Vaquero Club
Westlake, TX
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ABOUT VAQUERO CLUB
ABOUT VAQUERO CLUB
WESTLAKE, TX | Enveloped in pristine Texas ranch land of rolling hills, sparkling lakes, and statuesque Post Oak trees sits a golf course, a Club, and a neighborhood called Vaquero. A secluded, private getaway and playground all in one place with the best amenity of all…a Vaquero lifestyle. Only fifteen minutes from the Dallas Fort Worth airport, Vaquero is close enough to quickly reach the cities of Dallas and Fort Worth. The Vaquero lifestyle consists of freedom and relaxation in an environment where once entered, time slows down. There is more time to spend with family and friends, playing golf, catching a fish, throwing a party, building a sandcastle, paddling a boat, and making lifelong memories. It is a lifestyle that provides families with the simple life, the ability to make the most of each day and enjoy every moment.
At the heart of Vaquero is a spectacular private golf course, first created by renowned architect Tom Fazio. The Vaquero Golf Course is currently under a complete redesign by highly accoladed Golf Course Architect, Andrew Green. Reopening in the Fall of 2023, the Club is investing 23 million into a redesigned course that integrates a Hydronics system under all 18 greens, allowing the Club to control the soil temperature, delivering a supreme putting surface year-round. The Course will feature a classic, playable design that makes artful use of the rolling terrain, post oaks, quiet ponds, and unique sand bunkers. This new easy-to-walk Par 71 course is designed to gratify golfers of all levels. The Vaquero Teaching Center features technology to assist in the refinement of members’ skills. Located amongst the outdoor practice facilities of the driving range and putting and chipping greens, the Teaching Center offers an enclosed space for year-round use with two indoor hitting bays dedicated to club-fitting and golf fitness. Owned by its Members as a private equity club, only Vaquero’s 353 Owners/Members and their guests may play this private course. The Vaquero Caddie Program offers another unique aspect of golf at Vaquero. Uniformed caddies accompany Members both on the practice tee and on the course alike. Vaquero’s course offers a variety of unique amenities providing an unparalleled private club experience. Comfort stations on the course are amply stocked with delectable food and drinks, and fresh items prepared by one of the chefs awaiting golfers at the turn.
The Vaquero Clubhouse is designed to be a comfortable yet luxurious setting in which members live, work & play. Clubhouse amenities service every aspect of members’ lives by providing facilities for everyday use. From dining & shopping to exercise & relaxation, the Clubhouse offers it all. The Clubhouse Grill offers unique member services such as in-home catering, delivery of a la carte menu items, grocery services, knife sharpening, and other culinary services. Special occasions are just that at Vaquero, special. Club events are oriented to provide a memorable experience for the whole family with festive events featured on holidays and at seasonal times.
From the moment members enter the gates, a carefree lifestyle is available. The Club concierge services are designed to give members back their time and enable them to spend that time doing what is most important to them.
The Vaquero community was developed by the highly acclaimed leading private golf and residential developers, Discovery Land Company, who consistently strives to enhance the natural character of each of its properties and provide residents with a unique lifestyle experience. Today, the members have assumed ownership of Vaquero.
The golf staff at VC includes a Director of Golf, Head Golf Professional, Director of Instruction, 2 assistant professionals, a retail manager, and outside service personnel. The Club has an active, year-round calendar of golf events and activities, playing approximately 20,000 rounds.
Vaquero is clearly considered one of the top clubs in the country not only for the quality of its membership but for its golf and overall history, food and beverage program, other recreational amenities and programs, and the overall quality of its physical plant and highly committed service-oriented team. Special to VC is the refined and dignified culture and the way in which people---members, staff, guests, and other constituencies providing support to VC---are treated and engaged throughout the organization. Hugely important to the next Head Professional’s
success will be his or her ability to be comfortable and poised in this type of club environment.
Golf is clearly the primary amenity for VC, but as the club world has changed over the years, so has VC. Consistent with its focus on providing a family-friendly environment, the Club continues to look to grow the interest in the game and focus on players' skills, expansion, and experience.
For more information, the VAQUERO CLUB WEBSITE: www.vaqueroclub.com
POSITION OVERVIEW
POSITION OVERVIEW
Job Structure
Job Structure
Reports to: Director of Golf
Position Type: Full-Time, Year-Round
Position Overview: The Head Professional reports directly to the Director of Golf of Vaquero and works closely with the Golf & Greens Chairperson and Golf & Green Committee. The HP will have full responsibility to oversee and manage all golf operations and services, furthering a strong culture of best-in-class service, friendship, courtesy, and professionalism throughout the operation. Visibility and engagement, both within the Club and throughout the greater DFW community and club industry, is a critical success factors for this role. PGA Members with verifiable records of consistently performing at a superior level of respectful, dignified, and integrity-filled personal conduct, and providing exceptional levels of service and member programming, throughout each level of their operation, are the primary focus of the Club for this role.
Sincere involvement and interaction with all levels of players, genders, and age groups are of particular importance at VC. Being “politically astute,” “naturally mature” and diplomatic in an unassuming, intuitive style is of critical importance to one’s success in this role. Attunement to consistently higher expectations of communication efficiency is hugely important to the Members of VC, especially as it relates to responsiveness, frequency, and overall quality and understanding of the information being conveyed.
Responsibilities include normal duties of overseeing daily play and programming, recruiting (being a good “talent scout,”) hiring, training, “mentoring” and supervising golf operations personnel, as well as setting clearly defined standards of performance and expectations for all golf team members. Priority on attracting and developing quality assistants, with high consistency of quality member experiences in golf, a positive member interactive staff in all areas, player development and instruction, growing event participation and the game within all constituency groups, and providing a high-quality merchandise concession, consistent with member desires and demographics is critical. Further, working in concert with other VC senior staff, the HP and DG have clear “ownership” to develop plans and recommendations for maintaining and growing vibrant golf, tennis, pickleball, and fitness operations, and managing and achieving the financial goals that he/she has helped to establish.
Accountability for the areas under his/her responsibility is key, as is being a consummate ‘team member’ with fellow senior staff that has tangential responsibilities for ultimate member satisfaction. The leadership team has worked hard over the past year and a half to create a team culture with mutual support and cooperation, and the HP is a key part of that effort. Recognizing that the overall member experience is primary. The HP is accountable for coordinating events, conditions, and set-up with fellow professionals to ensure positive participation and growth of all sports and events at VC.
Finally, perpetuating an environment that is warm, welcoming, and inclusive to all players is of utmost importance, as is the desire to “create a buzz” about golf and the overall golf experience at VC within the greater DFW community.
SUMMARY
Ultimately the Head Professional is expected to ensure that the best interests of the membership are maintained and enhanced through his/her leadership, which must be one of natural positive engagement, a strong and high level of communicative style, and an infectious enthusiasm for golf and the role he/she has assumed. Respect for the heritage and the tradition of VC is most important but needs to be carried out with relevancy to today’s club world. VC has an incredible culture and commitment to excellence as annually illustrated by their designation as “Best of Private Club” in the DFW by Avid Golfer. VC values its members and staff, and wherein the commitment to excellence and creating exceptional experiences for members and guests is paramount.
ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS
ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS
INITIAL PRIORITIES
Make certain that the golf operations are a “fun” place to be and that it provides engaged and hospitably assertive team members in both operations who have a clear focus on their roles and responsibilities, as well as the expectations for delivering consistently positive member service.
“Take ownership” of the daily operation, communicating closely with the DG/Team to keep him well apprised of your efforts and observations, while also reviewing existing processes, procedures, event schedules, organizational roles, and budgets, making thoughtfully conceived and communicated recommendations for enhancement.
Get to know the membership, staff, and history of Vaquero.
Work with the DG/Team and Golf and Green Committees on an overall strategic service plan for golf operations.
PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES
Member, Team Member, and Committee Relations
True collaborator/participant and believer in setting the direction and service environment for the overall team.
Provides quality leadership and a positive, highly visible, and engaging style. A genuine, accessible, and approachable personality is an essential element of success.
Must be a passionate ambassador for the game of golf and other athletics with the ability to transfer that passion to the team members.
Assures a consistent, efficient, seamless daily operation of Club wide operations, providing Members and guests with an environment that meets the mission of the club.
Is sincerely active and visibly interactive with team members, Members, and their guests on a daily basis and in as many locations as reasonably possible, focusing on exchanging information and obtaining direct input relative to Member satisfaction with programs, services, personnel, and products.
Is a strong “consensus builder,” recognizing the importance of having effective skills to reconcile differences and inspire solutions for a better operation and Member experience.
Recognizes that the qualities essential to achieving VC Membership satisfaction goals must be seamless from beginning to end. Understanding and meeting the expectations of Club Members is of critical importance to his/her long-term success, and is mostly achieved through active engagement, listening, and accessibility.
BUSINESS AND FINANCIAL ACUMEN
Assist DG with the development of golf annual operating and capital budgets.
Aware and involved in financial reports, proactively manages to trend projections (both positive and negative) and prepares necessary and appropriate analyses.
Has strong knowledge of key metrics and benchmarking and works closely to ensure appropriate and necessary evaluations and adjustments are in place to meet annual goals.
A history of involvement with his/her professional organizations, including the PGA, USGA, CMAA, AGM, and others to ensure keen knowledge of current trends, best practices, and new innovations, along with a strong network of resources.
CANDIDATE QUALIFICATIONS & EDUCATION
CANDIDATE QUALIFICATIONS & EDUCATION
Accomplished PGA professional with extensive Head Professional experience. PGA Class A status is essential.
Preferably have had experience working in a similar top-tier country club or “Five Star” resort operations.
Have the “sensitivity and maturity” necessary to prudently manage the transition to the next generation of VC’s DG following strong continuity and consistency in this role for many years.
Possesses and utilizes clearly developed communication skills, including verifiable strengths in responsiveness, balance, recognition of and proficiency in multiple means of communicating (technology), and an overall priority in doing so with all constituencies.
Be decisive, proactive, and responsive and have exceptional personal “presence” in his/her representation of the Club to all constituencies.
Have verifiable experience of performing at a high level in strong ‘service-delivery’ culture club environments where clear standards of hiring, training, orienting, and evaluating staff are in place and effectively used to disseminate those cultures.
As noted, several times above, having verifiable strengths and a history of attracting and building high-performance operational teams, being highly visible and interactive with members, being a strong supporter of fellow senior staff, and being an energized “face” of golf at his/her present club is critical.
Be recognized for being innovative, creative, and most importantly, proactive in developing and enhancing the overall golf programming and experience at his/her present club.
Be known for being “accountable,” “taking ownership” and having a high-level ability to effectively interact and communicate, both in writing and in person in a highly professional and appropriate manner. Be referenced as “leading by example” in all that he/she does in his/her golf operation; essentially someone who ‘walks the talk.’
Be able to show where he/she has been proactive and successful in ‘growing the game’ within his/her current or past golf operation.
Have excellent business acumen, being able to clearly outline his/her history of managing a team. Goal setting, achieving objectives, and processes are critical success factors in this role.
Have a clear passion for the game, its history, and tradition, where it can be clearly seen to positively benefit and enhance members’ enjoyment and respect for golf at VC.
Have had active involvement in committee work, recognizing the need to be an active ‘partner’ with appropriate Club committees to evaluate and continually enhance member enjoyment, engagement, and overall participation.
EDUCATION
A college degree is preferred, and PGA Class “A” status is required.
COMPENSATION & BENEFITS
COMPENSATION & BENEFITS
COMPENSATION
Salary: $125,000+ (based on qualifications and experience)
Additional Compensation: Annual performance bonus opportunity and member Holiday fund bonus
BENEFITS:
Health care covered at 95% for the individual and a generous amount for additional family members
Vision coverage
Dental coverage
401 k with Club match
PGA dues
Clothing allowance
Staff program
Meals
Cell allowance
Relocation assistance (if needed)
APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS
APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS
All applications MUST be submitted through the PGA of America's Career Services Department as described below.
Resume deadline is April 24, 2023 at 5:00pm Central Time
Confidential Process: The Club understands the confidential nature of this process and the information received from all interested parties will be kept in the strictest confidence. Multiple interviews will be conducted before a final decision is made.
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, Vaquero Club, Head Golf Professional
Please address all correspondence to - Mr. Hank Kuehne | Director of Golf
Kelly Gilley, PGA is the lead Consultant for this opportunity. For additional information and questions, please contact her directly via email.
The employer does not wish to be contacted at this time.
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