Ep.199: Inside the Future of Golf Clubs: Culture, Growth & Reality | GrowSport with Mark Ruddy
About this episode
Mark Ruddy discusses the future of golf clubs, focusing on culture, community, and participation.
This week on PaddyTalks Golf, powered by ForeGolf Custom, I sit down again with Mark Ruddy, a leading voice in golf club management and participation, whose work behind the scenes is shaping how golf clubs think about culture, community and long-term sustainability. Mark previously joined us on Episode 145 to lift the lid on life as a General Manager. Since then, his focus has evolved with the creation of Grow Sport, a project designed to help clubs grow participation, improve culture and build environments where people genuinely feel welcome. From early experiences in golf, to going all in on the sport, to challenging long-held assumptions about what “growing the game” actually means, Mark’s journey offers a rare and honest look at the engine room of Irish golf. We dive into: ⛳ Mark’s earliest memories of golf and the moment he fully committed to working in the game. 🧠 The reality of golf club culture, the signals clubs send (often unintentionally), and why good intentions so often fall short. 🎯 What Grow Sport is, why it exists, who it’s really for, and the real return it offers golf clubs beyond membership numbers. 🔥 Why participation, atmosphere, and belonging matter more…
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