Jumeirah Golf Estates continues to evolve as both a leading golf destination and a key part of Dubai’s growing residential community. We spoke to Club Manager, Dan Naudo, about the investment shaping its future, the importance of the country club model, and delivering the right experience for members, residents, and international visitors.

Managing a property such as Jumeirah Golf Estates requires balancing investment across the courses, clubhouse, leisure facilities, food and beverage, and the wider guest experience. What factors shape your priorities and decision-making across these different areas?

There are multiple factors rather than any one thing. We look at industry trends, not only within golf but across the wider hospitality, food and beverage, health, fitness and wellbeing sectors. Because we offer such a broad range of facilities at Jumeirah Golf Estates, we need to understand what is happening across all of those areas and anticipate what might be coming over the next several years to make sure we remain relevant and competitive.

Guest feedback is equally important. We need to listen to our members, residents, and visitors because a wider industry trend might not necessarily be relevant to the demographic or mix of nationalities we have here. There is a lot of research involved, and with new digital platforms coming into the company, we are also increasingly using data to support our investment decisions.

There also has to be a balance between investment that directly enhances the guest experience and the essential investment that happens behind the scenes. Some capital expenditure needs to generate a return, while other investment is simply necessary to maintain the facility and ensure it continues operating at the standard we expect.

Over the past 18 months, and continuing into the next 12 to 18 months, there has been considerable investment across Jumeirah Golf Estates. The Country Club has undergone an extensive renovation, including the refurbishment of the swimming pool, a new children’s play area, an extension and refurbishment of BOTA Café, and a new cardio gym. This year, we will also introduce a new fleet of 160 golf buggies, which will be another significant addition for our members and guests.

Do you think the definition of a successful golf club is changing, with guests increasingly looking for a broader experience beyond the course? How is Jumeirah Golf Estates adapting to these evolving expectations?

I would actually say no, because I believe the definition of a successful golf or country club ultimately depends on the objectives of its ownership or board and, importantly, on how well those objectives are understood by the people the club serves.

Every club is different. A private members’ club, an independently owned business, and a club owned as part of a wider asset group will each have different priorities. I think it is very important that the purpose and direction of a club are clearly defined, so residents, members, and visiting golfers can understand and connect with that journey.

Some clubs need to offer multifaceted facilities and others don’t. At Jumeirah Golf Estates, having that broader offering is very important because of the community we have here. We are very family-orientated, so we need to provide activities and facilities that appeal to members and guest of different ages and interests.

Some people come because of the quality of the golf courses and primarily want to play golf. Others visit six or seven days a week and use every aspect of the club, from our five restaurants to the gym, swimming pool, tennis, and padel, while their children take part in different activities.

We want to encourage people to make use of all those facilities, bring their families, and try activities they may not have experienced before. Not everyone in a family of four or five is necessarily going to play golf, so we want to make sure there is something for everyone and that nobody feels isolated.

How has your own career journey shaped your approach to managing such a unique golf destination, particularly when it comes to understanding the needs of international visitors and residents/members?

I have never really looked at my career as working solely within the golf industry. I have always considered myself to work within the hospitality industry, and I think that has given me a broader perspective on everything from food and beverage and health and wellness to golf and other sports.

I have deliberately tried to work at multifaceted facilities because I find it fascinating how they bring people and families together. Different members of a family might play different sports or take part in completely different activities, but food and beverage, for example, can become the common factor that brings everyone back together.

There is also a very different journey for a member compared with an international visitor, and their expectations are different. A member might come to Jumeirah Golf Estates six days a week, may have been coming here for ten years, and will know the team extremely well. That naturally creates familiarity and a more casual relationship. An international visitor arriving in Dubai for the first time requires a completely different welcome and introduction to the club, so our team has to be able to adapt between those experiences.

With an international visitor, you also only have one opportunity to make that impression. Someone travelling to Dubai might play four different golf courses during their trip, so when they come to Jumeirah Golf Estates, we have one chance to deliver the experience we want them to remember.

Working in Dubai has reinforced my belief in the value of the country club model. Jumeirah Golf Estates is quite unique in the way people live on the estate, drive their own golf buggies to the club, play golf, dine here, and make the facilities part of their everyday lives.

What I also really value about working here is the constant desire to improve and move forward. There is always a focus on what we should do next and how we can anticipate what is coming over the next few years, rather than simply reacting once it happens. That forward-thinking approach is probably one of the biggest differences I have experienced since moving to Dubai.