Hinton Appointed General Manager for City Golf Club

Andrew Hinton (pictured second from the left) has been appointed as City Golf Club’s new GM. Credit: Supplied

Andrew Hinton, who was most recently managing properties for Endeavour Group (formerly ALH Hotels) in Toowoomba, has stepped into the general manager role at City Golf Club.

Despite having only been in the role for three months, Hinton is no stranger to the club.

“Since moving to Toowoomba, myself and the family frequented the club, using all of its facilities. I joined as a golf member and although my handicap hasn’t improved, the members and the vibes are great,” he said.

“As a family, we fell in love with what the club provided for the community and always spoke about if there was an opportunity it would be fantastic to jump across to the club sector. Then, may fate have it, the GM position became available, and I threw my name in the hat, fast-forward a little bit and here we are.”

While Hinton is well-versed in the hospitality world, transitioning from pubs to clubs has given him fresh insights.

“All in all, the two sectors within the industry cross over nicely, there are lots of similarities in terms of operations. The main difference I find is the care and passion that the members have for the club side of things,” he said.

“Pubs have their regulars, who are just as passionate about the pub, but the club really feels like a family. If there was something that makes it different in the club side is the amount of collaboration between stakeholders, employees and management. It seems like lots of ideas are brought to the table and is worked out between all parties to get the best result. It’s a fun environment.”

Hinton added his time in the pub sector, particularly with Endeavour Group, has given him a business-savvy foundation to build on as he steers the club into its next chapter of growth.

“Having ran an array of pubs with different styles and what their core business is, it’s really helped me analyse the opportunities that lie in the club world that may have not been explored yet,” he said.

“A lot of the skills are transferable but one that has been the most rewarding is the people management.

“Moving across and working with a larger more dynamic team has been great. Being able to provide the support, coaching, and mentoring that I had been doing in the pubs to the clubs provides some high-five moments.”

That leadership spirit will be particularly important as City Golf Club prepares to undertake major renovations. Though works have yet to begin, the project has been a focus for Hinton since starting.

“We are still in the process of finalising those renovations but we should be starting very shortly. So far, it’s been an exciting journey during the planning process, and we all can’t wait to see it come to life soon.”

Besides major renovations ahead, Hinton said he’s looking forward to helping the club grow, and providing more opportunities for residents in the local region.

“The main goal, which I guess is ongoing and not just 12 months, is delivering back to the community and providing the best facility for food, beverage, gaming and entertainment in the Toowoomba region.”