Private Club Leadership is Changing: A Conversation with Joel Livingood

The role of the General Manager is evolving — and so are the expectations of private club leadership.

In this episode, Ed Heil sits down with Joel Livingood, General Manager and COO of Interlachen Country Club, to unpack how mission, culture, and governance are redefining what it means to lead a modern club.

Joel shares how Interlachen turned alignment into its greatest strength — guiding nearly a decade of growth, investment, and transformation. From establishing clear governance with the board to building a culture of empowerment among 400 team members, his approach offers a blueprint for sustainable leadership in today's complex club environment.

Summary:

00:00 Introduction and Overview of Interlachen's Transformation Ed and Joel discuss Interlachen's decade of change, from major renovations to family-focused investments and restored golf facilities.

03:45 Finding Direction After 2008 Joel explains how recovery began with defining the club's mission and values — the foundation for every decision that followed.

06:45 Balancing Heritage and Progress How Interlachen honored its legacy while adapting to the expectations of modern members.

09:20 Turning Mission into Action The club's mission to "enrich members' lives through outstanding championship golf and family experiences" becomes the guide for culture and operations.

12:30 Embedding Values Across the Club Tradition, excellence, innovation, and stewardship influence hiring, culture, and communication.

15:10 Building the Interlachen Brand Joel discusses intentional storytelling, brand consistency, and how the club communicates its values internally and externally.

18:30 Leading a 400+ Person Team The power of showing up, removing roadblocks, and building a workplace rooted in purpose and growth.

21:10 Empathy as a Leadership Skill Why understanding team members' lives beyond work has strengthened culture and retention.

24:50 Governance and Board Alignment How defining roles between board and management turned governance into a strategic advantage.

28:00 Accountability and Trust Why results, transparency, and shared goals have built long-term trust at Interlachen.

31:15 High Standards, Honest Expectations Setting clear expectations for excellence without shying away from the difficulty of achieving it.

34:10 Managing Board Involvement and Feedback Joel's three strategies for addressing operational overreach and maintaining collaboration.

37:10 The Evolving Role of the GM How today's leaders balance visibility, focus, and flexibility in an increasingly complex club world.

40:10 Advice for Emerging Leaders Joel's three essentials: work hard, stay positive, and adapt quickly.

42:10 Why Business Fundamentals Still Matter Joel explains why today's club leaders must think like business operators and treat experience as the product.