Los Gatos, CA
General Manager/COO
Mission Statement
La Rinconada Country Club is a private, Member-owned club that exists to provide a quality, family-oriented environment for the recreation, relaxation and social interaction of our Members, their families and guests.
The Club will be operated in a business-like and financially stable manner as required to provide high standards of appearance, facilities, and service and to serve the best long-term interests of the majority of its Members.
Located on 125 acres of rolling hills in the heart of Los Gatos, CA, La Rinconada Country Club is sited on one of the most beautiful settings in the Santa Clara Valley. The idea for building this 18-hole course took shape in the late 1920's and culminated in the opening of the golf course on June 1, 1929. Today the club operates under a very favorable 99 year lease initiated in 1952 with the Leider family who had taken ownership of the property after WWII.
While La Rinconada is more than 80 years old, the past decade has seen a complete rebuild of the Club's facilities. The main clubhouse was remodelled in 2005 in a Spanish/Southwest style reflecting the heritage of the area. The golf course has undergone a major facelift with a complete re-grassing in 2012 and a replacement of all sand traps and irrigation systems prior to that. The newest addition to the facilities is a state-of-the-art fitness center, swimming pool and two bocce ball courts that host activities enjoyed by family members of all ages. The fruits of the membership’s investments and the financial health of the club can be seen in their expanding membership, increasing membership prices, expanding junior golf camps, the use of the pool and fitness center, and the full house on nights dinner is served.
At La Rinconada the golf course is the crown jewel. The challenging but easily walkable golf course provides panoramic views of the valley and foothills from Mount Diablo to the Santa Cruz Mountains. The golf course is set among rolling hills with narrow, tree-lined fairways. A shotmaker’s course, the greens are small and undulating and protected by many bunkers. The course features a wide variety of challenging holes, including two long par 3's and several risk/reward short par 4's. The club also sports one of the finest practice facilities in Silicon Valley.
In addition to golf, the Club provides its members with a wide range of fitness, social and dining activities. La Rinconada provides both casual and elegant dining in a relaxed and family friendly setting. The Grille, the Patio and the Main Dining Room all overlook the first tee, showcasing the panoramic view of Silicon Valley.
The Executive Chef and his staff prepare dishes to satisfy a wide range of tastes, from classic favorites to innovative new cuisine. The focus is on using the freshest local ingredients with simple preparations that let the wonderful freshness of the food speak for itself. Menus are changed often in order to feature the best that is available in the current season.
The swimming pool is a destination for both families who want to hang out in the sun and fitness buffs who want to swim laps. The lapping area has 6 lanes that are 25 yards long, with adequate depth for flip turns. The other portion of the pool has easy entry stairs and a depth of 3' 6" to 4' for families with younger children. There is also a large heated spa.
The Fitness Center at La Rinconada is outfitted with a wide variety of aerobic, core and strength training equipment from top line vendors including Life Fitness, FreeMotion, Precor and Concept 2. A separate Studio building is the location for group classes. Personal trainers are available for private appointments. A special Golf Fitness program utilizing Titleist Performance Institute-trained professionals is also offered for the Members.
La Rinconada members have the privilege of using the Club's facilities to host private functions for family and friends, business or charitable organizations.
About the Town of Los Gatos, CA
The Town of Los Gatos is nestled at the base of the Sierra Azules, and is located approximately 60 miles south of San Francisco, in the southwestern portion of Santa Clara County where the Santa Clara Valley meets the lower slopes of the Santa Cruz Mountains. Los Gatos is one of Santa Clara County’s oldest communities. Los Gatos was originally named La Rinconada de Los Gatos (Cat’s Corner) by early settlers due to the screams of mountain lions prowling in the night.
The Town originally developed at a distance from other population centers and therefore evolved as an independent community having residential, commercial and industrial areas. The economics of the Town have changed from the wheat farming, milling, logging, orchard and cannery businesses in the 19th and early 20th centuries to the suburban, high tech, visitor destination businesses of today. The climate and easy access by rail from San Francisco made Los Gatos an early tourist destination. Today, the Town is situated within the largest metropolitan area of northern California, and is closely tied to Silicon Valley and its fast paced economy. Los Gatos, however, retains a mix of residential, commercial and light industrial uses, still attracts visitors, and continues to retain its small town image.
Los Gatos prides itself as a self-contained community. Over 3,000 businesses serve the residents and act as a destination point for visitors who are attracted to its restaurants, hotels and variety of shops within a pedestrian oriented downtown setting. The Town is also an inclusive community with the full mix of ages, family sizes and incomes. Los Gatos has many parks and greenbelt areas, as well as a vibrant downtown area. Downtown Los Gatos is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is the model of what communities strive to achieve in a downtown.
Los Gatos schools routinely rank at the highest levels within California and are a primary reason why many families choose to relocate to the community. The school districts enjoy great support from the community with all of the schools having been renovated within the last 10 years. The combination of the property tax base and parcel taxes that the community has supported over the years provides one of the highest per student funding levels in the state.
Club Facts:
Number of Full Proprietary Members: 436
Rounds of Golf Annually: 30,000
Gross Dollar Volume: $ 7,300,000
Food & Beverage Revenue: $ 1,975,000
Please visit the website at: www.larinconadacc.com
Position Description
The General Manager/Chief Operating Officer (GM/COO) has responsibility for all day-to-day operations of La Rinconada Country Club and serves in a culture of strong governance support for the GM/COO position.
He/she directs and administers all aspects of the operations---the amenities, staff and all programs and activities including each operating entity relating to golf, fitness, pool and food/beverage operations, activities and programs to ensure outstanding service delivery to its membership and all other interrelated constituencies.
The GM/COO is responsible for the creation and implementation of all service standards and processes while providing energized and visible leadership for key managers, staff, committees and the Board. He or She is responsible for the success of all aspects of the Club goals and activities and is expected to devote full time and attention to operations, planning, staff performance/evaluation and overall facilitation of successful operations both short and long term.
Candidate Qualifications & Experience
The ideal candidate will be a true leader with exceptional club management and hospitality experience, knowledge and skills. The candidate must have a proven record of strong operational management and will have impeccable “attention to detail” attributes. The successful candidate will have a proven track record of outstanding food and beverage service skills.
Seven to ten years of progressive management experience at a comparable club is considered very desirable. The candidate will have outstanding financial, budgeting and strategic planning acumen, which will enable the club to ensure its future stability and success. The club is looking for a confident, consummate professional, with an “ownership mentality,” who will yield results and has a genuine desire to interact with the membership on a professional and hospitable level.
The General Manager will oversee all departments and must have solid knowledge of every area of club operations. The ideal candidate will be a dedicated team leader and will provide leadership and guidance to an established and loyal group of department heads and employees.
Team Development skills that encourage employees to aspire to and attain high quality service standards are considered very valuable. This individual will foster a spirit of respect and decency among the employees and members.
The GM/COO must possess the ability to work well with the Board and Committees providing visionary leadership and sound guidance, along with well-reasoned recommendations. The Club is not looking for a “caretaker” manager, but rather a charismatic club professional who recognizes the need to stay fresh and relevant in today’s club environment, creating a member experience that represents a strong brand that La Rinconada Country Club will be proud to attract and maintain members. He/She must have excellent marketing skills and a proven record of membership recruitment, satisfaction and interaction.
The successful candidate must be a confident, creative, enthusiastic, energetic, engaging and highly visible manager to the staff and membership and must have outstanding interpersonal and communication skills.
The candidate will be active and well respected in his or her local and national CMAA organization. A college degree and the CCM designation are preferred.
This position is available immediately.
Salary: Open and commensurate with qualifications and experience. The Club, along with the typical CMAA benefits, offers a competitive benefits & bonus package.
Inquiries:
Interested candidates should submit resumes and a thoughtful, detailed cover letter outlining one’s alignment with the above noted qualifications and expectations for the position. Those documents should be saved and emailed in Word or PDF format (save as “Last Name, First Name Resume” and “Last Name, First Name Cover Letter” respectively) to:
Nan Fisher:
La Rinconada Country Club
Confidential 4 7/18/13
Lead Partner on this search:
Richard M. Kopplin, Partner
Kopplin & Kuebler, LLC
480-443-9102 (Office) - Arizona
Farmington Country Club
Confidential 5 7/18/13