Steven McDonnell

About the Candidate

STEVEN McDONNELL
PGA Director of Golf | PGA Advanced Golf Coach | GCMA Accredited Manager – Level 1
Gateshead, UK | 07540 730022 | stevenmcpga@outlook.com
www.stevenmcdonnellgolfacademy.co.uk | Digital reach: 80,000+ followers
PROFESSIONAL PROFILE
Commercially focused PGA Director of Golf with extensive experience in golf operations, retail, people
management and business ownership. Completed the PGA Director of Golf qualification in May 2026 and
achieved GCMA Accredited Manager – Level 1. Led teams of up to 12 at Lidl, gaining experience in food
standards, procurement, stock control, Health & Safety and KPIs; Hays recruitment experience developed
interviewing and talent acquisition skills. Strong North East golf-industry connections and experience
across membership, visitor services, societies, competitions and customer experience.
CORE MANAGEMENT SKILLS
• Golf Club & Department Operations
• Membership & Committee Relations
• Food Standards & F&B Operations
• P&L, Budgets & Commercial KPIs
• Customer & Guest Experience
• Digital Marketing & Business Growth
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
• Team Leadership & Recruitment
• Golf Retail & Stock Management
• Procurement & Stock Rotation
• Societies, Corporate Golf & Events
• Health & Safety & Compliance
• Coaching & Facility Management
THE GOLF PERFORMANCE CENTRE | County Durham
Owner / Director of Golf / Head PGA Advanced Coach | March 2025 – Present
• Lead coaching programmes, player development and daily facility operations.
• Manage budgets, bookings, revenue, expenditure, website, marketing and customer acquisition.
• Maintain safeguarding, Health & Safety and risk management procedures.
OAKDALE GOLF CLUB | Harrogate
Head PGA Advanced Coach / Head Professional | June 2023 – March 2025
• Led professional shop operations, member services and Foremost Golf retail operation.
• Managed purchasing, suppliers, stock, merchandising and retail performance.
• Coordinated competitions, societies, corporate golf and club events; mentored assistants and staff.
THE PLAYERS LOUNGE | Golf Coaching Centre
Owner / PGA Specialist Coach | November 2019 – March 2023
• Founded and ran an independent indoor golf coaching business.
• Managed P&L, budgets, forecasting, facilities, bookings, marketing and customer retention.
WHITBURN GOLF CLUB
Head PGA Professional / Golf Operations | June 2017 – October 2019
• Managed daily golf and pro-shop operations, suppliers, purchasing and retail stock.
• Coordinated tee bookings, competitions, societies, visitors and practice facilities.
• Worked closely with Club Manager and committee on member service and compliance.
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STEVEN McDONNELL | PGA DIRECTOR OF GOLF
PREVIOUS MANAGEMENT & COMMERCIAL EXPERIENCE
LIDL | Nottingham
Store Manager | 2007 – 2010
• Managed and developed teams of up to 12 in a high-volume, KPI-driven retail environment.
• Led food procurement, ordering, deliveries, stock rotation, date controls and waste management.
• Maintained food hygiene, product quality, Health & Safety and operational compliance.
• Managed staff deployment, customer service and commercial performance.
HAYS RECRUITMENT
Recruitment Consultant | 2012 – 2014
• Managed recruitment from client brief through interviewing, assessment and candidate placement.
• Developed client relationships, supported workforce planning and worked to commercial targets.
NORTH EAST GOLF EXPERIENCE
Self-Employed PGA Golf Coach / Lead Coach | 2016 – 2026
Delivered Get Into Golf programmes, junior academies and player-development initiatives at clubs
including Ravensworth, Oakleaf and Garesfield. Built extensive regional relationships and knowledge of
participation, membership growth and the North East golf market.
SELECTED CAREER HIGHLIGHTS
• Founded and managed two independent golf businesses.
• Golf operations, shop management, P&L, purchasing and commercial planning experience.
• 80,000+ digital followers and 2 million+ annual social media impressions.
• Cross-sector experience in people management, food standards and recruitment.
PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATIONS & ACCREDITATION
• GCMA Accredited Manager – Level 1
• PGA Advanced Coach – 2023
• Member – Golf Club Managers Association (GCMA)
• Director of Golf – Management Theory
• SafeGolf Accredited
• Emergency First Aid – Level 2
• CPD Accredited until 2027
DIGITAL & BUSINESS SYSTEMS
• PGA Director of Golf – completed May 2026
• PGA Golf Degree – University of Birmingham, 2019
• TrackMan Professional – Levels 1 & 2
• Diploma in Sports Coaching & Nutrition
• Safeguarding & Protecting Children
• Enhanced DBS
TrackMan | Foremost Golf | Website Development | GoDaddy | Digital Marketing | Social Media | Online
Booking Systems | Golf Performance Analysis
CAREER DIRECTION
Seeking a broader golf club management role, applying PGA Director of Golf expertise, GCMA
accreditation and cross-sector commercial experience to operational standards, financial sustainability,
team development and member experience.