Sometimes the best careers start almost by accident . If you ’ re lucky , you can find an opportunity simply by being in the right place at the right time . That ’ s what happened for the Managing Director at Club de Golf Son Servera , on the east coast of Mallorca . Stefano Bortolotti , an Italian from the north of Italy , has been looking after the golf club and its operations since 2013 .
After working for many years in the hotel industry at home , in London and New York , he was in Mallorca when he decided to take a year out . With his Spanish wife he stayed on the island and he joined the golf club . The club was in considerable financial difficulty at the time and after six months the club ’ s President asked Stefano to come on board as a director . The challenge set for him was to turn the club around . He has been here ever since and he has , as requested , ensured that the club is now a glowing success .
Destination Golf ( DG ): What does your current role require you to do ? Stefano Bortolotti ( SB ): I manage the golf club and course as well as supervising green keeping operations . This includes looking after members and keeping them happy , managing member events and , from a commercial perspective , promoting the club at fairs around the world . We are the second oldest club in Mallorca , and we have only been marketing it for seven years .
We also have a very important golf school here , which is in the top three in Spain . One of our players is on the Ladies European Tour , and five girls have gone from here this year to American universities . That is something we are very proud of and keen to promote . Overall , our goal is to make the sport of golf more accessible more popular .
DG : What are the most enjoyable parts of your job ? SB : You really have to do so many different things . I jump from one thing to another every day . Working in the office , speaking with members , doing the commercial work , travelling abroad , marketing , promoting and managing the restaurant . Each day is different and we have a wonderful team here .
DG : What has been your biggest highlight ? SB : Taking a club that was completely bankrupt and – together with the new President – saving it and making it into one of the best in Spain , and certainly Mallorca . Last year we won an award for the Best Golf Course in Spain , Best Golf Experience in Spain and Best Golf Restaurant in Spain .
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