operation and an integral member of the leadership team at Morningside. This individual will be a hands-on, visible leader responsible for the overall golf experience at the Club. This role requires much more than running daily operations, although daily ops are important. It’s also about setting the right tone, building relationships, and creating a welcoming and inviting environment where members genuinely enjoy spending their time and team members learn, grow and thrive as they enjoy their daily work.
The Director of Golf oversees all aspects of the golf operation, including the golf shop, outside services, instruction, and programming. This individual ensures the operation runs smoothly day-to-day, while continuing to evolve and improve the member experience throughout the season.
The right individual will be present, approachable, welcoming and engaged with both members and team members, while paying close attention and taking pride in both the small details and the bigger picture of how golf fits into the overall Club experience at The Club at Morningside.
ABOUT THE GENERAL MANAGER | COO
Robert J. Gusella, CCM, CCE, is the General Manager/COO of The Club at Morningside, overseeing all aspects of the Club’s operations since his arrival in 2025. Bob has been a respected leader and mentor in the private club industry for the last 31 years and an active member of the Club Management Association of America, of which he has been named a CMAA Fellow. He has formerly served as the General Manager at Houston Oaks Country Club and Retreat, Belle Haven Country Club, The Ford Field & River Club, Wexford Plantation and Coosa Country Club (Interim).
ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS
ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS
Develop and embrace a welcoming and positive culture of hospitality, accountability, and teamwork that consistently elevates the member experience
Provide an unmatched Member and guest experience with a primary focus on service excellence, consistency, and professionalism
Lead daily golf operations to ensure consistent pace of play and high-quality on-course experiences
Build and sustain a golf program that drives participation through a well-executed and engaging tournament and social schedule
Actively engage with Members to promote and enhance their knowledge and love for the game of golf, its values, history and traditions.
Set the direction and standards for the golf shop and services, delivering a retail experience that meets or exceeds member expectations and supports strong performance
Elevate the presentation and functionality of all golf operations areas to reflect the Club’s overall standards
Build, lead, and develop a high-performing team of approximately 14, creating a clear path for growth and development among assistant professionals and staff
Manage developmental programs within golf operations team to provide opportunities for current golf professionals to be successful; including mentoring and developing those desiring to become Director of Golf and Head Golf Professionals in the future
Guide the financial performance of the golf operation through thoughtful planning, budgeting, and staffing alignment
Use operational data and member feedback to continuously improve engagement and overall performance
Work closely with the Golf Course Superintendent, GM/COO and Club leadership to ensure alignment and a consistently strong golf experience
Maintain a noticeable and intentional presence as an ambassador for the Club and its golf operation, to include meeting Members/guests on the first tee and practice facility, and scheduling time to play with Members of all abilities.
EXPERIENCE AND QUALIFICATIONS
EXPERIENCE AND QUALIFICATIONS
Including, but not limited to, the following:
Director of Golf or Head Golf Professional experience at a respected private club with similar activity levels and programming preferred
Demonstrated success leading high-performing teams and delivering exceptional service
Experience in a complex and active private club golf operation preferred. Budgeting, expense and
payroll tracking is critical
Operational expertise across all facets of golf operations
Verifiable track record of achievement in recruiting, developing training programs, and mentoring team members
A skilled player that personifies professionalism on and off the golf course.
Well versed in the use of technology within the golf operation to enhance operational effectiveness and the Member experience
Has a strong national network of industry peers at similar facilities.
A passion for continuous professional development and education.
Understands the culture and climate of the region and has a desire to be established in the area.
Proven leadership ability with a strong focus on team development, culture building, and service excellence
Demonstrated ability to deliver exceptional member experiences
Excellent interpersonal and communication skills with the ability to build trusted relationships
Highly organized with strong attention to detail and the ability to manage multiple priorities
Passion for the game of golf and commitment to ongoing professional growth
College bachelor’s degree preferred.
PGA Class A certification required.
A minimum of five years of experience as a senior leader in private golf operations
PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL QUALITIES
A person of high integrity – honest and hard-working, with clear and uncompromising moral and ethical values
Mature leader – a motivator and mentor who has a demonstrated track record of developing leaders, building highly functioning teams and retaining team members
Engaging - a pleasant demeanor that is personable and approachable and that others find easy and enjoyable to be around
Passionate – a natural enthusiasm, thorough knowledge and reverence for the game of golf
Gravitas – articulate, self-assured, and confident in their abilities and decisions; yet not perceived as cocky or arrogant
Authentic - naturally connects with people and regarded as genuine in their approach toward relationships
Service-oriented - understands how to deliver a “best-in-class” golf experience for Members and guests
Consummate professional – a skilled and accomplished player with a humble persona; continuously seeks to improve their game
Inclusive - promotes an environment that is open and welcoming to all demographics at the Club
Proactive - a forward-thinking, can-do mentality that is anticipatory and Member and guest focused
Respectful - shows consideration and high regard for others in all situations
Objective - understands and upholds the unique culture of The Club at Morningside and encourages feedback and input from others
Decisive - able to make informed decisions quickly and confidently
Responsive - alert and aware, reacts quickly and positively to Members, guests and staff
COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS
COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS
The club will provide a compensation and benefits package commensurate with experience and qualifications. This includes but is not limited to:
Base salary: $165k -$180k
Annual Bonus up to 10%
401(k) Plan with up to a 6% Employer Match
Medical, Dental and Vision Insurance
Company-Paid Life Insurance, Short-Term and Long-Term Disability
Paid vacation, holidays, and personal/sick leave
Complimentary Team Member Meals and Employee Events
Continuing Education and Travel Pay
PGA Dues and Fees Paid
Clothing Allowance, Cell Phone Stipend, etc.
APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS
APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS
All applications MUST be submitted through the PGA of America's Career Services Department as described below.
Resume deadline is August 31st, 2026 at 11:59 pm Eastern Time
Combine your cover letter, resume, references, and any supporting documents into one (1) PDF document with the following file naming convention: Last Name, First Name, The Club at Morningside, Director of Golf
Please address all correspondence to - Mr. Bob Gusella | General Manager/COO | The Club at Morningside
Michael Gainey, PGA, and Ken Ferrell, PGA, are leading this search. Please contact them with any questions.
Email: mgainey@pgahq.com
kferrell@pgahq.com
The employer does not wish to be contacted at this time
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