Mark O'Brien

As one of the UK’s leading country club owners and operators, The Club Company acquired its 18th country club this week - The Nottinghamshire Golf & Country Club from local entrepreneur Alan Hardy. Richard Calvert, Chief Executive Officer of The Club Company said: “We are delighted to welcome The Nottinghamshire Golf & Country Club into The Club Company family.” https://lnkd.in/eDir-icz

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⭐️Continuous Improvement⭐️ Learn how the same approach Jim Gavin is applying to the GAA FRC can help you in your coaching / managing journey be that in business or sport Online workshop Dates: TBC Register your interest 👇👇👇👇👇👇👇 https://lnkd.in/euT9VVW2

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This is an iconic deal in the landscape of English cricket and possibly world cricket. GMR Group and Hampshire County Cricket Club and its assets, currently owned by Rod Bransgrove, have agreed to an aquistion! Rod has been such a huge contributor to the game in the UK. I personally think this deal will be the catalyst to opening the gates to further Indian investment into English cricket (not new news) which points towards a bigger holistic future of players being centrally contracted by franchises (not countries). There will be mixed views on this deal and the the future of state of world cricket. https://lnkd.in/gFKvGPsN

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What work did you previously do? I spent ten years as a professional footballer in England. I was fortunate enough to progress to Port Vale’s Academy after joining at the age of 8, and went on to play for the first team, as well as Luton Town, Leicester City and Fleetwood Town, before deciding at the age of 26 to pursue an alternative career. I then spent five years working in marketing positions at various sports organisations, from football clubs to governing bodies and sports technology companies. What are you doing now? I now own and run a digital agency called DRIFT. I work with professional athletes to help them start and scale their own businesses, parallel to or after their sports career. It is a true privilege to be able to combine everything I have learned in the field of marketing and communications with my love for sports. We’re seeing more and more athletes pursuing their passions off the field and turning them into business ventures, so I think it’s an exciting time to be in this space. Why did you change? I decided to step away from my professional football career much sooner than most people do. It was a decision I made of my own accord, and not forced by injury. I was always aware of the reality of a second career, and when I felt that the trajectory of my football career was not going in the direction I wanted or envisioned, I chose to be proactive in charting my next path . The arrival of my daughter accelerated things and gave me a new purpose to try to move forward with my next chapter. Instead of trying to extend my athletic career and keep playing until I couldn’t run anymore, I wanted to enter my 30s ahead of most and in a position of strength. When was the moment you decided to make the change? It was during a low point in my career. I was told that I was not part of the manager’s plans and that I would be forced to train with the youth team until I found a new club. During this period I chose to study sports journalism, with one eye on my future career, making optimal use of the Professional Football Association scholarship. I had become somewhat disillusioned with the lack of opportunities over the past few seasons, so chose to look inward, at what I was passionate about, and chose to tap into my love of storytelling, writing and creativity – and I eventually ended up in marketing. How did you choose your new career? By being curious, asking lots of questions and making connections. A door opened for me to become head of media at my local football club, AFC Fylde, after writing a column for the Blackpool Gazette. It really highlighted how important it is to put yourself out there because you never know who is reading. The idea for my company came about very organically. Because I had kept in touch with many old teammates and still had many contacts in football, I was approached by them to help them grow their business. It included everything from building a website to social media strategy,

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3 tips to deploy, to maximise your fitness results from your training (which most people fail to do)

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58/60 ✅💯🗣️ As I am continuing my journey in football, business and management. This book was recommended by Manchester United SD Dan Ashworth on the Training Ground Guru summit ⚽️ Lots to think about including SWOT,TOWS and STARS analysis 💯 Also helpful in life as can transfer skills ✅ #90days #football #business #coaching #management #strategy

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🛑 Here’re my 7 top tips for coaches who want to work with professional footballers. ❤️ 1) Authority A good coach will always be in control and the player must know you have credibility in your field in order to gain respect. Most footballers are very humble, very polite, caring and respectful and I’ve noticed they will give you their all if they respect your credibility as a coach. ❤️ 2) Respect The Rules Of The Game Players love rules as they know what behaviour is expected. Sometimes a player will test you, I found humour and banter keeps them on track with your rules. They also love being called out especially if you do it with fun. ❤️ 3) Treat Them Like They Do A Normal Job. Footballers are employees. They just do a job that attracts attention and sometimes vile feedback. They are still human and crave normality. Treat them like a normal client, they don’t need the pressure of you idolising them. ❤️ 4) Footballers Crave Trust Footballers highly value trust and discretion. If you coach footballers, bear in mind how to unbelievable build trust and you keep EVERYTHING confidential no matter what. And I mean no matter what. (That’s why I don’t really talk much about coaching footballers) ❤️ 5) Mindset They have an incredible mindset, however, I haven’t come across a footballer who prepares their mind fully for training and competition. For me, this has really helped me to really help the footballer work towards becoming a club legend and sharpening up their worth and income Small things like daily meditation, high performing mindset rituals and mindset habits. I love using season highlights of that player to help them understand how mega they are as a player. It really boost the players confidence and removes self doubt when they are out of form. ❤️ 6) Develop The Person And You Develop The Player. Understand how the player thinks and not what they do with their feet. That way, the player becomes a better player. ❤️ 7) Help your player to focus on their marginal gains. What can they do to sharpen up by 1% that will make the biggest impact on their performance. In sport it’s the small marginal details that make a difference. It can be the difference of scoring the World Cup final goal or being offside and having the goal disallowed. Hope this helps you guys and if you need anything, please give me a shout. Ps - one extra tip. Be your absolute genuine self. They will sniff you out if you’re fake. Be genuine and don’t be in awe of them. Be your confident, amazing self and they will love you.

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Prescriptive coaching 🤔 I have worked in academy’s, have clients in academies and friends that work in academies. Why on earth are academies still saying that their playing style is same as the first team 🙈🙈 same formations, playing out from the back etc…. Why is this a problem - you are developing footballers not robots and: ⚽️ Managers are disposable in football, another manager can come in and completely change the philosophy yet all the academy players are still playing the old system. ⚽️ You have a different set of players for each age group, different needs, strengths, weaknesses and playing styles. ⚽️ The first team can buy players in that fit into there system of play. Academies don’t have this facility. ⚽️ The job of the academy is to allow players to explore different playing styles, positions, formations and allow them to deal with the environment more effectively not shoehorn them into one system. Obviously not all academies do this but there are still a lot that do. Is it lazy coaching, lack of knowledge, misunderstanding of skill acquisition 🤔

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The Impact and Value of Golf Coaching… We contributed to #GatherGolf’s recent white paper ‘What’s the true value of golf instructors?’ Our work with RetailTribe with over 100 clubs has been all about aligning the PGA Professional to the business objectives of clubs and putting the customer front and centre. Using our software we measure the impact and value and have proven this with industry changing results. I believe the industry needs to be bold and change, difficult but very powerful. #golfcoaching #golfbusiness

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Well done, Melanie Hartley! Your dedication to mastering 'Educated Hands' has transformed your game. Keep it up! #golflessons #golfcoaching #educatedhands #crokergolfsystem

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The golf world has witnessed the death of Grayson Murray Golf like any other sport can be touched by mental health challenges Golf needs a mental health programme. We have such delivered programmes with Golfers , Young People and Older people through work with Mens Sheds. Mental Health Golf Programme Programme Overview The Mental Health Golf Programme aims to educate golfers about mental health, provide strategies for maintaining mental well-being, share real-life stories of golfers affected by mental health issues, and offer actionable steps for golf clubs to support their members. Workshop Modules 1. Understanding Mental Health - **Introduction to Mental Health**: Define mental health and its importance in daily life and sports. - **Common Mental Health Issues**: Discuss anxiety, depression, stress, and burnout, particularly how they manifest in athletes and golfers. - **Signs and Symptoms**: Teach golfers how to recognize early warning signs in themselves and others. 2. Maintaining Mental Well-being - **Healthy Lifestyle Choices**: Emphasize the importance of regular physical activity, a balanced diet, and adequate sleep. - **Mindfulness and Take 5 Steps**: Introduce mindfulness practices and take 5 steps for wellbeing for golfers to improve focus and reduce stress. 3. Stories from the Fairway - **Case Studies**: Share stories of professional golfers like Bubba Watson, who has spoken openly about his struggles with anxiety, and Sophie Walker, who has discussed her experiences with depression. - **Lessons Learned**: Discuss the coping strategies and support systems that helped these golfers manage their mental health. #### 4. Club Initiatives for Mental Health - **Creating a Supportive Environment**: Ideas for fostering an inclusive and supportive atmosphere at golf clubs. - **Mental Health Resources**: Provide information about local mental health services, hotlines, and online resources. - **Workshops and Training**: Offer regular mental health workshops and training for both staff and members.

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A post mainly aimed at my hockey contacts….. Just returned from Belgium, an outdoor preseason trip with Lisa Letchford OLY for our 1st XI boys at Framlingham College who start their outdoor hockey term in early January. In Belgium, the clubs are just entering the second month of their indoor season where outdoor hockey closes down from November to February. (The benefits from playing indoor to support outdoor technical development are numerous.) Many European countries have the infrastructure with handball courts providing ready made indoor hockey pitches. (It’s how indoor hockey began in Germany in the 1950s!) In Belgium, they have created their own indoor hockey infrastructure, erecting marquees and laying floors at their clubs. Normally on astroturf or tennis courts. The facilities are used round the clock, from U9s to International squads. There are 20 - 25 clubs who have these facilities. Whilst there are challenges to providing these types of facilities, I do think we are missing a trick in the UK. If you are a hockey fan, particularly of indoor, please have a read. Is there the will for this to happen in the UK? https://lnkd.in/e7bKXzRT

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"𝘍𝘳𝘦𝘲𝘶𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘺 𝘰𝘧 𝘧𝘦𝘦𝘥𝘣𝘢𝘤𝘬 𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘯𝘦𝘦𝘥𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘩𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘦𝘯, 𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘰𝘧𝘵𝘦𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘯 𝘲𝘶𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘭𝘺 𝘰𝘳 𝘴𝘪𝘹 𝘮𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘩𝘭𝘺 𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘪𝘦𝘸𝘴" Ep #145 with Neil Tunnah, highly experienced rugby coach and high-performance consultant with over 20 years of expertise leading elite teams in both sports and business. In the pod we chat about, - The recent Autumn Nations Series. - Why Sione Tuipulotu is key to Scottish Rugby's success. - How Joe Schmidt has turned the Wallabies into a winning team. - What business can learn from sport. - The keys to giving effective feedback. - How to have difficult conversations. - How to build & execute performance development plans. - A key to progressing your career. You can listen here now: https://lnkd.in/gsSrrxCN #rugby #rugbypod #rugbyunion #rugbyaustralia #usarugby

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GOLF PRO GETS CONFIDENCE AND ENERGY BACK "I’m a golf pro and during lockdown, I was putting weight on, felt bloated, lethargic and energy was low. I realised I needed to do something to prevent losing control of my health, fitness and self-esteem. Following a discovery call which involved understanding my challenges and goals and how she could help me, I enrolled with Sheila's 3 month programme. Sheila guided me through the assessment and the structured stages were monitored via specific applications on my phone and tablet. Weekly coaching calls kept me accountable and on track. Working with Sheila changed the way I look at my food and lifestyle choices, how important small amounts of movement and strength training are and recognising what choices I make will sabotage my success in health, mindset, fitness, work and personal life. These lifechanging habits are easy and sustainable. I am delighted to report that I reduced my weight by 14 lbs, feel and look so much better in my clothing, mental clarity has improved, and confidence has returned. I now feel that I also have the energy to work those longer hours." Do you need your mojo back, golfing, boardroom or otherwise? Message me for a complimentary and confidential call to discuss how I can matchmake you with the future version of yourself and helping you get there 💪 #golf #mindset #energy #focus #win #matchmaker

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Passion Post ❤️⛳️❤️ 🎯 Having been in the golf industry since before i left school, right through to today i have been blindly dedicated, bonkers passionate about all things golf/sport/equality & inclusivity/business growth/venue development/customer journey/making a profit/re-investment/people & team….and i could go on and on. 🎯Anyone who knows me, has worked with me, or engaged me to help them, knows i’m focused on growing clubs, venues and businesses with integrity. 🎯Using data, insights and learnt knowledge from inside and outside of our ‘golf’ bubble i have come to conclude that “golf” is like a boat out at sea, it has the option to control its destiny to a large degree, but sometimes the winds of change are too strong, meaning we need to rethink our strategy and direction…and sometimes using those winds make for a smoother, faster journey. 🎯 I have been integral to GC Media Group Ltd for over three years, being one of the founders with Ben Phillips. I get to see some brilliant communicators, some ok ones…and some not so great. We have circa 100 venues we work with, and we get to see how they interact with their members and guests. We also deploy circa 15million ads across our estate direct to golfers. ⛳️🎯⛳️ The purpose for writing this post is to after 38 years working in golf i have come to the conclusion that “communications” is the single most vital skill needed to be a professional leader (GM, HGK, DoG, Head Pro, Secretary, CEO, MD… ETC) in our ‘golf’ world. ❤️Without the ability to skilfully communicate you have zero capacity to influence…and simply put, if you are not able to influence you are redundant. The fundamental purpose of communicating is to influence in some way. ❤️ Finally, i/we do have a horse in this race. We have grown GC Media Group Ltd and now with Touchscreen 2.0, we have created an in venue and virtual platform that is designed by leaders for leaders to communicate in a modern, progressive and functional way to every stakeholder. So when i go into venues and see crusty old notice boards covered in dog eared notices, or a GM tells me they don't have time to update stakeholders…i genuinely feel a sense of despair on their behalf. However i am a fan of the mantra “you don’t know what you don’t know”. So if there is anyone out there who would like 30 mins of my time i’m only to happy to help share some of my learnings on why and how to communicate better with all your stakeholders. Sent with, love, passion and a little frustration too ❤️⛳️😉 Ben Phillips Harry Brister Club Management Association of Europe (CMAE)Golf Club Managers AssociationThe PGA The R&A Custodian Golf Golf Transition Management

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