Jack has been with Belgravia Leisure since the young age of 16 years old. Jack began his journey as a Lifeguard at Diamond Creek Outdoor Pool where he worked four seasons before transitioning to Thomastown Recreation & Aquatic Centre as a Duty Manager.
After TRAC, Jack took the position as Golf Operations Assistant at Yarrambat Park Golf Course whilst he completed his business degree at University. “This role really formed my career direction, as I found a passion for golf and golf operations,” Jack explained.
After a 6 month hiatus, where Jack worked in Canada as a snowboard instructor, he returned to Yarrambat briefly before taking on the Assistant Manager position at Keilor Public Golf Couse. “I took this role in May 2018 and 6 months later I was promoted to my current role as Venue Manager at KPGC,” Jack said.
Jack is also looking after Yarrambat Park Golf Course as Interim Venue Manager and says, “It’s amazing to return to a venue where I started my career in golf as a leader.”
What are some of your highlights of working with Belgravia Leisure?
Jack listed some of his highlights as being:
- Increasing membership by over 400% at KPGC.
- Initiating a full rebrand of the golf course to give the course a sense of identity within the community.
- Creating and implementing fun community-focused programs and events like open days, walking events, free clinics and ‘Get Into Golf’, really drives community awareness of the golf course and attracts new people to the sport.
- Implementation of the Charity Hole Sponsorship Program at KPGC, where local businesses can sponsor a hole on the golf course in return for a donation to the Belgravia Foundation. Through this funding, we have been able to offer a range of free clinics for people with a disability.
How have you been impacted by Covid and what have you learnt?
“Covid definitely was a challenge, I kept myself focused on the positives during lockdowns. I spent more time with my dog Django, and my partner Jacqui. We spent more time outside, and I just kept myself busy as best I could.
“I learnt how important our venue was to people in our community, as people would reach out saying how much they missed playing golf at KPGC. So I felt it was important to stay active on our venue’s social media accounts to keep our community engaged.”
What is your favourite and least favourite thing about your career?
“An awesome perk is being able to work from a beautiful golf course most days. My real passion is being creative with marketing and programs to expose new people to the sport, which has had a real boost due to the pandemic.
“My least favourite thing is when important machinery like the range cart which picks up range balls (for example) breaks down. This can be challenging!”
Where do you see yourself in the next three to five years?
“In three to five years, I see myself stepping up into a higher leadership position within the golf arm of the business. I truly believe we are the industry leader in community initiatives and innovation within this space. So I’d like to see our golf course’s portfolio grow to its highest level in the company’s history.”
What are three things you’re most passionate about in life and why?
- Golf – I love the game, the community around golf, the health benefits and the continual drive for perfection. Once you get the golf bug you are hooked for life!
- Richmond FC – I’m an avid supporter of the Richmond Football Club, As a kid growing up I didn’t see them win a lot, which I think taught me how to be patient and supportive. To have witnessed the success of the club over the past few years (including the 2019 grand final live) makes all those years of heartache as a kid worth it.
- Getting outdoors – I believe getting outdoors and enjoying nature is so important for mental health. With digital devices and social media continually taking our attention, I believe it’s so important to turn it all off and get out and enjoy what our world has to offer.
What does sustainability mean to you?
“Sustainability to me means making small decisions in your life like turning off power switches, or properly sorting waste. This may seem insignificant, but as a collective society, it makes a massive difference in reducing our impact on the planet.”
