Private Club Radio 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
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Private Club Radio Show
446: Club Leadership Through a Political Campaign Lens w/ Chuck Merriman, CCM
What do private clubs and political campaigns have in common?
Turns out… a lot more than you think.
In this episode, Denny sits down with Charles “Chuck” Merriman, CCM.
TRhe politically wired, quick-witted COO of San Diego Country Club whose journey from congressional campaign manager to club executive is anything but ordinary.
Chuck shares how his deep roots in politics shaped his leadership style, how civic involvement helped reopen his club during COVID, and why every club leader should build relationships in their local government before they need something.
We dive into:
- The surprising parallels between campaign strategy and club management
- How to deal with tough members, tougher boards, and Twitter trolls
- The real secret to persuasion, power, and protecting your club’s reputation
- Chuck’s proudest wins, hardest losses, and the leadership lessons in between
This one’s packed with humor, real talk, and insight for anyone who leads in high-pressure environments.
If you’ve ever felt like club leadership is political this episode proves you’re absolutely right.
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Hey everybody, welcome to the Private Club Radio Show, where we give you the scoop on all things private golf and country clubs From mastering leadership and management, food and beverage excellence, member engagement, secrets, board governance and everything in between, all while keeping it fun and light. Whether you're a club veteran just getting your feet wet or somewhere in the middle, you are in the right place. I'm your host, denny Corby. Welcome to the show. What do political campaigns and private clubs have in common? A lot more than you think Power, dynamics, persuasion, a whole lot of personalities, and today's guest is a part of both worlds.
Speaker 1:Today I am joined by Charles Chuck Meerman, ccm, the current GM COO at San Diego Country Club and probably one of the most involved club leaders in politics, and we have a phenomenal conversation In full transparency. I am the last one to talk politics with. I know enough to be dangerous and that is about it, but it was cool to chat with him and learn about his background in politics and how it shaped his career and his leadership style, because he's managed multiple congressional campaigns, including against one of his own members, he's worked directly with state and federal leaders to keep his club open during COVID and he was a small poster child for that. He has sat on town councils, merchant boards, civic associations and he's been vetted by the Secret Service more times than some politicians. He is not just a club pro. Chuck is a strategist, a communicator, a dealmaker and someone who deeply understands how politics, power and leadership intersect. And in this episode we talk about why political thinking can and should influence how we run our clubs, how local government relations fast-track club projects, cut red tape and open doors. We talk about the real difference between being liked and being effective, and how Chuck handles criticism and member pushback with humor and grace. He also shares why more club leaders should get and be more involved in their communities, in the local politics, because it becomes important especially before you need and want something. This episode is amazing. It's smart, it's personable and he shares what drives him, the mentors who shaped him and the lessons he learned from both winning and losing in clubs and campaigns.
Speaker 1:This is a phenomenal episode, cannot wait to dive in and before we do, I want to tell you about something I got cooking and it is going to be so much fun and I got to tell you about it really quick. I'm putting on my own management event for club leaders, for club professionals of all levels, called Management in Motion. It's going to be September 22nd at the Monticello Motor Club. First off, if you have not listened to Hospitality and Horsepower with Yanel Porub, the GM there phenomenal episode Check it out. But I told him a vision I had. I was like, oh, it'd be so much fun to do a day of ripping up cars on the track and mixing in education. And he said done, and he hooked it up. So I'm doing Management in Motion September 22nd.
Speaker 1:It is a full day of education, leadership, while also ripping up BMW M2s, m3s and M4s on the track, drag racing, skid pad, auto X drag racing, high speed laps, go karts. Breakfast, lunch, dinner. There's going to be a poker tournament. We are going to have such an amazing time. And it's limited. There's only going to be 50 people max. I am so stoked.
Speaker 1:If you want to learn more or sign up, head on over to privateclubradiocom slash management in motion or MIM. I did both. So privateclubradiocom slash management in motion or privateclubradiocom slash MIM, m-i-m, and you can get all the information there. It's affordable and I have $100 off code. The code is Vroom, available for the next two weeks. If you want to sign up. We are going to have so much fun. I am stoked. Big thanks to some of our show partners here on the channel. You're going to hear about them more later on in the episode. Show them some support, check them out, let them know you heard about them or you're reaching out because of Private Club Radio. Enough about all of that, let's get to the episode. Private Club Radio listeners. Let's welcome to the show Chuck Meerman. So what's more stressful member guest weekend or campaign season?
Speaker 2:Why not put that? We're just going right into it. I think member guest is less stressful. You know there's only about 144 people. Campaign season is usually about half a million, so a little bit different demographic there yeah, uh, now how, how did you know?
Speaker 1:when you uh edit, you got started. You didn't start in clubs, you started in hotels. Right, correct, how did? How? Did the hospitality road start for you uh?
Speaker 2:you know I started with marriott at uh, the jw marriott out in palm desert, california. Um, if you ever been there, it's a pretty cool hotel. They got these electric boats that you actually drive out of the lobby. That was my job. I was a captain of an electric Duffy boat at the JW Springs, the Desert Springs Marriott in Palm Desert, california.
Speaker 1:That is cool. Yeah, I've never been there, but that sounds amazing.
Speaker 2:Pretty cool, Titanic reenactments and everything you know. Never let go, Never let go.
Speaker 1:Ever have any people like stagger into the water or fall in?
Speaker 2:We had a couple of celebrities you know that probably should remain nameless at this time because they're still in the daily gossip.
Speaker 1:They're also going to be named in the Diddy Trials, so we're going to be.
Speaker 2:I'll plead the fifth on that one day.
Speaker 1:So how'd you go from hotels to clubs?
Speaker 2:I just naturally. You know I did hotels with the Marriott, then I worked for American Golf for a little bit and then I went back to you know the hotel scene with a family company out in San Diego and then I got into private clubs. At La Jolla Beach and Tennis Club my family had been a member of a private club growing out in Palm Springs. One of my early high school girlfriends her dad was one of the pioneers in the club industry. I think he's one of the first general managers to get their CCM designation.
Speaker 2:Out in the desert, the Coachella Valley, is a plethora of private clubs so there was no shortage there. So I just grew up in the environment, joined La Jolla Beach and Tennis Club and worked my way up there for 15 years and then went out to Illinois Inverness Golf Club and then went out to Illinois Inverness Golf Club and then it got to come back home to San Diego Country Club and clubs and politics run through my blood. I say each side has. You know, each sideburn has some gray hair for each one of them that's really funny.
Speaker 1:I like that. What now? When did politics come into play were? Were you always into it, was your family into it, or were you like the oddball who got into it?
Speaker 2:You know I was the weird one. You know waiting up all night for an election night, the race to 270 and all that fun stuff. Really, how it started, I went to a Catholic school in Palm Springs. At the time our mayor was Sonny Bono and then he became our congressman and sadly he passed away up in a skiing accident. I actually ultra-served his funeral, so it was pretty cool. I got to meet a lot of prominent people and getting called out of class from the Secret Service and middle school was a pretty cool thing.
Speaker 1:Wait timeout what?
Speaker 2:Yeah, it was an.
Speaker 2:E-True Hollywood story. There it was definitely a moment and it was I guess it's sort of like captivated my like passion about like just people and power and the ability to like make, hopefully, positive change, and it was. It was an awesome experience and ever since then I just I started volunteering, getting involved, and I am sort of a history nerd. No trivia today, though, please. It's contractually obligated not to go down that route, but yeah, politics were just in my blood. I started volunteering on his widow's campaign, so I guess I identified something there. Maybe I shouldn't have, but we did that and then just some fortuitous experiences.
Speaker 2:Met someone that worked with one of the major parties in their law department. I used to be a little more attractive, about 50 pounds less, and it all worked out. And then hung out with her, happened to get a connection to work on a campaign, and then it just steamrolled from there.
Speaker 1:Now rewind. What do you mean? You got called out of class by the secret service, like was this to go to the service or was this like an? Like an interview, to make sure you're not you know?
Speaker 2:I've probably been vetted more times by the secret service in the last like two decades than any other club manager in the country, outside of maybe some of the guys in washington. But uh, I, I, uh, I, I'm, I'm clean supposedly, um, but yeah, they, they took us out of class, you know, for the event to get over there. They didn't, you know, they usually don't pre-screen, you know, 12 year olds. So, uh, I was okay, I passed the bar there and I can say that I've been successfully screened in the last two years as well.
Speaker 1:so yeah, I'm okay you must have been so cool like the the next day. It's not like you know, the principal's calling you like the secret service is calling uh, yeah, it was uh, you know it definitely raised my stock value.
Speaker 2:Uh, um, I think. Uh, the eighth grade girlfriend was uh pretty excited we got to go see titanic, you know three times for that three hour and 14 minutes. So a couple more dates happened. It was pretty awesome.
Speaker 1:Yeah, yeah.
Speaker 2:But that was the end of my athletic career too. You know, I pinnacled in eighth grade, so we'll just leave it to that.
Speaker 1:Peaked in eighth grade. Now you've worked on both sides of you know from running clubs and political campaigns. Is there anything similar about managing a club and managing a political operation?
Speaker 2:I think the better question is what is different? Um, I would tell you that clubs are very highly political and I think, uh, every club manager would tell you the demographics, the relationships you build, you know, the board relationships, working with the members, working with the committees, it's all political, you know. I think you have to have the ability to be able to come together with a group of people, just like in politics, and find consensus, collaboration, be able to communicate with people and really, I think politics and club life is nearly identical.
Speaker 2:A political campaign usually is like a sprint. I think the club management is more of a marathon, even though our lifespan as general managers continues to decrease in this industry. Even though our lifespan as general managers continues to decrease in this industry. You're running a small organization that's multifaceted, basically build on relationships, whether it be your members or, you know when in the campaign it's your constituents. So you've got to have those skills to be able to communicate to the people you know, address policy. Collaboration is huge on both sides In the boardroom. If you're not getting collaboration, you're not going anywhere. And then obviously, compromise, which unfortunately, I think we find more in the clubs these days but not so much in the political world, as we all know, sadly. So I think they're very similar.
Speaker 2:When I first started going for looking at general manager jobs full disclosure I didn't even have my political background on my resume. I was like oh no, this is like a scarlet letter. Then a couple of recruiters talked to me and everything. They're like what do we not know about Chuck Merriman? I'm like well, I've ran three congressional campaigns, been a part of six, and then four presidential campaigns Like what? I'm like, yeah. They're like when do you do that I'm like, oh, that's my side hustle, and so now it's on there. You know, no political affiliation, nothing. But they think it's like a huge like markup and differentiating factor between me and potentially other candidates for jobs.
Speaker 1:Has your campaign work shaped the way you lead and communicate as a GM COO?
Speaker 2:A hundred percent. You have to be on your game in the campaign world. You can never have those miscues or social faux pas. So yeah, I definitely think that you learn how to communicate with members and it's all about building the relationships. I'm a very much a relationship-based guy. If you talk to people they'll say it's charisma that I like to build through myself. I like to feel that relationship and have that instant connection with people. And relationships are based on the campaign. That's how you get people to trust you to vote for you or your candidate. And the same thing in the boardroom.
Speaker 2:I have a policy that I don't go to my membership with a member vote unless I know I have the votes. I whip up the votes before. I sort of feel if you go to a member vote and don't have the votes, it's like sort of a vote of no confidence. And so I definitely see the direct parallels. And communicating with our members, you know respectful tone, proper place. Obviously I like to have fun. I think humor is a part of it too, because our world is. You know, we got a lot of serious things going on in this world and if you can't take a lighter approach to it but also be pragmatic and serious. You got serious problems, yeah.
Speaker 1:Yeah, okay, I feel like let me see how I'm going to, because I feel like in politics, everything is public, or a lot of it is, and in clubs everything feels private. So how do you I don't even know what I'm trying to ask, but, like, how do you feel or think about? You know transparency and messaging when it comes to clubs and club leadership and communication?
Speaker 2:I am always 100% transparent with the club members as well. I've noticed that even in the club world, as much as we used to be private behind our gates, things leak out in the community, everything, and you always want to put your best representation for your club out there. Clubs, basically, how they succeed, is based all on reputation. If you're a reputational hazard, you're not going to attract new members, you're probably going to lose members. So your reputation in the community is how you're getting these people to write these initiation checks to join your club. So I think you have to act in the same way in a professional manner, but at the same time build your own reputation same way in a professional manner but at the same time build your own reputation.
Speaker 1:Yeah, and I'm sure through the years of, you know, rallying support, reading a room, dealing with the pressures of all of that, I'm sure that translated super well into clubs also.
Speaker 2:Yeah, you know long hours, long days in both industries, that's for sure. I'll tell you, campaign life is not for the weak by any means, and club management life is definitely one that takes a lot of time and dedication. And yeah, you, you got to read. The people know your audience, whether it be your voters or with your members, and right place, right time to say things. Obviously, conversations will differentiate between different voters and also from different members.
Speaker 1:Yeah, do you think more?
Speaker 2:people. Club leaders maybe should be more involved with their local communities on the political level, 100 percent, like later today. I have a call with our community, you know, with our municipality here in Chula Vista. We're saying your country club's located and I believe engagement with your local leaders is pivotal on a lot of difference. It brings back the reputational factors for the clubs, but there's so many things that the clubs need Civic participation, whether it be, you know, permitting for projects, you know, philanthropic, giving back to the communities. I think are so important. A lot of members now join clubs because they like to see that philanthropic side of what clubs do and I'm a big proponent of obviously like civic leadership and giving your time to being leaders in the community. We do outreach here to, you know, the police departments, the fire departments, those are all public servants that help us and you never know when you're going to need them. So I think it's always good to have friends in powerful places.
Speaker 1:Yep, 1000%. I know this is like the same, but like different. So whenever I emcee, like conferences and there's you know vendors and sponsors and all that, I always tell people like listen, as you're going through you know, even like you know some, some CMA events and whatnot, it's like, hey, as you're going through you know, even like you know some CMA events and whatnot. It's like, hey, as you're going through that whole maze of things, like keep an open mind, like start some relationship. I know it's different but the same. But like start some relationships, start some connections, because you want to have those before you need them, because you know, if you ever like, oh crap, I need a whatever supplier or I need this to be sourced because something happened, like it's better to have those connections sooner than later, not like when you're in a rush and like begging for help, it's always better to start those connections and start those relationships earlier than later.
Speaker 2:So let me give you a great example of that.
Speaker 1:I was just going to ask for one.
Speaker 2:So La Jolla Beach and Tennis Club obviously you know great institution and been around forever. Family owned right there, premier property, premier club in the industry. I've been there 15 years. Uh, covid happens 2021, covid strikes, california shuts down. Uh, you know, can't really do anything. Um, this is really when your political connections came to light. Uh, if you've ever been there, if people have visited la jolla beach and tennis club, it's a beautiful property right on the pacific ocean, its own beach, everything.
Speaker 2:But we have a nine hole pitch and putt golf course. It's known, rarely used, it's more for aesthetics. You know everything. So you know I was able to call up county board of supervisors. You know people in the state government, everything. I'm like how can we reopen our club? And they were going through the list, list, list and they're like a golf course. I'm like, oh, we have a golf course. You know we're a beach and tennis club, but we have this. You know 1500 yard pitch and putt that you don't use anything more than a lob, wedge and putter on.
Speaker 2:I was able to reopen our club to its members to get back through. You know the means of working with the local government and the state government as a golf course, and that would have never happened had we not had those relationships and conversations, you know. Then the county people came out. They actually came and inspected themselves and we're like, oh, you guys are a prime example of what we should be doing when we reopen our properties. So then we started writing. You know they were like well, we need protocols on tennis. So the president of the club and I started writing protocols on how do you play tennis, you know, without being within five feet of someone and touching the ball and all that fun stuff that we had to go through. And we wrote the protocols for tennis tournaments to return in California. So through those connections you receive opportunity.
Speaker 2:The greatest thing about politics and all this with people and knowing relationships, it's really just about access. Can you pick up the phone and call your local leaders? You might not get what you want, but at least you can get a straight answer. You don't have to go through the bureaucracy of what government has turned into. It's amazing to be able to just text that leader or call them and ask them a question and just get it straight from the source, whether it be in your club life. The clubs love that, especially Right now we're about to embark upon this huge renovation project of our golf course. The doors were so wide open already, with us working with the city, that it's a positive environment and that's only a beneficial beneficial to your members.
Speaker 1:How do you keep it? Keep it separate but together, meaning like, how do you walk that fair line? Like how do you keep that level head? Because I feel like sometimes when people are in politics, they're so on their side, stuck to their guns, and they want, like everyone to know about it. You know, it's like the same people who you know just start crossfit. You know, how do you know someone does crossfit. They tell you they do crossfit. Uh, how do you like, how do you keep that like level, straight, middle ground, vibe and like energy about you?
Speaker 2:separation of church and state. Basically, you gotta like divide it out there. Um, I admit, you know I don't. I, you know I come off to my members and everything is very apolitical. What you have to do, obviously, um, clearly, I vote for someone for president every four years, not going to tell you who it was today or anything but you have to be able to stay objective, which can be challenging at times. I've played golf with people that we're high-fiving each other because we believe in every policy together, and then I play with people that are diabolically different to me.
Speaker 2:I believe in a sense of bipartisanship and that's really how it is at a club.
Speaker 2:You know when you go in the boardroom whether you have a board in Illinois of 15, here I have nine you're not going to have everyone on the same side of the aisle on the issues, political background, anything. So as, like the general manager, ceo of a club, you have to come off as apolitical and you really can't play favorites or hear anything. I would think you would see by the business that we book at the club the people that I have relationships with that you would probably be able to pick up and sniff out where I'm going. But you have to remain objective and you also have to understand when politics is necessary and having those, those relationships, and also when you should step back and not, you know, sort of avoid it, because it's a double-edged sword yeah, has there ever been any situations where a member may like found out or like knows about your political background or affiliation and starts like digging at you and like trying to, like you know, poke the beast or something.
Speaker 1:You know what I mean? Like because, like there, there are those people. But I'm just wondering, like has that ever happened? And like how have you handled that?
Speaker 2:so I was very fortunate up in la jolla. It was a non-equity family on club, so I did. I ran a you know multiple congressional campaigns while I was there. I actually ran two congressional campaigns against one of my members. Really, the congressman was actually a member of the club. So let's end his campaign manager slash chief of staff and let's just say they started some nice Twitter accounts about me and my great dad bod here I have right now and my physique. So that was pretty humorous.
Speaker 1:I thought it was funny.
Speaker 2:You just take it with a grain of salt and just keep going. But yeah, so there's definitely people that are aware. We also were about to host someone that was a very controversial politician at the time and some members got a little upset and decided to protest a little bit. So, yeah, every club you have to feel out what you know the line of demarcation is. That was a different situation, since it was a non-equity club and the family happened to be mostly politically aligned with where I was here. In an equity situation, you're responsible to all of your members. As owners of the club, you can't really push the envelope quite as much, if you know what I mean. Um, you sort of have to play both sides of the aisle and everything. But yeah, it was definitely fun.
Speaker 2:Um, I see this old member I often all the time. He's like so chuck, who you're running against me, now bring it on. Um, it's sort of like a jab back and forth now and, uh, you know, hopefully he'll just retire soon so I don't have to get back into politics. Just kidding. But he, you know it was right there out in front and all the members knew that I was running the campaign and he was the congressman and it was you know, we agreed to disagree, but at the end of the day I think I've told you this before, but I have great admiration for anyone that does the public office stuff.
Speaker 2:It is brutal brutal for people that are working for the campaigns, the politicians themselves it is. I have full respect for anyone that wants to endeavor in that arena, because I'll tell you, go watch House of Cards and I've done everything except pushing someone in front of the subway. You know it's, it's real life out here on the West Coast or on East Coast. You know news cycles. So you're at fundraisers till midnight. Then you have to get up by you know three, four in the morning to make the news cycle. It is not a job for the weary.
Speaker 1:Yeah no-transcript.
Speaker 2:you sort of it's part of the job and you know it's part of the uh, you know, uh, hazard pay that comes along with it. Um, and I think, just like in club life and political life, you start taking things personal. You're going to have a rough go at it. I definitely think that you should have a personal connection to everything and you everything and your instinct to everything, but you can't take things personally. At the end of the day, I feel it's just an insecurity by the other individuals if that's what they have to go to.
Speaker 2:I don't have Twitter accounts against me here at my club right now, at least that I know of. Hopefully they're all been blocked if they're happening. But you know it's sort of just what goes with the job. You know you're not here to win everyone. I always say at the club you have about 70% of the members that you've got to win over, and then 15%. I'll give a million dollars and they'll be like why didn't you give me $2 million, chuck? And then I got 15% that I'll burn their house down tonight. Invite me over to dinner tomorrow night still. So you just have to know the nature of the beast and it definitely happens on both sides with politics and club management and you just can't back down Confidence.
Speaker 1:Is there anything you've learned from politics that you wish every club general manager or club professional could understand?
Speaker 2:Yeah, I would tell every club professional that you know, knowing, you know, obviously, knowing the law is huge, knowing the legal structure of everything, especially, you know, depending what state you're in in California here you know my lovely, litigious state that I live in. Um, you, you definitely need to know the law because it's going to help you be on your side. Um, you also need to like, you need to learn that it's okay for not everyone to like you. I think a lot of club managers will like go out there and try to want every single person to like them.
Speaker 2:I'm not here to be my members' friends. I'm here to be the best professional in this to make their club the best possible and I have no qualms not being friends with my members. Am I nice, am I amicable? Am I respectful? 100%. But we're here to do a job and I think if you have that mentality going into it and you can't, you can't be afraid to lose. I'm sitting at my desk here in San Diego today and not at, not in Capitol Hill, because I lost. You know we lose, it happens. There's only one winner, there's one loser and it's okay to be wrong. So sometimes you got to take some risks, but you just can't be afraid.
Speaker 1:It's not about being liked, it's about being effective there you go, you're like taking notes, like I'm going to use that my next campaign.
Speaker 2:Let's get a Denny here. He can run my campaign.
Speaker 1:No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no. Is there anything that people assume about? Politics's totally wrong and maybe also applies to clubs.
Speaker 2:It's all true and it's actually worse. I would tell you everything you read in the papers or watch on TV. If you see it on Fox News, you see it on CNN, whoever you watch you get your news from, there's definitely some truth in all of it. It's not a clean business. I think there's ways we can look at it and making it better. In this country, there's probably a good amount of general managers that actually make more money than our president. They definitely make more money than our congressmen and women. I think that money is really a major issue in politics. It leads to slippery slopes. It's been the most rewarding thing I've ever done in my life, because you feel like that you're giving back to society as a whole, but at the same time, it's definitely the one that will make you want to pull your hair out, and it's an addiction. I have to tell you, I haven't been on an active campaign since 2018. I've been very fortunate. I have an amazing spouse. Now I have a four-year-old. Those aren't really conducive either, by the way, for politics families but it's a painstaking business. But at the end of the day, you look at that bright, shining light that is, hopefully, you're making a difference for not only yourself, but you know here now I sound like a politician but for you know, 350 million other Americans out there that are really wanting what's best for them, their families and the well-being of the country. And it's an amazing.
Speaker 2:I remember telling my mom the first time I became a congressional campaign manager. She was like what the heck are you doing? What are you thinking? I'm like, mom, do you not realize that there's 900 Major League Baseball players basically 30 teams, or whatever and 30 players on each team? I'm like there's like 900 MLB players Basically 30 teams, you know, or whatever and 30 players on each team. I'm like there's like 900 MLB players. I'm like there's 435 congressional seats and there's two candidates. There's only 870 of us. Mom, I'm like there are less campaign managers on congressional campaigns than there are Major League Baseball players. And then that put into this perspective, she's like, oh, wow, that's pretty cool. And I'm like, yeah, it's pretty cool, it's gnarly, it's interesting. And then congressional campaigns you lose, and then three months later they call you because they're running every two years. So it's like this endless cycle of fun.
Speaker 2:I don't know how else to say it, but I think our country's got a lot of things that you know we have opportunities, I think, to make some positive changes, you know. But who can say? You know, at age like 28, you're writing foreign policy pieces for stuff that you think should be used as legislation for what goes on over in the Middle East. Or you know, when something happens in the world like here's a story I think I shared with you. You know, when the whole withdrawal from Afghanistan happened, one of my employees was from Afghanistan. She called me up. She's like Chuck, I still have some friends over there. You know anyone that can help them get out, when you can pick up that phone and call the Congressman because you have a personal relationship and help people in. You know, a couple months later, you know that gentleman and his family were able to come out because they're friends of our country, you know, and we helped him get out of Afghanistan. Just an amazing like opportunity.
Speaker 2:You know I've done. I've been a part of some great things. You know prior to me. You know, getting really hardcore into politics, worked with the Red Cross. I was at Hurricane Katrina when that hit and you see the like the worst of times in civilization. But it also brings the best out of a lot of your fellow citizens, so it's just great to be able to do that. I was at a lunch like a month ago, right after they announced all the tariffs and all my members are freaking out.
Speaker 2:What's going on? What are we going to do? We're building a new golf course, renovating our golf course, everything. That week I was fortunate enough because I had a private lunch, you know, with the congressman, and I just straight up there and asked him what the heck are we doing?
Speaker 2:What's the plan? And then I also, and then he loved it too, because I gave him my own policy plan and you get straight answers and it's so great to be able to do that. I had someone come to me and said that they're having issues because their pastor had some you know, immigration status issues. Can you reach out and help? So with access comes the ability and the opportunity to help people you know in different ways. So it's really awesome, highly recommend it.
Speaker 1:Yeah, the word that keeps coming to my mind is persuasion, and you've been on both sides of that. What is your secret to winning people over?
Speaker 2:I think it's really. You got to lead with humility. You got to be honest with people, respectful, passionate. Danny, my career path is you know I've had some cool things in my life but I think full disclosure now I don't have my college degree. I, you know, I don't want to say I'm self-educated, I obviously went to school and everything, but I put in the time and worked and as far as the persuasion of the people is, I think if you lead from the front, lead by example, and you're fine to get down in the trenches and do what you got to do, you know I remember working on a golf course and being the guy that had to clean, pick the range Sunday nights at five o'clock, you know, and wash all the golf balls in the desert heat at 110 degrees, you know.
Speaker 2:Or I remember you know carrying luggage for guests at hotels. I remember you know carrying luggage for guests at hotels. I remember you know booking hotel reservations. Sometimes you got to do the unglamorous things but that gains trust in not only your constituents but also in your staff and in your members, because you have the real world experience. I wasn't silver spooned and just handed this on the platter. You know you're going to be a general manager of a club You're going to, you know, you going to run three congressional campaigns, or whatever. It all took hard work, determination, and my passion in life is really to make things better on a small scale, whether it be for my members or, on a larger scale, of people throughout the country.
Speaker 1:Yeah, between all the different jobs you know guest services, campaign manager, coo, gm, like looking back on everything what job do you think taught you the most about leadership?
Speaker 2:That's a tough one because I think, um, I look at every opportunity and all my jobs of how you know, I've always, you know, been a leader since I was a little kid, you know, being on student government, you know, being involved in stuff at school and trying to, you know, lead my packs of my friends and stuff like that. I know that a lot of people think that this isn't true, but there's other people that do think it's true. I think that some of us are just natural born leaders and you know, I believe also that you know, we have callings to do things for a higher good for us, as for whether it be your members or whether it be the public, but I try to take my opportunity, whatever position I may be in, and try to do it where I can make a better experience for, especially my employees. I start off any job I go into, especially in a leadership position. I'm not a manager, I'm a leader. I'm here to lead my employees and the things that matter most to me is taking care of my staff. So my last two clubs in particular, out in Illinois at Inverness, and then here at San Diego Country Club, my first focus for the first six months. It wasn't about the members, it wasn't about me, it was about the staff and your team around you. So I think you just have to. And that's the same thing when you're developing a campaign, it just happens a lot quicker.
Speaker 2:Usually campaign season goes from about January till November. You have primaries and then you go to the general elections. So you know it's like an 11-month sprint. So you got to do all this a lot quicker. General managers I think we last. They tell us now about three years, two months in the industry before we move on. So you got a little bit longer because you know you got boards switching over and recruiters calling you hopefully and keep growing your career. But I think and I believe you know, there's the old saying of servant leadership. I don't like to call it that because I don't think any of us are servants to anyone except for, hopefully, ourselves, but I like to call it. You know I don't know civic leadership and you know that's leading in all areas of your life. You know try to lead by example and you know try to do the best things that you can to just make your lives a little bit better for the people around you.
Speaker 1:Yeah, yeah.
Speaker 2:You're going to get me crying here, denny, or something. Jeez, I didn't know I was going to have to like go down that path, but you know it's serious stuff. But you know you have to like take a look at it and realize that you know we got serious issues at our clubs.
Speaker 2:We got serious issues in our country. We're at a point in a lot of the parallels because our clubs are successful when things are going successful in our country. Our demographics of all of our members of our clubs are very successful people in this country. You know that's just the name of the game. That's where our members come from. So the success of the nation is big for the success of our industry and they sort of work hand in hand.
Speaker 2:I know great clubs can survive any recession or depression or anything, but you need to have the leaders of industry, the leaders of commerce, the leaders of politics, the leaders of everything in this are usually the people that are your club members, and you know there's a lot of crossover when it comes to that and it's so easy, you know, nice to be able to. You know I get up, you know I can go walk around all the members. You know there's still the members you know reading the newspaper that we get delivered every day. You know the paper version, not the digital version, and you can connect with them when you're up on. You know you know what's going on in the world, you know what's going on in the economics. So I think that there's so much that's intertwined that I would highly recommend, you know anyone to just go spend some time. You know I'm not saying to go run a campaign or anything, but just go check it out and see what's actually going on or at least participate, volunteer. Obviously vote all the time. I'm not going to be like get out the vote, but you definitely have opportunities.
Speaker 2:Part of what I've done too is I've been fortunate enough that I've been elected to boards within my communities that I've resided in and worked in, communities that I've resided in and worked in, and it's an awesome feeling to be able to sit up there and represent, you know, your citizens within. Like La Jolla, I was on the town council there and it was awesome to be able to, you know, be a part of what's going on in the community. You know, I was on our business association down in our little region as well. I was on the other association, so I've had, I've tried to give back. Any way you can give back is really critical and I think as club leaders, we have a great platform to give back because we might have some more resources than just the average Joe Schmo on the street to be able to give back to the communities.
Speaker 1:Yeah, looking back on the journey so far campaigns, clubhouses is there a moment or two that you're most proud of?
Speaker 2:You know, any time that you finish a campaign, win or lose. I've been, unfortunately, on a lot of losing sides in the political campaign life. You're humbled number one. Losing sides in the political campaign life You're humbled number one. But I think that I look back in my life. I just recently, about a year and a half, two years ago I achieved my CCM, my Certified Club Management Certification.
Speaker 1:Brr, brr, brr.
Speaker 2:Thank you. And I'm halfway there to get my CC the Certified Club Executive. You know, I'm halfway there to get my CC the certified club executive. Nice, you know, which is even more prestigious. I think that those moments is because you put in the hard work, determination getting your CCM, you know, for six years. You know doing all the programming and everything. I you know being able to walk across stage and you know my family being there to celebrate with me. That was a great accomplishment in the club world. There to celebrate with me. That was a great accomplishment in the club world. Signing that first CEO-GM contract two and a half years ago, that was pretty cool. All that hard work going from driving boats around the Marriott Pond to running a country club is pretty cool.
Speaker 2:I remember I started off as a volunteer on campaigns. You know how great was it, going from knocking on doors and stuffing envelopes in a little office you know, with you know, people that are 50 years older than you and you're the only person you know bringing that age demographic down. Pretty low it was. It was pretty cool to. Then, you know, 10, 12 years later you'd be like, oh, I'm actually the campaign manager of a congressional candidate for the House of Representatives in the United States. So, I guess, seeing the progression and then getting to the pinnacle, I sometimes, you know this is, I guess, sort of a personal struggle with me. My grandmother taught me something before she passed away. She said you know, charlie, in life you always want more, never stop wanting more. And I've been so fortunate, danny, in my young life. Well, I guess I probably look older than I am nowadays because of all the stress and anxiety and everything, but I have been able to achieve that few have in such a short amount of time. You know, becoming a general manager before the age of 40 at a club. You know, becoming a political campaign manager geez, when was my first one? 2014. So what? 11 years ago? You know, be prior to 30 years of age, being a campaign manager for a congressional candidate. I'm so humbled that I've been able to do that.
Speaker 2:I had my 40th birthday a little over a year ago and I sort of. You know I'm a talker. I don't know if people can tell or not, but I like to say I'm a man of few words. But you know and they always make fun of me I never shy away from a speech. There's always a speech to be had or a toast to have and you know, one more drink for another toast right. So at my 40th birthday, you know, sort of my mantra in life is the first 40 years were all about me and the next 40 years are all about everyone else, and my dedication to whether it be the industry of club management, politics or, most importantly, being a father, is for everyone else. You know, my family, my son, my club members, people in the community. So I just feel that this sense of like, the need to get back, and I, um I I try to demonstrate it in my life as far as I'm very involved in philanthropic ventures of all different natures.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:What do you think the future of club leadership should look like? Instead of servant leadership, humble leadership. But we should be leaders that are humble, that we're not managers, that we lead people, that you know we have greater respect for work-life balance. I used to work, you know, 16, 17, 18-hour days, no problem. That's just not fair to the family, to your life, your well-being, your livelihood. I try to let my team know that. You know, work is great. We're going to execute and be highly efficient while we're here, but you need to have that work-life balance and I think a lot of club managers the new generation of us need to really instill that for our employees, because the industry has been known for a long time to you know a lot of hours, and I'm not saying that there isn't a need for that, but there's a time and a place and we got to respect that. People have families and a life outside of the club and I also think that we need to like work in a more respectful manner and be.
Speaker 2:You know I love to. You know I usually go to the world conference, you know, every year and it's a great time to see colleagues throughout all the country and we have such a great association with CMA. Like that's the best thing that probably ever happened in my life Professionally was joining CMA. So love them to death. Hopefully there'll be a sponsoring this podcast now. But I would just tell you that you know, it's great to see how the club world has evolved with younger people. It's great to see you know more females involved in the industry, people of different backgrounds and ethnicities. It's really cool to see that because when I first started it was just a bunch of Chuck Merrimans walking around, you know a convention hall. But that has evolved and I think that's great for our industry because our memberships have evolved as well and I think you know the new world of club life is coming up with creative new ideas that push the envelope and are exciting opportunities and experiences we can create for our members.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I want to. I want to circle back quick. You mentioned, you know, having some stress and anxiety stuff like that. How do you handle and manage that? Because that's also been a very I don't want to say a common topic, but I've talked about it here on the podcast. Two ish is then, like you know, if a manager is listening, club professionals listening, you know what do you do when you feel like stuck or frustrated, like how do you, what do you do in those moments?
Speaker 2:I think you got to step back and, like you really just got to take a step back. Take yourself out of the situation and at the end of the day, we're managing a private club, which is one of the most fortunate opportunities for anyone to be involved in and realize that there's bigger issues in the world than probably the sprinkler broken on a whole eight. Or the cheeseburger was overcooked today. Or, you know, my tuna fish sandwich was. You know the bread was a half inch shorter than it was last week when you had a different bread vendor. You know, I think you really got to step back and look into perspective. There's greater things in life and the thing like for me it's all about going home and seeing the family. You know, seeing my little guy when I come home is like the greatest thing ever. Just being able to step away and realizing that there's more to life than you know, the rough being a half inch too thick. Or the greens rolled at a 12 today and they were supposed to roll at an 11 and a half. You know just all perspective. You know I like to.
Speaker 2:You know I also tell my team we actually have a section of our staff meeting every week where we talk about everyone's upcoming vacations and it's not to be like, oh, who's not going to be in the office. It's more what are we looking forward to next? I, on my calendar, always find something to put out there. That's my next new adventure that I can look forward to. So put milestones in your life that you can look forward to and share those with your team. I'll hear from my chef oh, he's looking forward to going to a concert this weekend, or I'm going to see my family, or I'm going with a friend here or there. Always look at things that bring excitement to your life and find that balance of seriousness and being effective. But I want my employees to come into work and have a smile on their face but, more importantly, a smile when they walk out of here every day.
Speaker 2:So stress management is critical. I tend to eat my way through it, as you can see by this lovely physique, but I but no, in all honesty, I think you got to find some balances. You know I go into my interviews now and I tell them I'm like I have a family. I would like to, you know, try to have dinner with them. You know, most of the time I'm fortunate enough to be able to do that here, but in previous clubs that wasn't always the case.
Speaker 2:But set boundaries for yourself and just don't let yourself get overwhelmed or taken advantage of, because it's important to make sure that you're in a good headspace, because mental health and wellness is huge in this industry. I've had to deal with some major issues and I see it a lot with young males that have so much pressure in their lives that succumb to horrible, horrible things, and it devastates me to see what's happened and I think if they just had an opportunity to communicate and feel comfortable and confident and I'm just glad I made through some of those tough times in my life, as much as it was fun, exciting high fives and everything at the same time, there's real issues that people are facing with stresses in life and it's heartbreaking to me.
Speaker 1:Is there someone? It doesn't have to be from inside the club world, but, like inside the club world, outside the club world it doesn't matter. But who's inspired you in your leadership style, or just you in general?
Speaker 2:Um, you know I've been fortunate. I've worked with some great people. I look at some industry, some of the people in the industry that are just awesome, that I can, you know, pick up the phone. That's the great thing about being a club manager. I feel like we can pick up the phone and talk to anyone and they'll, you know, give us an ear and listen to us.
Speaker 2:In my life, though, really you know, my guiding light in my life as far as my mentor, was my grandfather, before he passed away, you know, you know he always said you know, charlie, everything in life, when you do it, make sure you do it, and it's awesome, make sure everything's awesome. You know, and you know that's what I said you know at his funeral, that I'll always, you know, awesome and greatness, everything I bring to in my life. Uh, you know, sometimes that can be your worst enemy too, because I do like to push the envelope and definitely take greatness to another level sometimes, but uh, it, you know, between my grandmother telling me never to give up and always want more and my grandfather telling me, strive for greatness, those are sort of my calling cards. I'm so fortunate that you know they're both here in San Diego and their final resting place so I can go over there and have some Zen with them. But you know, I think you need to live a life of greatness and trust me, it does.
Speaker 2:It can cause issues, um, because you know levels of greatness sometimes can be a misinterpreted yeah, um, and you know, always wanting more sometimes is, you know, not always a good situation, either in certain predicaments, um, you don't want more strokes on the golf course, that's for sure. Or you know you probably don't need, you know, another martini sometimes at dinner or something. But I look to them for my guidance and I look into my. You know I give myself, you know, sunday morning, you know I'm not going to like my routine is, I know some people do yoga and stuff. I go to mass every Sunday morning and it sort of gives me my repositioning for the week. You know I'm not going to go out there and start preaching for anyone or anything, but I I get my moral, I call it adjustment every week to sort of like, you know, just restructure and clear your brain for that hour every Sunday morning and it's a great place for me to like decompress and sort of be left alone from the world and I I highly recommend people find that for them in their life.
Speaker 2:Whatever that may be, I still love the game of golf. You wouldn't be able to tell by my handicap, but I totally enjoy going out and spending time with my friends. I try to plan, you know, three golf trips a year with my buddies. Look forward to that, you know. Just find happiness in whatever you can in life. Life's too short not to be happy. If you need help with that or you're having problems with that, I'm here to listen to anyone and I'll talk to anyone. I'm going to do anything I can. Don't be afraid to seek help either. I've been in places in my life where sometimes you've got to talk to someone to make things better and you just can't be afraid.
Speaker 1:Yeah, yeah.
Speaker 2:You're going deep on me today, denny. This is going into the deep end of the pool. You know, I thought we were just going to stick to the you know, the kiddie pool today and I'm going to have to take my floaties off.
Speaker 1:Make it awesome or don't do it Right, you know what I'm saying.
Speaker 2:My Nana, my pap up, would be very proud of you, for you pushing the envelope with me today.
Speaker 1:And plus, I'm still still running a high. I did a a virtual show today for 11,000 people, so I'm still like hyped up from that.
Speaker 2:That's awesome man, I love it. But you know it's a, it's so cool, like everything we get to do in like club management, and then just the experiences I've been in with life. You know I've met so many. You know whether it be presidents, you know people that elected officials it's like it's a true honor and a privilege to like I feel like my life and I count my blessings every day because I know I'm very fortunate and you know I just'm so thankful for everything I've been able to achieve and, dude, I look forward to like the next day and the next. You know she's 25 years. Hopefully I'll get to retire around then, um, but uh, god willing, and but you know it's just just, I don't know.
Speaker 2:My wife always makes fun of me because she was like my first crush at my last job or my club in La Jolla. So we worked together. So maybe I'm going too much here, but they know, whatever, it's all good. So she was my first crush. She's a couple years older than me and you know at the time she had been, you know, previously married and everything and no kids or anything. So everyone was like, oh, no way, that will never happen.
Speaker 2:And, man, had I taken that bet, I would probably be sitting pretty well right now. I think the odds were like one to a million. So there's an old saying, I think that never give up. I'm a big believer in never, never give up, and I think this is what an old Houston Rockets quote never underestimate the heart of a champion. That's how I live my life Like. I just don't believe that there's anything in life that we can't do as individuals. And if you keep working hard at it and determined, you're going to be able to get anything you want in this life. And that's what's really cool and that's what I love about you know club management, or like our country, like you, know anyone can really achieve anything.
Speaker 2:You know I, I have to just sort of. You know I, she's telling me never to go back into politics right now, but, man, I got that burning sensation inside of me that you know, come on, doesn't vote for Chuck sound great, you know, it's just, it's it's interesting times and I think that I'm so. I think I have a unique perspective to be able to like bring people together and I love it. I love sitting with people and you know you're like Chuck, shut up, you're talking too much, but I can sit here and you and and I, I feel like are already best friends and you know, high five across, you know, and we can definitely like I think it's a really cool thing and that's part of what we do in the club life yeah, no, it's, it's an amazing world.
Speaker 1:We live in a great country and you know, with the internet and everything you know, uh there's I don't perform for like too too many schools uh, but there's like like around like this this time now I get to do a couple like high school, like after prom and graduation lock-ins. You know they'll lock them in from 11 to 5 am. So I'm like you know, the 3, 30 to 5, 30, you know, entertainment, whatever and I always tell like listen, if you ever think you can't do anything anything in life, think back to this moment and go. If this guy can make a living doing magic, I can do anything uh we live a magical life, right?
Speaker 2:you know like it's a magical life and it's totally cool and like, yeah, I, I just think you know like I don't know about the Internet, though you know it's scary. You know this AI thing is starting to scare me a little bit, but you know it's funny that you know. Thank God I was like bottom of the ninth inning, two outs bases loaded and I avoided the online dating thing. Thank God I would have been screwed man, danny, I would have been all alone the rest of my life. Personality doesn't come through Tinder or Hinge or any of that. I'll tell you that I feel bad for any people that have to go through that, because I would have been screwed.
Speaker 1:Thank you so much for coming on, thanks for sharing, thanks for being open, especially with a slightly touchy subject, and just genuinely appreciate all of it.
Speaker 2:Thank you so much. Cool Thanks, danny. Take care, buddy, and we'll talk soon.
Speaker 1:Hope you all enjoyed that episode. I know I did. Chuck, thank you so much for coming on and sharing so much. If you're interested, sign up for Management in Motion. September 22nd, monticello, new York, really close to New York City, really close to Philly. We are going to have so much fun. Privateclubradiocom slash management in motion. That's this episode. I'm your host, danny Corby. Until next time, catch y'all on the flippity flip.
