Accolades Galore
FOR MAX
As one of the most loved and
respected figures in the golf industry
in Australia and abroad, Max Mason
must be feeling quite proud of his
life’s work as he contemplates life as
a retiree.
Max’s contribution to golf
management in Australia is
unprecedented.
In recent weeks, the accolades from
colleagues and business associates
have come thick and fast.
If he gets any more slaps on
the back, he may have to see a
chiropractor.
“Max has committed to the golf
industry for almost 20 years and
always went far above the normal
call of duty as a club manager.
He worked with the GMA national
board for over 15 years and stuck
with it even when it was difficult
and walking away would have been
much easier, especially when his
health was not good.
Max established friendships with
GMA’s national affiliates including
the PGA, AGCSA, AGIC, Architects
and others. These relationships are
vital for our industry and the GMA
profile.
Also, Max established friendships
with our international GMA affiliates
14
including the CMAA, Singapore,
China and Malaysia. He had the
insight to engage in a long-term
relationship with Schweppes who are
the largest contributor to funding
in our organisation. He did this
without any precedents or existing
agreements.
“I’d like to thank Max for being a
friend and a mentor. He made my
transformation to GMA president
easy and I won’t ever forget that.
We’ll miss Max, not only as an
ambassador of his club and GMA,
but also as a friend.
We hope his battles with his health
have a positive outcome so that he
can enjoy the benefits of his many
friends and club life as a member.”
– David Burton, general manager
New South Wales GC
I have known Max Mason for
about eight years, ever since he
first started coming to our CMAA
conferences in the US. He was the
first person in my mind to establish
the great relationship between GMA
and CMAA.
Before meeting Max, all of us at
CMAA were unaware of GMA.
Our relationship with Australia and
club management was with the Club
Managers’ Association of Australia.
The Golf Marketing Professionals www.golfindustrycentral.com.au
Although a great relationship, GMA
was more similar to CMAA. Max
was the one that started it all and
that gave CMAA the confidence to
continue to develop the relationship.
Without Max, this might not have
happened.
Max was on the cutting edge when it
came to this relationship.
Having attended a GMA conference
to present, I suspect that Max was
instrumental in getting GMA to this
professional level of organisation.
The GMA conference I attended
in 2011 might have been the best
golf/club related conferences I have
attended internationally.
I am confident that the skills he
brought to the table to make these
conferences such a great success
are the same skills that he uses
every day as a great club general
manager – dedication, commitment,
hard work, passion and excellent
communication.
“Max is a wonderful human
being, dedicated to his family
and his profession and someone
I am proud to call a friend.”
– Michael G. Leemhuis – CCM, CCE,
PGA CEO/GM Congressional Country
Club, host club 2011 US Open