Private Club Radio Show

Club leadership can feel like constant problem-solving, but what if the real work is learning how your mind and body react under pressure? Denny sits down with Crystal Thomas, a Master Club Manager and educator with a master’s degree in spiritual psychology, to unpack a grounded approach to staying calm, clear, and effective when members, boards, and staff hit your nervous system at full speed. Crystal explains spirituality as separate from religion and frames inner peace as our natural baseline, with daily disruptions revealing what we still need to heal, practice, and lead through.

We dig into Viktor Frankl’s idea that between what happens and what happens next sits a moment of choice, and Crystal lands one of the sharpest leadership lines you’ll hear: the issue is never the issue, it’s how we deal with the issue. From member complaints to staff conflict, we talk about separating operational systems from the human side of reaction, triggers, and limiting beliefs so you can respond with intention instead of reflex. You’ll also hear how questions about “highest potential” can reshape how you coach your team and how you see yourself as a leader.

Crystal shares real stories from the club world, including how she supported her chapter team through COVID by creating stability first, then building a stronger plan from that safe foundation. We also get practical on the difference between management and leadership, why culture forms whether you design it or not, and the hidden burnout trap of having responsibility without authority. If you want stronger club culture, better member experience, and steadier leadership presence, you’ll leave with tools you can use the next time a tough conversation walks into your office. Subscribe, share this with a fellow club leader, and leave a review with the biggest takeaway you’re going to try this week.
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500 episodes doesn’t happen by accident, and it definitely doesn’t happen by playing it safe. For this milestone, we flip the format and let marketing powerhouse Jay Schwedelson (host of Do This Not That and author of Stupider People Have Done It) interview Denny Corby about the path from Scranton to performing at hundreds of private golf and country clubs, and why Private Club Radio became a home for club stories that usually stay behind the curtain.

We get into the unsexy truth behind a “fun” career: the follow-ups, the relationship-building, and the daily business habits that create bookings months later. Denny shares his approach to owning a room with a simple framework that applies to any club leader, speaker, or presenter: intention, surprise, and connection. The pre-show matters, whether you’re greeting members before a big event night or hopping on a Zoom early to make people feel seen.

Then we go where most people won’t: the bomb. Denny tells the fresh story of losing the room while giving a talk about control, complete with tech chaos, spilled water on note cards, anxiety spirals, and a full on-stage restart. The surprising takeaway isn’t embarrassment, it’s what happens next: deeper conversations, more honest leadership, and connection that polished perfection rarely earns.

We also talk pandemic pivots, virtual events for clubs, staying in your lane versus taking every gig, and why being content with the audience you serve can be the real definition of success. If you lead at a private club, plan member experiences, or care about club culture and communication, hit play and take notes. Subscribe, share this with a club pro who needs it, and leave a review with your biggest lesson from the episode.
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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.

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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.
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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.
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