Scottsdale, Arizona, United States: The Troon LEADer Programme, an industry-leading 12-month curriculum that aims to guide, inspire and coach the next generation of leaders, has launched its Class of 2023 with 30 participants from 10 countries and 30 Troon-managed facilities.

Countries represented in the Troon LEADer Programme’s Class of 2023 include the United States, England, Egypt, India, Czech Republic, Australia, Bahrain, UAE, Cambodia and Scotland. 

Troon associates from facilities throughout the Troon brand portfolio (including Troon Golf, Troon Privé, and Indigo Sports) have the opportunity to grow through the LEADer Programme.

LEAD, which stands for ‘Lead, Educate, Assess, Develop’, launched in 2010, with its first graduating class in 2011. The Programme prepares future leaders for high-level roles within the golf industry by combining hands-on learning, interactive webinars, and individual coaching.

Since 2011, 150 Troon associates (including international and domestic) have graduated from the programme and have each participated in over 400 hours of course time over the 12-month programme.

LEADer Programme participants, for example, learn how to operate a mower and mow greens, work in a professional kitchen and prepare menu items, develop marketing materials, and more.

They also complete one-on-one leadership coaching calls to grow their strengths and leadership style, take online courses, and network with Troon corporate experts from all over the world.

In the past five years, more than 40 leaders have been promoted after completing the programme, with 30-plus placed into general manager positions. The 2021/2022 programme culminated on April 30 with the 2022/2023 programme having started in late May. 

Those who have graduated from the Troon LEADer Program speak highly of the experiences, development and knowledge it has afforded them.

Franco Botha, currently Director of Golf Operations at Royal Golf Club in Bahrain, graduated from the Troon LEADer Programme in 2016.

Botha said: “In 2015 I was fortunate enough to be put forward for the LEADer Programme while working at The Els Club, Dubai. The initial workload seemed overwhelming but I would say my key takeaway from this experience was how open and willing others in the Troon network were to support in any way, shape or form.”

Adam Dutson, Cluster Director of Golf at Emaar Hospitality Group in the UAE, graduated from the LEADer programme in 2020. “Troon now has more than 27,000 associates around the world, so to complete the programme and join a very exclusive club of 150 Troon LEADers is a real honour. I watched my first Director of Golf, Karl Whitehead, complete the programme in 2014 and always wanted to follow in his footsteps.”

Javier Farran, Golf Course Superintendent at Prestige Golfshire Club in Bangalore, India, graduated from the programme in April. He said: “I really liked the rotation in other departments as it gives you a holistic idea of the business. It touches everything involved with a golf course, Troon and Troon standards.

“The LEADer Programme has given me the opportunity to get to know how a club works as a whole, to understand things outside of my area which is agronomy and, most importantly, it has helped me learn my strengths and showed me how I can be a better leader to lead within Troon in the future.”