Private Club Radio Show

Hosted by Denny Corby

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Episodes

503

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Jun 2026

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About the show

Welcome to the Private Club Radio Show, the industry's weekly source for education, news, trends, and other current developments in the world of private clubs. Hosted by the talented entertainer and industry expert, Denny Corby, the podcast offers a unique perspective on the private club industry, featuring expert guests, product spotlights, predictions, and more. Whether you're involved in a golf club management, yacht clubs, athletic clubs, or business clubs, the Private Club Radio Show is the essential podcast for anyone seeking valuable insights and information on the latest trends and developments in the private club industry.

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60 recent

June 15, 202643 min

499: Connecting The Dots w/ Sean Bleyl

Your club can spend $10M, $15M, even $20M on a renovation and still leave members with a first impression that feels stuck in the early 2000s. That disconnect is exactly what we tackle with Sean Bleyl from MembersFirst. Sean’s a former club pro who now helps private golf and country clubs improve marketing, communications, and digital presence, and he brings a rare perspective that blends real operations experience with modern website and content strategy.We talk about the timing trap clubs fall into: waiting until the end of a renovation to think about a website redesign, new photography, video, and the full communications plan. Sean breaks down why quality club web design is not a “build it in a day” project, how long it realistically takes when your team still has to run the club, and why photographers and content creators book out months in advance. We also get into what the best-run clubs do differently, including pulling marketing into renovation planning meetings early so member updates stay clear, consistent, and stress-reducing when parking lots change, routes shift, and timelines move.The conversation expands into conferences and education, too. We share why the real magic is often in the hallways, buses, and quick chats between sessions, and how being present in the room makes connections easier and more authentic. Sean also shares a practical way to take notes with intention so you leave any CMAA event with a handful of ideas you will actually implement at your club.Follow us on the socials Private Club Radio InstagramPrivate Club Radio Linkedin Denny Corby Instagram Denny Corby Linkedin

June 9, 202620 min

498: Cockroaches, Connection, and Quiet Leadership w/ Denny Corby

A cockroach in a hotel shower is not the opening scene I planned, but it turned into one of the clearest lessons I’ve ever learned about private club leadership. After flying in day-of to emcee the CMAA Golden State Chapter Spring Conference, I’m stressed, underprepared, and trying to keep my head on straight. Then the bathroom turns into enemy territory, and the story becomes the perfect reminder that real hospitality isn’t about looking polished. It’s about how the room feels when real life shows up.From there, I unpack the simple framework I rely on when I’m hosting a conference, performing at a club, or helping leaders think about member experience and staff culture: intention, surprise, and connection. Intention is the deliberate design behind warmth, welcome, and participation. Surprise is the pattern-breaker that pulls people out of autopilot without needing a huge budget. Connection is the point of it all, because clubs are not just in golf, food, fitness, or events. We’re in the feeling business, and feelings are what members talk about and remember.You’ll also hear my favorite “magic trick” of the week, and it wasn’t mine. It was a quiet, professional move that tightened the room, protected the energy, and improved the entire experience without drawing attention. If you lead a team, plan events, work with a board, or care about member engagement, this is a practical listen with a story you won’t forget. Subscribe, share this with a club leader who needs it, and leave a review with the quiet move you think matters most.Follow us on the socials Private Club Radio InstagramPrivate Club Radio Linkedin Denny Corby Instagram Denny Corby Linkedin

June 1, 202631 min

497: Renovations, Committees, & A Great Caddie Program w/ Brian Tulk

Renovations can upgrade a golf course, but they can also wreck trust if you miss the human side. I sit down with my friend Brian Tulk, a former club caddie who worked his way up to General Manager, to talk about what it really takes to deliver major private club improvements while members still expect everything to feel effortless.We get into the nuts and bolts of golf course renovation planning at a member-owned club: phased projects, a successful assessment vote, bunker work, irrigation uncertainty, and the constant pressure to protect weddings, dining, and day-to-day operations. Brian shares how the first domino drops in the boardroom, why committees can actually help when they are set up well, and how transparent member communication keeps expectations realistic without killing excitement.Then we shift to one of the most overlooked engines of club culture: the caddie program. Brian explains what makes a great program work, how to earn real member buy-in, and why the Evans Scholars connection turns caddying into a pipeline for opportunity and leadership. We also look ahead at the future of private clubs, from legacy membership programs to robotic mowers and precision turf technology.If you care about private club management, member experience, golf operations, and building a club culture that lasts, this conversation is for you. Subscribe, share the episode with a club leader, and leave a review with your biggest renovation or caddie-program question.Follow us on the socials Private Club Radio InstagramPrivate Club Radio Linkedin Denny Corby Instagram Denny Corby Linkedin

May 25, 202634 min

496: The Nicey Effect w/ Hannah White

Your club can feel lively before a member even pulls into the parking lot, but only if your communication actually sounds like your culture. We’re joined by Hannah White, Membership Experience and Communications Director at Sugar Creek Country Club, to talk about what it takes to create country club marketing and member communications that feel human, fun, and worth paying attention to.Hannah shares her unexpected career pivot from pre-dental biology to event planning, member relations, and social media, including what it’s like to walk into a role with no training and limited funds. We dig into the “limitations force creativity” mindset, how she learned to price events and build basic P&Ls, and why earning trust lets you later say, “Hear me out,” when you want to level up an experience.Then we get tactical: what makes a great event recap video, how to plan five must-have shots, why an intro clip matters, and how keeping edits to 60 to 90 seconds boosts watch time. Hannah swears you can do it with just your phone and CapCut, plus a smart archive of old footage for the weeks you need content fast. We also talk hospitality “niceys” like welcome drinks, finding ideas on TikTok, and using ChatGPT for brainstorming without losing your club’s voice.If you care about member engagement, club culture, and modern private club communications, hit play, then subscribe, share with a club leader, and leave a quick review so more people can find the show.Follow us on the socials Private Club Radio InstagramPrivate Club Radio Linkedin Denny Corby Instagram Denny Corby Linkedin

May 18, 202632 min

495: The Club Communication Shift Every GM Needs To Hear w/ Joe Smith

In this episode of Private Club Radio, Denny Corby welcomes back Joe Smith of Countryside Golf and Country Club for a conversation about creating exclusive member experiences through better communication.Joe shares how Countryside has turned communication into part of the member experience, not just a way to send updates. From weekly videos and member stories to transparency, consistency, and better internal communication with employees, Joe explains how clubs can build trust, create anticipation, and help members feel more connected to the life of the club.Denny and Joe also talk about hiring a communications director, handling member feedback, fighting the rumor mill, using video to tell the club’s story, and why the best communication is not just informative, it is engaging.If your club is still relying on basic newsletters, scattered email blasts, and hoping members “just know” what is happening, this episode will make you rethink what communication can really do for member engagement, culture, and connection.Follow us on the socials Private Club Radio InstagramPrivate Club Radio Linkedin Denny Corby Instagram Denny Corby Linkedin

May 11, 202612 min

494: The Callback Effect

The fastest way to make a member loyal isn’t a new simulator or a renovated clubhouse. It’s a moment where we prove we were paying attention. I learned that on stage as a magician through a tool called the “callback” a reference to something earlier that lands because it feels real, shared, and unscripted. We translate that idea into private club hospitality and country club member experience, where callbacks look like remembering a drink order, a kid’s tournament, a recent retirement, or even the hole that got away last weekend. We dig into the psychology behind it: people are always scanning for belonging, safety, and whether their presence registers. Then we connect it to the peak end rule from behavioral science, showing why members remember emotional peaks and strong endings far more than perfect consistency. From there, we get practical about club operations and leadership. We talk about building continuity across departments so golf, dining, events, and membership feel like one ongoing story, not a reset every time a member changes rooms. We also make the case that scripted warmth fails because members can feel “performance” instantly. The real play is hiring and modelling genuine curiosity, supporting it with simple systems like pre-shift relational notes and shared milestone awareness. If this sparks ideas, subscribe, share with a club leader, and leave a review so more teams can build the kind of culture members feel within 30 seconds.Follow us on the socials Private Club Radio InstagramPrivate Club Radio Linkedin Denny Corby Instagram Denny Corby Linkedin

May 4, 202637 min

493: Sous Chef Summit w/ Eduardo Castillo

A chef can nail a service and still lose the month on payroll, ordering, and waste. That’s the gap we get into with Chef Eduardo Castillo, whose career took him from a marketing role at Texaco in Venezuela to building high-performing culinary teams inside private golf and country clubs in the United States.We walk through Eduardo’s path into the club world, the mentors who challenged him with tough budget questions, and the real mechanics behind kitchen leadership: payroll control, sales mix, food cost, inventory management, and the small habits that quietly wreck a labor budget. Eduardo also shares why formal education is powerful but often out of reach for sous chefs, and how he’s created creative development opportunities by sending team members to learn inside other top clubs.The conversation leads to Eduardo’s Sous Chef Summit at San Antonio Country Club, a hands-on training experience built for working sous chefs and emerging leaders. He breaks down what attendees will practice, from protein breakdown and menu costing to ordering math for large events, backup plans when demand swings, HR documentation, and leadership coaching that helps chefs get more done through people without burning out.Follow us on the socials Private Club Radio InstagramPrivate Club Radio Linkedin Denny Corby Instagram Denny Corby Linkedin

April 27, 202634 min

492: Spouses, Waitlists, & Red Flags w/ Dan Klimek

Member vetting is not just a background check.It is governance.It is culture protection.It is risk management.In this episode of The Private Club Radio Show, Dan Klimek of Kennis Member Vetting returns to talk about what private clubs should be thinking about in 2026 when it comes to their membership vetting procedures, systems, and overall approval process. Because clubs can’t afford to rely on vibes, handshakes, referral letters, and the classic “he seems like a good guy” strategy anymore. That is how things get… spicy. And not the fun kind. Dan breaks down why modern member vetting should be treated as a complete process, not just a quick background check. That means reviewing membership applications, tightening up language, involving legal and board leadership when needed, and making sure every applicant goes through the same consistent process.The conversation also digs into why spouses matter, why waitlists should not be ignored, and why some of the most useful information is not always criminal. HOA complaints, neighbor disputes, police calls, lawsuits, online reviews, and other patterns of behavior can reveal a lot about whether someone is going to be a great fit for the club community.But this episode is not just about finding red flags. Dan also explains how good vetting can uncover the green flags — the quiet philanthropists, community leaders, generous families, and future members who may be even better than they look on paper.For general managers, membership directors, boards, and membership committees, this episode is a timely reminder that protecting club culture starts long before someone gets approved, gets a locker, and starts leaving one-star reviews about the soup.Follow us on the socials Private Club Radio InstagramPrivate Club Radio Linkedin Denny Corby Instagram Denny Corby Linkedin

April 20, 202614 min

491: 5 Things I Would Do My First 30 Days As GM

What would an entertainer who's performed at 400+ private clubs actually do if he became a GM? In this episode, Denny Corby breaks down the five things he'd tackle in his first 30 days as new club leadership — no management degree, no BMI, just a raw outside perspective built from years on stage inside these clubs.From a full top-to-bottom cleanliness overhaul to getting a real pulse on disengaged members, Denny covers what he'd prioritize, why, and how his unique background shapes every call. He also gets into staff culture in member spaces, rethinking your events calendar, and the one unconventional move that gets a new leader genuinely connected to their membership fast.If you're a GM, department head, or aspiring club leader, this one's worth a listen — even if you disagree with everything he says.Topics covered: new GM strategy, member engagement, club culture, private club leadership, onboarding, event programming, staff managementFollow us on the socials Private Club Radio InstagramPrivate Club Radio Linkedin Denny Corby Instagram Denny Corby Linkedin

April 13, 202654 min

490: First Year As GM, Year In Review w/ Jordan Meserole

Your first year as a country club GM can feel like you’re flying the plane while rebuilding the runway. I’m joined by Jordan Mezzerole, General Manager of Doylestown Country Club, for a candid year-in-review that starts with an unconventional career path and ends with the kind of real-world leadership moments you never forget.Jordan didn’t come up through a traditional hospitality track. He moves from journalism and TV into marketing communications, then lands in private club management as a membership and marketing director. We talk about the choices that turned that “side quest” into a serious GM runway. Finding mentors, getting involved with the board, learning club governance, and saying yes to the hard work that builds trust over time.We also dig into the tactical stuff that helps clubs thrive. Jordan shares how an $11 million renovation becomes a leadership accelerator, why clear member communication matters during construction, and how his weekly Hard Hat Minute videos improve transparency and member engagement. From there, we get into operations, including stepping up to run pool season to sharpen food and beverage management skills.Then it gets real: emergency calls, AED readiness, safety training, and three pipe bursts in six weeks. Jordan breaks down what surprised him most about the GM role, how coaching becomes a daily requirement, and why prioritising a few critical systems beats trying to prove everything in the first six months. If you care about private club leadership, member experience, and what the GM job actually demands, this one’s for you. Subscribe, share with a club leader, and leave a review with the biggest lesson you’re taking from Jordan’s story.Follow us on the socials Private Club Radio InstagramPrivate Club Radio Linkedin Denny Corby Instagram Denny Corby Linkedin