Private Club Radio Show

Knowing a member’s drink order is easy. Knowing what they care about, what excites them, and what is happening in their life is what creates a private club experience people never want to leave.
In this solo episode Denny Corby shares a simple member engagement challenge for private club leaders and country club teams: get curious. Learn one new, real thing about the members you serve, then use what you discover to create better conversations, more personal hospitality, and a stronger sense of belonging.
We dive into what genuine curiosity looks like throughout the club, from the dining room and bag room to the first tee. He shares practical ways to help staff learn more about members without making conversations feel awkward, scripted, or like an interrogation.
You will also hear how curiosity can help clubs connect members through shared hobbies, hometowns, professions, charitable interests, and life experiences. These thoughtful introductions can turn a club from a place with great amenities into a genuine community.
The episode also covers how private clubs can capture useful member details in a CRM, create meaningful callbacks, and turn small moments of attention into memorable member experiences.
For club managers, department heads, and hospitality professionals looking to improve member engagement, club culture, staff training, and retention, this episode offers a challenge your entire team can begin using today.
Because the strongest clubs are not always the fanciest. They are the ones where people feel seen, remembered, and connected.
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One nasty DM can feel like a private moment. Until it follows you back into real life.
A viral TikTok sparked this conversation after a creator identified the person behind an abusive message, connected him to his employer and private country club, and contacted both. Suddenly, one person’s online behavior became part of a much larger conversation about reputation, responsibility, and club culture.
Denny sits down with Paul Dank of Kennis MemberVetting to explore what someone’s digital footprint can reveal during the membership process. It is not only what applicants post themselves. Tags, archived pages, comments, reposts, and content shared by other people can create a much bigger picture.
They also discuss how long online information can survive, the rise of “ghost” records, the impact of AI, and whether traditional membership processes are still enough for the world clubs operate in today.
This is not about policing opinions or judging someone based on one bad moment. It is about giving club leaders better information so they can make more informed decisions about character, risk, and cultural fit
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Conflicting leadership advice can make even great private club managers second-guess themselves.
One person says the general manager should always be visible and on the floor. Another says the GM should build a strong team, empower people, and get out of the way.
The truth is, both can be right.
In this episode, Denny explores a better question for private club leaders. Not, “What is the right way to lead?” but, “What is the best way to lead here?”
At this club. With these members. This board. This team. At this particular moment in the club’s history.
A private club going through major change may need a visible, energetic leader who communicates constantly and pushes progress forward. A stable club with an experienced team may need someone who creates clarity, builds trust, and then steps aside.
Same title. Different job.
Denny also digs into what leadership fit really means, why some people interview as the leader they think a club wants instead of the leader they actually are, and what happens when the interviews end and the real pressure begins.
You’ll hear why adaptability does not mean pretending, how difficult boards and divided teams can sharpen your judgment, and why being a strong leader does not mean you are the right leader for every club.
Whether you lead a country club, golf club, yacht club, or another member-owned organization, this episode will help you think differently about leadership style, club culture, career fit, and what your club truly needs from you right now.
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Japan is not just a destination. It is a lesson in how much care can be placed into even the smallest details.
After separate trips to Japan, Denny brings together Joe Smith, General Manager of Countryside Golf and Country Club in Naples, and Matthew Gilbert, Executive Chef at Medinah Country Club outside Chicago.
They did not travel together, and they went for very different reasons, but they both came home with a similar appreciation for the culture, the people, the food, the craftsmanship, and a style of hospitality that seems to anticipate what you need before you ever have to ask.
The conversation goes well beyond travel stories.
Joe and Matthew explore Kaizen and why small, consistent improvement can be more powerful than chasing giant motivational breakthroughs. They discuss the patience behind real mastery, and how ideas like Kintsugi and Wabi Sabi can change the way leaders view mistakes, difficult nights, and the beauty of imperfect human service.
They also dig into Kikubari, the practice of thoughtful, anticipatory care, and the idea that leaders are handing out energy all day, whether they realize it or not.
From hiring for culture and protecting teams from energy vampires, to creating meaningful member experiences and leading with greater awareness, this episode is filled with ideas club professionals can actually bring back to their teams.
It is a longer conversation, but it keeps going somewhere worthwhile.
Because the difference between good hospitality and great hospitality often lives in the little things most people never notice.
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A club can look perfect and still feel off. That’s the problem we tackle with one simple idea: the layers of ambiance. We’re not talking about a pretty lobby or an Instagram moment. We’re talking about how deep the experience really goes, from the driveway and parking lot to the bathrooms, locker rooms, signage, music, lighting, and the energy your team brings into every interaction.

We unpack why “premium” is a promise that starts the second a member arrives. That promise creates expectations before anyone says hello, and the expectation gap can show up in surprising ways: a lingering smell, a dingy entry, mismatched design cues, or a space that feels great up front but neglected in the corners. Ambiance is bigger than candles and playlists. It’s a full emotional environment built from sound, scent, temperature, cleanliness, pace, and flow. When those layers align, members feel comfort, trust, and belonging.
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