Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Agency Description Report
Agency Description Report
James Will
Dr. Rockey
x__________________________
Agency Description-
Introductory Statement:
Maryland. The agency specializes in recreational sports in golf and tennis, banquets, and
weddings. Their primary focus is on member’s benefits from membership they represent
History/Development:
Fountainhead has been a long running country club since 1924. Over the 95 years
this agency has evolved and developed into one of the best organizations while still keeping
the sane culture. Originally Fountain Head was farmland until purchased by Schindel
Gans who hired well known golf course designer Donald Ross to build the course. The
course was built thanks to avid golfers including my great grandfather Park Beaver that
my mother (former member) told me about. Through their recruiting they were able to
gain 100 members from the Hagerstown Country Club at the time.
Around the 1930s and on they added the pool, tennis court, and dining areas for the
club house. Unfortunately, on June 11 1965 there was a fire that damaged the clubhouse.
The clubhouse was damaged so much and needed lots of renovation that in 2005 they
agreed to create a new clubhouse. The club house was officially opened in 2006 where it is
The current mission statement for Fountain Head is, “providing exceptional service
and create the very best club experience.” Being a private organization means having a
higher standard than another agency where the services at Fountain Head Country Club
The majority of members are retired people and families Fountain Head continues
to make the leisure life fun and enjoyable that can be continued from generation to
generation. This club is based on traditions and a culture based on expectations, but also
Services:
Fountain Head Country Club is home to various services offered that are available
to members and non-members. As a member’s services that are provided are sports such
as golf, tennis, pickle ball, aquatics, and fitness facilities. They also provide professional
instruction for golf including club fittings and tennis lessons as well. Besides sports they
also provide dinning with some of the best chefs in the city and great food at the snack bar
near their pool. Events are a major services provide from family, golf, tennis, and banquets
are provided by Fountain Head. The equipment is located in the club house and the cart
provides services for non-members. They provide facilities for weddings, business
meetings, banquets, tournaments, and private events as well. Having a top notch club house
has made Fountain Head one of the ideal locations to have host major dates.
Clientele:
I was able to interview with the Head Golf Professional J.P Lunn about the clientele
organization that requires membership. He also mentioned the clientele is made up of 200
social members and 200 full members that includes all the facilities.
The populations are mainly seniors and families where the majority of senior
members play golf and tennis while the families are members for the pool. The clientele is
available to members only as this is a private agency. The only restrictions are the
membership package that can be purchased. The biggest one is the golf category where you
get access to all sports, dinning, and fitness centers available. Other packages will restrict
access to areas in the club such as sports membership where you get everything except golf.
Funding:
I had the opportunity to interview with the club’s manager Mary Hudgins who
recently started working there in the month of March. She was able to provide me the basis
of funding’s that are created at this long lasting agency. The funding is divided into three
aspects which are membership dues, initiation, and food & beverage revenues. The
majority of revenue is based on membership dues and the members who pay separate fees
for golf.
Mary also told me how 30% of the revenue is from the banquets and events they
host. Things such as their aquatics are an expenditure, but doesn’t benefit the revenue
made. Finally, capital expenditures she discussed how it makes up 3% and are needed due
to the age of the facility. If there are not enough funds an assessment has to be made in
Problem Areas:
There are various problem areas that needed to be addressed. I was able to discuss
with club manager Mary Hudgins regarding the difficulties that are occurring. She told me
how golf is one of the biggest form of revenue. The problem that affects playing golf is
weather and this dictates the club’s operations. The weather reduced the number of
The other two problems she mentioned were the working staff and the perception of
the golf course conditions. She talked about how majority of working staff are seasonal
employees which makes it difficult since she has to hire new staff and train new people
every season instead of keeping the same staff. The golf course is the biggest part of
membership at Fountain Head which means the course requires the highest standard. Due
to weather it has affected the conditions where members are very critical how the course
Responsibilities:
As a bag staff employee for the golf course I am tasked with many duties that need
to be completed each day. I am in charge of cleaning carts, members golf clubs, helping
members get ready for their tee time, make sure balls are filled and cleaned up on the
driving range, and last but not least meet the needs of the members and supervisors. The
If it is a tournament I will work with two other coworkers, however a normal day is
the head professional and assistant pro in the pro shop with one person running bag staff.
Head pro JP Lunn and assistant pro Jody Mason supervise golf operations as well as tasks
that bag staff needs to accomplish for the day. Communication and networking will be the
greatest skills gained from this job. Many of the own or are a part of successful companies
that allows for great career advice and connections to possible sports management
businesses as well.
Working at Under Armour and the Nacho Average Mini Golf Tournament has
taught me time management as well as customer service skills. The golf tournament
required multitasking that could affect the profit and tasks that need completed.
Opportunities:
recommend when taking RSM 392. For RSM 496 this would not be recommended unless in
the PGA program at Coastal since this is more of a summer job than a career or
internship. As a member of bag staff students will be responsible helping members get set
up with their carts and bags, cleaning carts and driving range, and finally anything the
PGA professionals need for the pro shop. The salary given is the minimum wage which is
10.10 an hour.
provided for students with assistant pro, but must pay rent. The house is owned by one of
the members at Fountain Head. A work shirt will be provided and employees must wear
the shirt tucked in with a belt. This job is mainly a seasonal job from April to November.
The ideal semester to work here for RSM 392 would be any of the summer semesters.
References
5. Fountain Head Country Club (2019). FHCC Newsletter for June 2019. Retrieved from
http://www.fhcc1924.com/files/June 1st Newsletter.pdf
6. http://www.fhcc1924.com/