Adam Dutson; 10 Years of Relentless Dedication with Troon
Name: Adam Dutson
Title: Cluster Director of Golf
Facility and location: Arabian Ranches Golf Club, Dubai Hills Golf Club and Montgomerie Golf Club
Troon Value that resonates most with you: Relentlessly Dedicated – Ensuring an unparalleled commitment to impeccable care for our members, clients, and associates.
Q: What has been your favourite or most memorable cultural experience from your time living and work abroad?
A: Hard to say one moment – but the opportunities that you’re given when working overseas from my experiences, have been way better than what I would have experiences back home in the UK.
Q: What/Who got you into the golf or hospitality industry and what was your first experience with the game/industry?
A: I originally started playing golf with my old man. He was a member of a small golf society and after having some junior classes at my local club (Roseberry Grange Golf Club), I went with him to give it a go properly. The standard in the society wasn’t quite tour standard let’s say, but they were a great group of guys that taught me the basics of being on course and playing ‘tournament’ golf.
Q: What has been your career progression at Troon and what countries have you lived in along the way?
A: I guess I have a pretty cool career progression story with Troon. I started as an intern over the summer of 2013 at Saadiyat Beach Golf Club as a golf operations attendant – washing carts, picking up balls, etc. I then went back to university to finish my dissertation and sit my final exams. Before I even had my results, I got a call from the guy who I was working for at Saadiyat Beach Golf Club, and he offered me a job in Dubai. A week later, I was on a one-way flight from Newcastle with 2 suitcases and my sticks, and I haven’t been back for more than 2 weeks since.
After working for 2 years at Montgomerie Golf Club, I then went onto work at Royal Golf Club, Bahrain (Tournament Coordinator), a short time in Malaysia as Troon Task Force, then opened Dubai Hills Golf Club in late 2018 as Golf Operations Manager, and finally, I was promoted into the Cluster Director of Golf role across Arabian Ranches Golf Club, Dubai Hills Golf Club and Montgomerie Golf Club in December 2021. In this role, I look after golf operations (incl. sales & membership) which includes over 160,000 rounds (30% of the rounds played in Dubai), 1300 members, 90 associates and approx. $16M in revenue.
Q: What is one food from those countries that you would consider a ‘must eat’ recommendation for those visiting?
A: I’m not much of a foodie – so I will say that whichever countries I have been to, I’ve always tried to find an English roast dinner on a Sunday! Yet to find one which is better than my Mam’s though (you’re welcome, Mam!).
Q: What have you learned by traveling internationally and what advice do you have for others at Troon or within the hospitality industry about working internationally?
A: The old cliché that traveling broadens the mind is cheesy, but so true. From a learning point of view, I could say something about learning about different cultures, but for me, because Dubai is very commercial, I’d have to say that I’d learnt so much about how to run a business – from technical skills in our industry, to financials, leadership, etc.
My main advice about working abroad – go give it a go. You can always go home if you don’t like it!
