What Referral-Driven Clubs Get Wrong About Their Website
Ed Heil: October 16, 2025
"We don't really need a good website—we get most of our members from word of mouth."
How AI Gives Private Club Staff More Time for Members
Ed Heil: October 09, 2025
One of the most compelling reasons people join private clubs is the personal attention they...
Website Integration Made Simple: Why Your Golf Association Needs More Than Just a Pretty Homepage
Ed Heil: August 13, 2025
Your association website currently handles the essentials well. Members can establish their GHIN...
What Private Club Leaders Need to Know Before Producing a Club Video
Ed Heil: June 13, 2025
Producing video content isn’t just about grabbing a camera and hitting record. For private clubs,...
Where Tradition Meets Tomorrow: Dr. Bonnie Knutson on Creating Value in Modern Private Clubs
Ed Heil: May 01, 2025
The essence of a private club is uniting people with shared values and passions. When a club’s no...
Elevating Member Communication to Drive Engagement
Ed Heil: April 24, 2025
Let's be honest - member communications at most private clubs is a mess. While clubs continue to...
The Key to Successful Club Governance: A Discussion with Experts Denise Kuprionis and David Chag
Ed Heil: March 25, 2025
"The seven most dangerous words in the English language are 'We've always done it this way.'" -...
Strategic Private Club Communications: Beyond the Club Newsletter
Ed Heil: March 06, 2025
"In the absence of information, people make up their own story—and it's usually not positive." This...
Transforming Private Club Newsletters Through Storytelling
Ed Heil: January 23, 2025
"Stories are a communal currency of humanity." - Tahir Shah, Pakistani writer and documentary maker
Creating Private Club Website Copy That Engages Prospective Members
Ed Heil: January 08, 2025
For years, private clubs took pride in their air of mystery. Many didn't even bother with websites,...
Cultivating a Thriving Club Culture: Insights from Industry Leaders
Ed Heil: October 01, 2024
In the competitive landscape of private clubs, creating a strong, positive culture isn't just a...
You Don't Need to Hire A HubSpot Partner Agency, Or Do You?
Ed Heil: September 16, 2024
This blog was originally posted on February 24, 2022, but has since been updated for relevance and...
Attracting the Right Members with Your Club Stories
Ed Heil: August 21, 2024
One of the most common refrains I hear when visiting with club leaders around the country is this:...
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Melissa Hansen: Elevating Private Clubs One Membership Professional at a Time
Ed Heil: August 02, 2024
Not long ago, a club’s membership director was the receptionist at the front desk. As it related to...
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Why Private Club Membership Directors Need to Sell
Ed Heil: June 27, 2024
The words Selling and Private Club Membership typically do not go hand-in-hand. In fact, most...
Private Club Growth: Stop Reacting, Start Building [Podcast]
Ed Heil: May 02, 2024
Most successful businesses have a defined and repeatable sales process. One that identifies the...
Managing Shifting Demographics in Private Clubs [Podcast]
Ed Heil: February 12, 2024
John Schultz, CEO of Club Leadership Alliance, knows clubs inside and out. When he took over as...
Private Club Marketing MVP: Your Club Website
Ed Heil: February 02, 2024
In the long history of club marketing, websites are a fairly new tool. Think about it, when did you...
Private Club Success in a Post-Pandemic World: Frank Vain, CEO–The McMahon Group.
Ed Heil: January 10, 2024
As life after the pandemic starts to resemble pre-2020, private clubs face a crucial question: are...
Jeff McFadden Takes Private Club Leadership to New Levels [Episode 34]
Ed Heil: December 11, 2023
Jeff McFadden gives new meaning to “club leader.” His ascent to his current position as the CEO of...
5 Essentials for Successful Private Golf Club Marketing
Ed Heil: November 17, 2022
This blog was updated for relevance and accuracy on September 2, 2025.
Private Club Leadership: How Great Leaders Create Star Followers
Ed Heil: August 17, 2022
Dr. Sue Tinnish has seen her share of leaders through her career. As an executive coach, a past...
6 Deadly Video Mistakes That Drive Producers Crazy
Ed Heil: August 17, 2022
I'm not much of a cook, but I still love to watch cooking shows on TV. In fact, that's probably why...
The Heart of StoryTeller: Our Common Set of Values and Beliefs
Ed Heil: July 19, 2022
You know how company core values go: Honesty, trust, clear communication, passion, innovation, hard...
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Managing Private Golf Club Waitlists: What You Need To Know [Ep. 31]
Ed Heil: July 14, 2022
For the first time in years, many private golf clubs have a waitlist for new members. For the clubs...
Mastering Social Media for Clubs: Go Beyond Likes and Shares
Ed Heil: March 30, 2022
This blog was updated for accuracy and relevance on August 26, 2025.
What Impact Does Social Media Have on Mainstream Media?
Ed Heil: October 17, 2021
Long before the phrase "fake news" was part of social and political vernacular, it was difficult...
Mining for Great Content: 4 Story Ideas for Your Private Club Marketing
Ed Heil: August 17, 2021
Many clubs struggle to write content that focuses on their members instead of themselves. Although...
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Strategic Club Marketing Straight from School [Ep. 30]
Ed Heil: March 18, 2021
When Cathy Zehms caught word that there were plans to close Holy Cross Catholic School, where her...
Private Club Marketing Driven by Innovation in a Pandemic [Ep. 29]
Ed Heil: March 10, 2021
Dave Porter has relied on innovation as long as he’s been at Greystone Golf and Country Club. As...