General Manager - Sweetens Cove Golf Club

Reef Capital Partners•South Pittsburg, TN

2d•Onsite

About The Position

Sweetens Cove is undergoing a significant redevelopment, transforming from a nationally recognized daily-fee course into a comprehensive golf and hospitality destination. The General Manager will serve as the primary on-site operational leader, responsible for the day-to-day business management, financial performance, guest experience, and team leadership. This role involves executing the vision and long-term strategy set by the Managing Partner, leading the operational aspects of the expansion, and establishing the necessary people, systems, and standards for a larger operation while preserving the unique character of Sweetens Cove. This is a key position for an experienced operator capable of managing lean operations and scaling them into a more complex business.

Requirements

10+ years of progressively senior experience in hospitality, resort, club, or golf operations.
Prior experience as a General Manager or equivalent with full P&L ownership.
Demonstrated leadership in pre-opening, renovation, or expansion projects (strongly preferred).
Background in golf and/or destination resorts, with a strong understanding of agronomy, retail, and F&B economics.
Proven ability to build teams, foster a service culture, and manage growth.
Strong financial acumen, including P&L management, budgeting, revenue management, and capital planning.
Willingness to be on-property and visible in a rural destination market.

Nice To Haves

Prior experience in pre-opening, renovation, or expansion leadership.

Responsibilities

Serve as the accountable leader for daily operations, translating the Managing Partner's vision and strategy into an actionable annual operating plan.
Drive commercial execution across golf, F&B, retail, and events, including positioning, pricing, and growth strategies.
Protect and steward the Sweetens Cove brand and its national reputation.
Manage the full property P&L, achieving revenue, cost, and margin targets for all departments.
Develop and manage annual operating and capital budgets in collaboration with Reef, and be accountable for financial results and variance explanations.
Increase daily-pass revenue, drive revenue during all dayparts, and maintain cost discipline across all revenue centers.
Oversee daily operations in golf, guest services, F&B, and facilities to ensure consistent, high standards.
Establish and enforce service standards and operating procedures for all guest interactions.
Collaborate with the superintendent on course conditioning and agronomy priorities.
Lead the operational execution of the redevelopment, including staffing, systems, and service readiness.
Manage the pre-opening plan, encompassing hiring, training, vendor and technology selection, and opening logistics.
Provide operational input on design and construction decisions to ensure efficient and profitable operations.
Recruit, develop, and lead department heads and seasonal staff, fostering bench strength and succession planning.
Cultivate a service culture aligned with Reef's 'expect the best' standard and Sweetens' unique identity.
Report performance and plans to the Managing Partner and Reef Asset Management.
Represent Sweetens Cove externally to guests, media, sponsors, the community, and partners.
Manage key vendor and partner relationships according to Reef's standards.
Act as the primary on-site liaison for Reef's remote accounting team, providing necessary local financial inputs and documentation.