When you’re running a golf club, some of your biggest decisions have nothing to do with turf conditions or tee sheets (though those matter too). One of the biggest? How you structure your team.

Should you handle operations with an internal crew, or leverage professional golf club management services to help run the show?

Both approaches have their pros. But if you’re aiming for long-term performance, streamlined operations, and fewer fires to put out, management companies often bring advantages that in-house teams simply can’t match. Let’s take a closer look at both models and what they really mean for your club.

In-House Management Teams: High Control, Limited Bandwidth

Let’s start with the familiar. When you run your club with an internal team, you’ve got your hands on the wheel. You know your staff by name, you’re shaping the culture, and when something goes sideways, you’re close enough to course-correct quickly.

That level of involvement can be a good thing, especially for owners who like to stay involved in the day-to-day. Need to shift a staff schedule? Want to launch a new happy hour next Friday? You can usually make those decisions on the spot, without looping in layers of approval.

But here’s the tradeoff: Control doesn’t always scale well. In-house teams are often stretched thin. GMs wear five different hats. Marketing is someone’s side hustle. Capital planning? That gets pushed to “next season” — again. Most teams are working hard, but there’s only so much they can take on before things start to slip.

You also run into the risk of key-person dependence. When someone leaves, they often take years of institutional knowledge with them. That’s hard to replace overnight, and even harder to budget for.

Golf Club Management Companies: More Resources, Less Guesswork

Working with a management company is about gaining support, not giving up control. You’re plugging into a fully built team that’s already working across multiple clubs, learning from what works (and what doesn’t), and applying that knowledge directly to your operation.

Here’s what that looks like in practice:

• Smarter revenue generation: Dynamic tee time pricing, fresh event programming, and merchandising strategies that do more than fill shelves
• Operational savings: Streamlined staffing models, vendor relationships with better pricing, and real-time budget tracking that keeps things lean without cutting corners
• Better guest experience: Trained hospitality teams, polished service standards, and updated amenities that reflect today’s member expectations

Instead of reinventing the wheel every season, you get a proven system with room to customize based on your club’s personality and priorities.

And no, you’re not just handing over the keys. You still set the vision. A good management company works with you, not over you, to make sure that vision is executed with consistency and clarity.

But What About Cultural Fit?

Fair question. One of the biggest concerns we hear is about culture, specifically, the fear that outside help will feel impersonal, or worse, that the club will lose the magic that makes it special. And to be fair, that can happen — if you hire the wrong partner.

A good golf management company doesn’t bulldoze what’s working. They strengthen it and build around it. At Thompson Golf Management, for example, we begin every engagement with a deep dive: understanding the club’s history, brand, staff dynamics, member feedback, and goals. We don’t make assumptions. We ask, and we listen.

Then, we move carefully and collaboratively, bringing operational upgrades and guest experience enhancements that align with what the club is already doing well. The result is a culture that feels even stronger, because now it has the structure to support it.

When members feel consistency, staff feel supported, and the experience levels up across the board, you’re not “changing” the culture. You’re investing in it.

Real Numbers, Real Impact

The benefits of outsourced management? Not just theory. Let’s look at two clubs, with two very different challenges and two very clear outcomes.

Dove Valley Ranch Golf Club

Under TGM’s leadership, Dove Valley Ranch:

• Achieved 13.7% average annual revenue growth (2016–2022)
• Maintained a 29.5% average operating margin
• Consistently exceeded 63,000 rounds per year

And these gains weren’t tied to one-time promos or cost cuts. They came from sustainable improvements to operations, guest experience, and revenue strategy.

Sunland Springs Golf Club

Sunland Springs came to us in a very different spot. Budget constraints, inconsistent operations, and untapped potential.

In just the first year of full management, we helped them achieve:

• 55.4% increase in total revenue
• 45.9% increase in net operating income
• $700K boost in cash reserves
• 32.7% increase in rounds played

All without cutting quality. In fact, member satisfaction improved.

These aren’t anomalies. They’re what happens when structure and expertise meet a club that’s ready to grow. Wondering if it’ll work for you? Check out what happened when other clubs made the leap.

So Which Management Model Is Right for You?

It depends. If you’ve got a rockstar GM, a stable board, and bandwidth to handle the day-to-day and the big picture? You might be in a great spot to keep things internal. But if your team is buried or you’re starting to feel like growth is stalling,  it might be time to bring in some backup.

And not just any backup. The right partner will help you lead more strategically, operate more efficiently, and finally get those big-picture projects off the back burner.

What It Looks Like to Work with TGM

At Thompson Golf Management, we don’t show up with a one-size-fits-all template. We show up with a plan and the team to make it happen. From tee sheets to turf care, staffing to F&B, we help clubs dial in the areas that matter most.

We don’t just want your course to run. We want it to thrive. And we’re here to support your team, your goals, and your reputation every step of the way.

Curious what this could look like at your club? Explore our services, or reach out to start the conversation.