beyond the baselines by Ed Shanaphy
Last Updated: June 15, 2026
Serving the country club industry in educating governing bodies and committees in building renowned programming in tennis and fitness departments. Through best-business practices, proper management, and by retaining and recruiting "best-in-class" professionals, we look to bring your tennis and fitness departments at your club to be the benchmark in excellence in the region.
beyondthebaselines@gmail.com
beyondthebaselines@gmail.com
Padel at the Crossroads: Growth, Clubs, and the American Market
Ben Nichols, President of Padel22.com, joins host Ed Shanaphy to investigate the American market for padel. The global sport is coming to America, but is America to insular with its own sports such as baseball and the NFL? Does competitive tennis have a stranglehold on the young racquet player? Join us and find out.
Rethinking Pickleball: Facilities And In The Marketplace
In this episode of the BeyondTheBaselines.com podcast, host Ed Shanaphy welcomes listeners back for another insightful conversation exploring the latest developments in the private club and hospitality industries.
Software Engineer Takes Her Show To Private and Commercial Clubs
Artificial intelligence is no longer a future concept in club management — it is already reshaping how private and commercial clubs operate. But according to Louise Fahys, we are only scratching the surface.
Kicking Off A New Year Of Conversation With GM Jeff Isbell
As we enter our seventh year behind the microphone, it’s still remarkable to say those words out loud: seven years of conversations, insights, and shared experiences across the private members club and hospitality landscape. What began as a passion project has grown into a trusted forum for club leaders, operators, and professionals who care deeply about the future of our industry.
Inside Innisbrook: A Conversation with Dave Neuhart
The private club world and the boutique resort world often feel like parallel industries—adjacent, similar, yet fundamentally different in culture, expectations, and operations. Every so often, we meet a leader who straddles both worlds daily, offering a rare perspective on how racquets programming evolves when a facility must serve two distinct audiences at once.
When Fusion Becomes Confusion: A Conversation With Montammy’s Culinary Director
In the next episode Beyond The Baselines Podcast, we sit down with Maxwell Shteyman, Director of Culinary and Clubhouse Operations at Montammy Golf Club, to discuss how innovation in food and beverage can sometimes go too far.
Mentorship Is Advancement, Delegation And Extra-Curricular Work
by Ed Shanaphy, CMAA
From Director of Golf to Country Club President
This week on the Beyond The Baselines podcast, we welcome Dave Henion, a man who has spent his life immersed in the culture of private members clubs.
Rafa Joins The Podcast
Rafael Coutinho, Director of Racquets at Rumson Country Club on the Jersey Shore, joins the BeyondTheBaselines.com podcast.
The Romance Of Roland Garros, Red Brick Dust and Rafa
Capturing the essence of an athlete—let alone defining a career within the grand tapestry of a sport’s history—is no easy feat. As the era of the "Big Three" nears its close, Rafael Nadal’s reign over clay courts and his unprecedented dominance at Roland Garros stand unmatched—and perhaps forever unrepeatable.
The Denizen of Private Clubs
The podcaster sits in the hot seat. Private Club Radio’s Denny Corby joins the Beyond The Baselines podcast and talks everything private member clubs.
Find New Members By Letting Them Swipe
You’ve heard of the points guy, but this is the gift card guy, or as Larry Rubin calls himself, the gift card guru. This recording is aimed at marketing for both of our client subsets, private members clubs and boutique hotels.
Victor Vidal: Transforming Navesink’s Racquets Program
How did an international trade and finance student from Mexico come to head up Red Bank New Jersey's Navesink Country Club's Racquet Program? It's a long and winding road, but one that is full of insights into the private members club industry.
A Private Members Club… For Kids
We might be booking our juniors for summer sleep away camp this March, but have we ever thought that a summer camp is really a private members club for kids?
Club Communications Are Key To Success
Danielle Chavez, Founder, Club Design Studio
Do The Pro Tours Affect Racquets At Clubs
by Ed Shanaphy
A Touch Of Management Class
An Historic Club's Metamorphosis Through Consultancy to Interim Management To Long-Term Strategy Completion
Young Gun To Mentor As A PGA Professional
Young John Bierkan would bike through the parking lot at the club where his father was teaching golf most childhood mornings at 6am. These halcyon Pennsylvania mornings might have seen his siblings resetting the blackout curtains, but not John. Golf was in his blood and his early mornings as a junior golfer saw John always at the club – every day and all day. And, from those early days and moonlit mornings while breathing in the freshly cut fairways, Bierkan knew he wanted to, just like his father, teach golf.
Writing And The Washington Post: How A Tennis Director Used Her Journalism Skills
Taylor Newman left college for two careers. Her love of writing led her to her daily, first shift - a beat journalist covering the DC Metro sports teams for the sports desk at the Washington Post. Ben Bradlee would have been proud of her commitment up there with Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein in terms of hours. For when Taylor had filed her sports reports, she would move to her second, eight-hour shift at Chevy Chase Club, where she was serving as an Assistant Professional.
All In The Family
Hospitality runs in the family. Alexandria LaRocca, Director of Member Engagement at The Beach Point Club in Mamaroneck, New York, and Matt Assumma, who served at Ocean Reef Club in Key Largo, join the podcast. And, they’ve known each other for years, and we mean for years, since they were kids.
Super Seasonal Secrets From A Leading Director
Two major seasonal jobs have just one director: Brett Gaede. From his first ever, post-college professional position at the renowned Nantucket Yacht Club, Gaede has made New England and Florida his seasonal homes, and follows his members, and the sun, up and down the East Coast.
Year-In, Year-Out, And Oddly, Year-Round At A Canadian Golf Club
It's not easy to engage members twelve months a year in the cold, frigid air of Canada when your only amenity is golf. Ash Chadha, general manager at Glencoe Golf And Country Club, is bringing members to the club in bigger and bigger numbers through various methods, even in the dark winter months. Offering a warm welcome through a cold winter is just how he does it.
The PGA Show: Clothing Surpasses Woods, Irons and Putters
This could be the best conference in our industry. It may be the biggest. It was the largest, according to the organizers, in over twenty years. The PGA Merchandise Show reached new heights this last week of January, 2024 with more vendors, more club managers and more industry leaders. And, we at BeyondTheBaselines.com were there to cover it all: the conference, the speakers, and the vendors.
Destination Golf At The Tree Farm
Already a Top 100 course in the nation, The Tree Farm was a vision of a PGA Tour Player back when it was a deep, dark and dense tree farm owned by a timber company. Looking to fully open its doors in September 2024, The Tree Farm is hoping to become not only a destination, but is also hoping to change how we might envision a golfing experience.
Member Relations At The Heart Of Our Industry
Isabella Graf moved to the United States from her native Germany early in life. She may be a shining example not only of proverbial "American Dream," but also of the experience and education available in the private club industry, where she is fast becoming one of its leaders.
Innovation Is Key To Success In 2024
by Ed Shanaphy, CMAA
Burning Desire For Perfection Defines Winged Foot’s Retired Manager As He Climbs An Apogee
Colin Burns had only 4.5 years of experience in hospitality when he applied for the club manager’s position at Winged Foot, one of the most storied private golf clubs in the nation, if not the world. And, after an eight-month search process, he was selected as the club’s next general manager – all 31 years ago when Colin had just crossed the line into his thirties. He recalls the president of the club asking him if Colin weren’t a tad young for the job. Colin replied: It’s not a permanent condition.
Live From The PGA: McEnroe Brought Me Back To Tennis, Coaching and Teaching
Our first in a series of live podcasts, celebrated ATP Tour coach and director of racquets, known to his intimates as Van, our colleague and friend Allan Van Nostrand joins the BeyondTheBaselines.com podcast.
Where Everybody Knows Your Name
How do you make a private members club a destination? Aaron James, one of the leading club managers in our industry, believes it's all about creating a sense of community. His experience at facilities from the global Club Med to Atlanta's Cherokee Town and Country Club forced him to realize that member service is key to creating a destination.
Augusta Comes To Miami: Creating The Experience Which Breeds Loyalty
Imagine forming a global conference from the ground up. And a new breed of conference at that. One which encompasses what we know as the entire racquet sport industry, not just tennis, but pickleball, padel, racquetball, squash and even ping pong!
Building Blocks: Pickle, Padel, & Paddle
Eric Loftus was there as a businessman through the past decade as tennis grew in the Northeast, and in New England, in particular. He's been building pickleball courts throughout the region and has seen that sport rise almost as fast as slam of a whiffle ball. Now, he is hoping to be there for the boom that will be the new sport invading our shores from Europe: Padel. He believes the sun is only just rising over the future growth of padel.
Is Tennis Still A Sport For Just The Elite?
Tennis and golf are two sports central to all country clubs. With such a concentration of players and spectators emanating from the private members clubs, is it that tennis is still inaccessible to many? We ask this question with famed writer Amisha Savani, the co-author to The People's Wimbledon.
Extraordinary Marketing For Junior Tennis
Jesse Gotlib, having served as Director of Junior Tennis at one of New England's most elite clubs, has brought his learnings to the public sector and the inner cities of Eastern Massachusetts. After five years in the private club industry at Sippican Tennis Club in Marion, Massachusetts, Gotlib set out on his own to bring tennis to the inner cities of the port towns on Buzzards Bay along the South Coast of Massachusetts.
Plan It, They Will Come For Pickle & Padel
Before Breaking Ground, New Club Has Hundreds Of Applicants
The Nassau Club: Princeton’s Truly Private Eating Club
Princeton University is known for its eating clubs: Cap and Gown, Charter, Ivy and Colonial. But this private members club isn't associated with the university and doesn't hold open houses to find new members. The Nassau Club was founded by Woodrow Wilson to bring the townsfolk and the University together. It now stands as one of the most elite dining clubs in the nation and Nathalie Wilson is its Director of Food and Beverage.
A Cut Above
The Grass Court Cutting King
Every Club Tournament Is Someone’s US Open
Not the Swing, but Visibility, Member Service and Access is Paramount for any Department Head
Writing, Wit & Racquet: Caitlin Thompson
Here at Beyond the Baselines we're excited to catch up with the co-founder and publisher of Racquet Magazine, Caitlin Thompson, for our latest podcast.
The King of Ankle Biters
Shaun Boyce is a gifted junior instructor. He and his wife, Geovanna, have taken his tennisforchildren.com and tennis for hundreds of kids in the Atlanta area to new heights, year after year. From preschools to home owners associations, Shaun has taken his love and passion for instructing the younger players in our sport on the road across the metropolis that is Atlanta.
Club Managers Are Politicians: Visionaries Serving Their Constituents
The Club Manager. We think we know the role as members, as boards and governors. Growing up in Stowe, Vermont Elle Anderson thought she knew all about the club up there too, especially as she returned to her home town after a career as an elite athlete.
The Queen of Cardio
After graduating from Arizona State, a young woman who loved to travel had one thing in mind: wanting to work at Club Med. She began to teach tennis there on Paradise Island in the Bahamas. It was there, she realized that adult programming can be the secret behind a greater and bigger club and program.
Decision Makers Are Not Usually The Operators
Andres Robelo loves tennis. He grew up with tennis. His parents played tennis. But he couldn't find a game in Miami.
The Five Mistakes A Search Committee Can Make
By Ed Shanaphy, CMAA
Reeling From Reels: Two Women’s Travels Through Clubs and Being Social With Media
by Ed Shanaphy, USPTA, CMAA
The Perception of “Coach”
by Jennifer Gelhaus, USPTA and Director of Tennis
A Never-Ending Question: To Teach Or Not To Teach?
Angela Wilson was fortunate enough to have really good coaches who were in the game of coaching. That made the difference for her growing up playing junior tennis and into her college career at the University of Indiana. Her foundation really helped her to become a great coach long before she became Club Manager. But, it was also a driver. Her love of coaching battled with the time she needed to devote to club management.
The Historian and Curator
Tennis has a beautiful history, and Jim McCready is at the forefront of keeping that history alive and in front of tennis and sport fans across the world.
The One And Only Jennifer Gelhaus
Jennifer Gelhaus has always been before her time. She started college early at the tender age of 16, after being recruited from her native Venezuela to play Division II tennis here in the United States. She left home and took a chance. She took a step into college coaching before moving to Long Island and serving as Director of Juniors at one of the most prestigious clubs in the nation, Maidstone Club. Now, she's taken a leap once again, and has moved on to become Director of Tennis at East Chop on Martha's Vineyard. In her second year, she shares with us some of her secrets of success.
Simon Says – Simon Gale at the USTA National Campus
Simon Gale, Director of Racquets, USTA National Campus
Telephone, Telegram, Tell A Grandmother: Marketing Fitness & Wellness
Denise Duda, one of the leading Directors of Fitness in the country, is this week's guest on the BTB Podcast.
With Just One Product To Sell, We Have To Be Extra Creative
A Podcast in our Series: Women in our Industry
A Pro With Every Court Reservation Could Become A Reality
Doug Cash Joins the BTB Podcast
Financial Journalist Vera Gibbons Discusses Tennis, Fitness and Why Florida Is The New Destination
CNN and Fox News Contributor Vero Gibbons joins the BTB Podcast!
The Godfather Of The Pro Tours: Butch Buchholz
Butch Buchholz had an idea. He had an idea as to what professional tennis should look like. He had a dream and he played and toured the world with a vision. And in August of 1967 he played in front of a packed Centre Court at Wimbledon and guaranteed the presence of paid professional players returning to Wimbledon in June of 1968 and the beginning of the Open Era.
The Bustling Self-Starter Who Is Learning The Skills of Direct Marketing
Margit Bannon Joins The Podcast In Our Series On Women In Our Industry
From Waiting Tables To Live-Ball Clinic Queen
Kelsey Waite, Head Professional at Bethesda Country Club Joins the BTB Podcast
The Maestro: Harry Gilbert
Harry Gilbert really does direct an orchestra, an orchestra of well-trained staff members, junior players and adult club members. He does it with aplomb and always with a smile on his face as he has waved his racquet and baton at clubs up and down the East Coast and on the islands for the past 40 years.
Why Summer Camps Will Never Be The Same After Covid
Patrick Kearns, Executive Director of 4-Star Camps, joins the BeyondTheBaselines.com Podcast in the third of our series "From The Director's Desk."
Wall Street Finance Meets Tennis
Wick Simmons, former CEO of NASDAQ and Chairman of The Tennis Hall of Fame, Newport, Joins The Podcast
A Director Of Tennis Is A CEO
Chris Gale, Director of Tennis at River Oaks Country Club, joins the BeyondTheBaselines.com and our "From The Desk of The Director" Podcast Series
The End Of The Line Umpire
Michael Morrison literally sees it all - from first serves to the longest drive. Having worked all the major tennis and golf tournaments and events such as the Olympics, Michael has a finger on the pulse of the ATP and WTA Tour like no other person. He monitors each golf and tennis major from the first tee off and first serve to the final putt or winning championship point. Serving the broadcast and sporting industries for over a dozen years, Michael has found a niche combining software development, stats and video production. And now he let's us in on some of the industry trade secrets.
Compensation Questions Answered
by Ed Shanaphy, USPTA, PTR
Oh, The Places You’ll Go… Judy Aydelott And The Sport Of A Lifetime
Author and outstanding player Judy Aydelott recounts the many places she and her husband, Gordon, have played and the people they have met through tennis in the half-century of playing as top amatuers in the nation. From the national husband/wife tournament to raising two daughters, both of whom are outstanding athletes, Judy takes us from the beginning of the family's love of tennis, to the courts of Waccabuc Country Club, to the USTA National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadow.
Coach Emma Doyle: The Inner Self Can Be The Voice That Saves And Makes You
Emma Doyle is one of the world's leading tennis coaches. But she is also finding that her role as a coach provides her insights into her clients inner selves, Tennis mirrors life and Emma finds that females are more empathetic than their male counterparts.
Tennis Parallels America’s Societal Changes and Covid-19 Might Create A New Tennis Paradigm
Dave Fish, former coach of the Harvard Men's Team, joins us and reflects brilliantly on how the changes we are seeing in society at present can be traced in almost direct parallel through the development of the game of tennis in America and the establishment of the Davis Cup. He then looks across the Covid-19 issue and societal pressures and forms what he sees might be a new paradigm in local, national and international tennis.
OnCourt Or OffCourt, Kalindi Dinoffer Brings Health And Wit To Her Tennis Business
As a business owner and leader in our industry, Kalindi Dinoffer has led the industry not only with training aids and creation of tools for teaching professionals, but also in marketing. Kalindi's efforts in marketing her brand both at national industry conferences, through social media and video presentations have introduced her as a leader in our industry.
Christen Zawatsky: I Love Working for a Female Director but I Don’t Like To Coach Ladies Teams
Director of Junior Tennis Christen Zawatsky discusses working in tennis as a female for a female director and why she doesn't like to coach ladies club teams.
National Town Hall: Reopening Means Restructuring
A National Town Hall discussing restructuring staff at country clubs as facilities reopen amid Covid-19
A Tennis Academy Was A Girl’s Wish. Now She’s a CEO
By Ed ShanaphyA second report in our series: Women in Tennis
The Home Owners Association: Where The Members Are Residents
Home Owners Associations for tennis can be rife with politics. Here are the secrets to making, marketing and managing a top-notch HOA.
Director of Tennis? No, I’m A Director of Information
How a Director of Tennis at one of the country's elite, seasonal country clubs sees his role as informational and year-round.
National Town Hall For Seasonal Clubs in The Corona Era
With the Corona Virus epidemic affecting year-round clubs, we focus on the seasonal, member-owned clubs and how they are working with their members and staff toward an uncertain summer.
Rolex, Tennis, Marketing and Why Member-Guests Are Just One Morning
Rolex, Tennis and Golf. Marketing to the elite clubs. How the tennis and country club landscape has changed over the past 30 years due to money and lifestyles.
Corona Virus Gives Us A Rare Opportunity
How you can create a better club, tennis or fitness department given the opportunity of down time created by the Corona Virus.
Randy Walker: Marketing The Mardy Fish Foundation
We were happy to catch up with Randy Walker at The Boulevard Tennis Club in Vero Beach, FL. Randy, owner and President of New Chapter Media, is not only a tennis publisher, but also an avid player, marketer and tournament director. Randy directs the annual tournament for the Mardy Fish Children's Foundation. Part of the USTA Pro Circuit, this tournament serves as the biggest fundraising opportunity for Mardy's foundation. Randy discusses with us how he markets and communicates to the many demographics along the Treasure Coast of Florida for the biggest fundraiser for Mardy's foundation.
Our First Podcast
The BeyondTheBaselines.com podcast is here! A weekly look at the country club and facility management. Our weekly show will bring industry experts and club management advisers to help us analyze the current state of the industry. With exclusive insights and strategies, our weekly show will help any club's management team.
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