59club has announced the appointment of Chris Dowrick and Ian Orrell to its UK&I team. Both individuals join the business following careers in managing and developing golf operations and clubs across the UK and Ireland.
The additions are notable as both Dowrick and Orrell have been clients of 59club for over a decade. During their careers as operators and managers, both utilized 59club’s benchmarking, mystery shopping, training, and performance tools across proprietary clubs, private members' clubs, and resort operations.
Dowrick’s previous career experience includes roles at Golf At Goodwood, Foxhills, North Foreland, and Crowborough Beacon. Orrell has held senior roles at venues including Bolton Golf Club, Wychwood Park, and Champneys Mottram Hall. Both have also previously received awards and accolades from 59club.
Dowrick joins 59club after using the company's platform across various roles in the golf industry.
"59club is a company that has inspired me throughout the last 15 years of my career," Dowrick said. "I've been fortunate enough to experience it from almost every perspective – from working in golf retail and membership sales at proprietary clubs, through to managing private members' clubs."
Dowrick noted that 59club’s value extends beyond basic evaluation, stating, "I've seen first-hand the impact it can have when the information isn't simply treated as a mystery shopper report, but is actually used to influence training, standards and the entire customer journey."
Regarding commercial performance and service, Dowrick added: "Increasing sales doesn't have to mean becoming more 'commercial' at the expense of the customer experience. Very often, better sales are simply the result of better service, better processes and getting the individual touchpoints of the customer journey right."
During his tenure at Crowborough Beacon, Dowrick and his team utilized 59club tools to focus on the customer journey and food and beverage (F&B) operations. Under this approach, the venue's F&B division transitioned from an approximate £40,000 annual loss to an approximate £6,000 profit.
On his appointment, Dowrick stated: "I love the company, I love what it stands for and having spent so much of my career as an advocate for 59club, I'm incredibly excited to now be part of the team and bring that passion to clubs."
Orrell joins the team following roughly ten years as a 59club client, during which he focused on building, training, and supporting teams for members and visiting golfers.
"I have been a client of 59club for roughly 10 years and have used all the tools on offer to help shape the golf operation at the venues I have managed," Orrell said.
Addressing his new role, Orrell stated: "My experience over that time gives me a genuine understanding of both the opportunities and challenges that clubs face. I believe I can help venues understand how to use the collected data to improve both the golfing experience and the profitability of their business."
Commentary on his new position, Orrell added: "To have the opportunity to do this throughout the growing network of 59club venues is a dream come true. I am excited about using my experience to support clubs and venues in raising standards, developing their teams and delivering outstanding customer experiences."
Will Hewitt, Managing Director at 59club UK&I, commented on the additions to the team.
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"We're delighted to welcome Chris and Ian to the 59club team," Hewitt said. "What makes their appointments particularly exciting is that they have spent many years using the very tools and processes they will now be helping other clubs to maximise."
"They understand what it is like to receive a 59club report, take it back to a management team, use the findings to shape standards, procedures and training, and ultimately turn the insight into meaningful improvements," Hewitt continued. "They know the challenges clubs face because they have experienced them themselves." |
Both Dowrick and Orrell will begin working with 59club's network of UK venues starting in October.
