Glen Ellyn, IL
General Manager/COO
Vision Statement
“A special place with members committed to being an outstanding country club”
Mission Statement
“To provide our members, their families and guests with exceptional golf, dining, social and recreational
experiences”
Guiding Principles
In addition to the vision and mission statements which define who they are and what they do, the membership
has also developed a set of guiding principles to capture the values that they share. These four guiding principles
highlight their emphasis on quality, service, camaraderie, and stewardship and define the culture at Glen Oak.
Quality
“We are committed to excellence and continuous improvement in everything we do.”
Service
“We recognize outstanding service as the cornerstone of exceptional experiences.”
Camaraderie
“We respect one another, encourage involvement, and uphold tradition.”
Stewardship
“We manage the club responsibly and respect Glen Oak’s heritage.”
The Glen Oak Country Club, is a member-owned, full-service private club in Glen Ellyn; a beautiful
and affluent Western suburb of Chicago. The Club, a neighborhood club rich in tradition and
member support - Glen Oak proudly celebrated its centennial in 2011 - is essentially open yearround, during which time the membership enthusiastically supports a variety of high quality dining,
athletic and social events. In addition to the beautiful and spacious clubhouse, the Club's facilities
feature a challenging, impeccably-maintained 18-hole golf course, active seasonal swimming, a
lively skeet and trap club at a newly remodeled separate facility, and other personal services and
amenities typically found in a full-service private country club.
The grounds of Glen Oak were originally a family farm until purchased by the organizers of
Pickwick Country Club in the early 1900s. Pickwick commissioned noted golf course architect Tom
Bendelow, who designed the original 9-hole course. Membership quickly grew to several hundred
and management made grandiose plans to build a large clubhouse with extravagant amenities. But
for reasons unknown, Pickwick soon went under. Fearing the prime piece of real estate would be
converted to a housing subdivision, the former Pickwick officers worked diligently to find new
ownership. Their fears were abated when, in 1911, Glen Oak Country Club was formed and took
over the rolling, wooded acreage. The name “Glen Oak” was selected as being representative of
both Glen Ellyn and Oak Park, the hometown of many original members.
Golf course architects who created and modified Glen Oak are among the most acclaimed of their
time. Original architect Bendelow, known as the “Johnny Appleseed” of American golf, was brought
back by Glen Oak to complete the 18 holes. A prolific architect who created Medinah Country Club
No. 3 and East Lake Golf Club in Atlanta, among many others, Bendelow's design philosophy has
been described as a “naturalist’s approach” in that he embraced and utilized a site’s natural
features. Fellow naturalists William Langford and Theodore J. Moreau rebuilt the course in 1922.
Later, Albert Tillinghast (1935), David Gill (1965) and Bruce Borland made alterations. More
recently, Rick Jacobson was retained to update the course and has produced a master plan for the
course which the Board has adopted.
Glen Oak’s stately clubhouse was built in 1924 and was substantially remodeled in the 1990s. It
retains its vintage charm but with modernized amenities. In 2004, the club built “the Lodge,” a
comfortable, casual building and home to Glen Oak’s avid trap/skeet shooting club. A large, wood
burning fireplace is the Lodge’s center piece during the colder months, creating a warm and inviting
atmosphere to have lunch, watch a game or gather with friends.
By providing a superior golf experience and exceptional recreational and social activities, Glen Oak
fosters friendship and camaraderie for its members and guests. Since 1911 the club has not only
endured, it has thrived.
The Club is in the early stages of an approximately $6,000,000 facilities improvement plan that
includes a new swimming pool complex, related infrastructure improvements, some limited
clubhouse renovations, a new on-course refreshment station and bunker replacement on the golf
course. The majority of these projects are expected to begin construction in late 2014.
Social Activities & Amenities
Glen Oak Country Club offers many social activities throughout the year. From small gatherings like
the Fishing Derby and Wine Dinners to large events such as Easter Brunch, Mother’s Day Brunch
and Candlelight Dinners during the Christmas season, Members enjoy a variety of settings and
atmospheres. Other social events include Father/Daughter Dance, Cigar Dinner, Summer Camps for
kids, Father’s Day Buffet, Family Fun Foam Party, Dive-In Movie Nights at the pool, Boxing Night,
Western Party, Ravinia Night, Oktoberfest, Pig Roast at the Lodge Thanksgiving Dinner and more.
Glen Oak is one of the best-conditioned courses in the Chicago District. In 2011 they hosted the
Illinois Amateur Tournament. One of the unique things about Glen Oak is no tee times. Members
arrange games through the Locker Room Manager. Some of the golf events for Member’s include:

Total Ball

The “Pinky” Invitational
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
Stag Day (Guest Day)
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Best Ball

Club Championship
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Round Up. This is Glen Oak’s member-guest and has been held for 97 years. The longest
continuous running event in the Chicago District.

Glen Oak Masters Tournament

President’s Trophy
During the summer months, the Glen Oak pool is open to all members and their guests. There is a
Halfway House snack bar adjacent to the pool for meals, snacks, and cool, refreshing drinks. Small
children can splash and take swimming lessons in the Wading Pool that is fenced for security. The
Glen Oak Swim Team has won the interclub championship for many years. Before this year, the
traveling trophy hadn't changed hands for over 6 years!
The very successful Junior Golf program trains younger players not only to play the game, but to
form friendships while learning the rules and etiquette that make golf a great game. Golf is more
than just a game; it's a lifetime of fun, competition, and camaraderie. With almost 60 kids in the
Junior Golf program each year, many more young golfers will be on the course in the future.
The Glen Oak Auxiliary program, for member’s spouses, is growing and enjoying the many events
designed just for them, with almost 150 ladies participating. Their events include President’s
Trophy, Best Ball, Club Championship, Square Off and the Oak Leaf Classic. Opportunities for
interclub play include the Chicago Women’s District Golf Association team and the Southwest
League Golf Team.
The caddie program has anywhere from 150-200 caddies each year. Member support of the
program is exemplary. Our recently retired Caddie Master Mayno Luetkehans has assisted over 60
caddies into the Evans Scholarship through the Western Golf Association. For his dedication to the
Evans and Glen Oak, the Western Golf Association has inducted Mayno into the Caddie Hall of Fame
which includes the likes of Gene Sarazan, Chick Evans, Mike “Fluff” Cowen and Francis Ouimet.
In the winter months, members, guests and older kids are invited to come out to the Glen Oak Skeet
& Trap Club. The Lodge is located behind the maintenance building in back of the golf course.
During the season (November thru March), members come out to shoot skeet and trap casually and
have the opportunity to shoot against other area clubs in the Country Club Skeet League. The Glen
Oak team has won the CCSL (Country Club Skeet League) trophy every year since 1994, and they
are destined to win it again!
Additional popular social events include:





Chef's Table
Happy Hours & After Hours
Haunted Houses
Wine Dinners
Candlelight Dinners
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

Breakfast With Santa
Holiday Brunches
Club Facts:
Gross Dollar volume: $6,500,000
Food & Beverage revenue: $2,200,000
Number of members: 531. Made up of Regular (Golf) 270; Social 155; Senior 50;
Intermediate 25; All others 31
Rounds of Golf Annually: 17,740
Employees: 87 Full-time year round
The Club is financially strong and very well run.
Please visit the website at: www.glenoakcountryclub.org
Position Description:
The General Manager/COO (GM/COO) reports to the Club President and is responsible for directly
overseeing all Club operations. The ideal candidate will possess the ability to appropriately interact
in a professional manner with the members, their guests and staff. The GM/COO, by credentials,
reputation and performance, will work with the Board of Directors in preparing and executing the
annual budgets, strategic plan, and appropriate membership development/ retention programs
that, in so doing, will insure that Glen Oak Country Club continues to flourish. Excellent
interpersonal, oral, written and computer skills are required for long term success in this position.
The GM/COO will attract, develop, lead, appropriately supervise and motivate a top quality staff.
He/she is responsible for the proper interpretation and fulfillment of Club policies and procedures.
The Club currently has a number of excellent, long-tenured employees in place who work very well
together as a team. The Club Committees (with whom the General Manager regularly participates)
are active, knowledgeable and productive and, as such, their suggestions are valued and
appreciated by the Board of Directors as well as the entire membership.
Candidate Qualifications & Experience
The successful candidate will be a leader who possesses the energy, desire and ability to
appropriately interact in a professional and friendly demeanor with the members and their guests.
In his/her leadership role, the new General Manager will establish and maintain excellent lines of
communication, create excitement in and enthusiasm for the Club's services and activities, and set a
tone of professional excellence throughout the Club.
He/she will be genuinely people-oriented, a person of "presence", and readily accessible and
responsive to the membership. The ideal candidate will also have a strong background managing
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high-end food and beverage operations, possess financial/cost-control abilities, plus member
relations, organizational and human resource skills.
The ideal candidate will possess a minimum of 7 to 10 years of progressively more responsible club
management positions. The prospective general manager must be a charismatic, passionate
professional and have outstanding membership relations skills.
Especially strong communication and interpersonal skills are considered essential, as is the
competency to be a strong, confident, accountable leader who is naturally able to be diplomatically
forthright with all club constituencies.
He or she should have hands-on experience managing clubs through major capital improvement
projects on par with currently proposed plans at GOCC.
Core Competencies
Leadership and Interpersonal Skills – Ideal candidates will be proven leaders and managers within a
similar work environment where he/she has managed a staff of at least 100, including a range of multifunctional departments, e.g. golf operations, food and beverage, course maintenance, and swimming
facilities. He/she must have demonstrated superior communication, direction-setting, personnel
management and development skills to ensure smooth day-to-day operations, minimal staff relations issues
and outstanding customer-service.
Strategic Perspective and Capabilities – The successful candidate will have experience in helping to
develop and in leading the implementation of long-range, five-year plans for similarly-positioned, not-forprofit, financially-sound club(s) and in demonstrating the ability to coordinate various programs that
maximize the effective utilization of club resources and facilities. He/she will have a successful track record
in working with a club board and its committees develop and carryout longer-term planning analyses,
preparation and implementation activities to meet longer term objectives.
Financial Acumen – The GOCC General Manager will be deeply knowledgeable of the development, tracking
and meeting of capital and operating budgets for at least $6 million in revenue enterprises with similar
degrees of complexity in terms of budget scope, detail and accuracy. He/she will have demonstrated success
in managing finances of the overall operations to remain within budget, while also ensuring overall levels of
satisfaction in terms of service.
Food & Beverage Expertise –The General Manager will oversee all aspects of operations at GOCC, with
emphasis on direct involvement in food and beverage management. Therefore, the chosen candidate will
have particularly deep expertise in terms of food and beverage operations. He/she will have proven
capability to oversee: food planning and preparation; consumables purchasing and inventory control;
beverage purchasing and sales; wait staff recruitment, training, retention and motivations; banquet
marketing, sales and delivery; and, coordination of overall clubhouse food and beverage provisions with golf,
swimming and shooting activities.
Values & Accumulated Wisdom
He/she will have a style which embraces what works and will be a catalyst for necessary change.
Other Personal Characteristics
•
Maturity and soundness of judgment and able to achieve and maintain credibility and trust with the
Board, Committees, members and staff.
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•
Community involvement and comfort in positioning the club appropriately within the local communities.
•
Driven by a sense of service leading to a high level of customer satisfaction.
•
Pleasant, professional and personable demeanor exhibiting an outgoing, genuine and friendly personality
that relates well with others. Possess a degree of humility enabling him/her to keep the interests of the
club and its members first.
•
High energy level and obvious passion for the job that enables him/her to exhibit enthusiasm and vigor
despite sometimes requiring long hours and arduous service.
•
Unquestioned integrity and trustworthiness in all personal and professional aspects of conduct.
The candidate will be active and well respected in his or her local and national CMAA organization.
Education: An undergraduate degree from an accredited college or university is an important
qualification. A degree from a leading hospitality institution is a plus, as is certification by CMAA.
This position is available immediately.
Salary: Open and commensurate with qualifications and experience. The Club, along with the
typical CMAA benefits, offers a competitive benefits & bonus package.
Inquiries: Interested candidates should submit resumes and a thoughtful, detailed cover letter
outlining one’s alignment with the above noted qualifications and expectations for the position.
Those documents should be saved and emailed in Word or PDF format (save as “Last Name, First
Name Resume” and “Last Name, First Name Cover Letter” respectively) to:
Click this link to upload your resume and cover letter (Word or PDF format).
Or
Email to Nan Fisher at: Nan@kopplinandkuebler.com
Lead Partner on this search:
Richard M. Kopplin, Partner
Kopplin & Kuebler, LLC
480-443-9102 (Office) - Arizona
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