Jumeirah Golf Estates’ new Club Manager Dan Naudo talks exclusively to Rick Bevan about the new role and his desire to bring a personalised feel to the member experience
Dan Naudo might be new to the role of Club Manager at Jumeirah Golf Estates, but he’s no stranger to the world of golf — or hospitality. With a background that spans top-tier private clubs and five-star hotels, he brings a unique mix of operational know-how and guest-focused thinking to one of Dubai’s most established golf and lifestyle destinations.
His career has taken him from the prestigious London Golf Club to the cutting-edge Sindalah Golf Club under Saudi Arabia’s NEOM project—blending traditional golf values with five-star hospitality along the way.
After years of visiting the city and even bringing groups out from the UK, Dan’s now fully immersed in life at JGE. Rick Bevan caught up with him to chat about his journey to Dubai, what excites him about the local golf scene, and how he’s planning to build on the club’s strong foundations while adding his own touch along the way.
You’ve held positions in a variety of prestigious clubs, what motivated you to take this role at JGE?
I first visited Dubai in 2012, 2013 and came to visit Jumeirah Golf Estates when I was working at London Golf Club, bringing members out here on trips. I always remember coming to the club for the first time and thinking that one day I wanted to work here.
I probably never thought in my career that, that position would be as the as the Club Manager so I feel very fortunate to be offered with the role. It was an easy decision after going through the interview process when I did get offered it, to accept the position to lead Jumeirah Golf Estates into the next stage of their future.
How have you settled into life in Dubai and what do you like most about the city?
I’ve visited Dubai countless times over the last 12 years, so moving here felt like a natural transition. It already felt like a home away from home.
I’ve got a lot of friends living here, including many people in the golf and hospitality industry that I’ve met over the years, so that’s made settling in quite smooth. Of course, it’s always a challenge being away from family initially, until they’ve eventually relocated to Dubai, but we’ve found a good balance between work, travel, and time together.
I’m also fortunate to have a very supportive wife, which has made it easier to manage both the job and family life. One thing that’s really stood out to me in my first few months here is just how easy Dubai makes everyday life. So much can be done through your phone and different apps, which really helps you focus on what matters.
That said, I still like doing my own supermarket shopping to keep a sense of normality! But overall, the city’s setup really helps make life smooth and convenient.
You’re stepping into big shoes at JGE following long-time Club Manager Stephen Hubner’s move to Emirates Golf Club. How do you plan to build on his work while making your own mark?
Over the past few months, I’ve made it a priority to meet as many members as possible. With around 1,500 golf members and 3,000 country club members on the estate, there’s a strong and diverse community here.
Naturally, Stephen’s name comes up often. He made a significant impact during his six years at JGE, and more broadly, across his remarkable 19-year career with Dubai Golf – now working across all three of the Dubai clubs. He did a fantastic job in helping shape the club from where it was when Dubai Golf took over, to where it is today.
What I’ve said to every member is that I’m not here to replicate Stephen or step into his shoes. The only person I can be is myself, and that’s what I bring to the role.
My aim is to continue building on the strong foundation he left behind, while also putting my own stamp on things – particularly through a continued focus on guest experience and enhancing the member offering. A big part of that is getting to know each member on an individual basis and understanding their preferences. We want to ensure every visit feels personal and tailored — so they feel truly known and valued every time they step through the door.
You’ve got a background that blends hospitality with golf operations. How does that help shape your vision for JGE, particularly with the club being very much a lifestyle and community hub?
I’ve been fortunate to gain experience across both the hotel and golf club sectors, and I think there’s a really valuable balance to be struck between the two.
In the hotel world, you’re typically working with an average guest stay of just over two nights—around 48 hours—to build rapport and create a memorable experience. That’s a short window to make a strong impression, especially when you may not have a detailed profile of the guest.
In contrast, within a members’ club environment, you might have 10, 15, or even 20 years to build relationships. That’s a luxury, but it can also come with the risk of staff becoming too relaxed around long-standing members. It’s important to remember that even though there’s familiarity, members are still paying for a premium experience every time they walk through the door.
What I bring from both sides is an understanding of the importance of personalisation and consistency — treating members with the same high level of service you’d expect in a five-star hotel, while also having the benefit of time to truly get to know them.
We’re very lucky at JGE to have such a strong, engaged community. For many, this is their home or a big part of their lifestyle, and they spend a significant amount of time here enjoying all the club’s facilities and activities. That gives us a fantastic opportunity to deliver truly exceptional, tailored service every day.
How important is the food and beverage offering to the modern golf club experience, and what opportunities do you see for growth in that area at JGE?
Here at Jumeirah Golf Estates, we have five different food and beverage outlets, and it’s a hugely important part of the club for us. What makes it slightly different from many other golf clubs is that we’re not just a golf destination – we’re a residential community. With more than 3,000 people living on-site, the club is part of their everyday lives.
It’s not unusual to see residents hop in their golf buggies and come up to the club for dinner on a Tuesday evening. So having a strong and varied F&B offering is essential — not just to serve our golfers, but to meet the lifestyle needs of the broader community.
I also believe F&B is a vital part of any golf club experience. Golf is such a social sport. People often talk about networking on the course, but really, it’s the friendships that form out there — and afterward, people want to sit down, share stories, and spend time together. If you can create the right food and beverage environment, you encourage that social element to flourish.
And from a business perspective, the better the experience, the more often people will come back, and the longer they’ll stay. That naturally drives revenue, which in turn allows us to reinvest back into the club and improve the facilities.
At Jumeirah Golf Estates, we’re fortunate to already have a great variety of F&B outlets, and I believe there’s plenty of room to continue enhancing the quality and consistency across all of them.
A lot of golf clubs struggle to find the right balance between being a members’ club and a lifestyle destination. How do you plan to navigate that balance at JGE?
I’m fortunate that the challenges we face here are what I’d call good challenges. Jumeirah Golf Estates is an extremely popular real estate destination right now, which adds to its identity as a true lifestyle community. The club is very much at the heart of the estate, and that’s a huge asset for people considering buying or renting a home here.
As a result, it’s an attractive place for people to not just play golf, but to live and enjoy a wide range of amenities. About 25% of our golf members are homeowners on the estate, while the remaining 75% live elsewhere in Dubai. On top of that, we have over 3,000 Country Club members—homeowners who enjoy access to our gym, pools, tennis and padel courts, and of course our food and beverage outlets. Many of them eventually upgrade to golf memberships, which speaks to the value of what we offer.
One of the key things I’ve noticed in meeting new members is that our unique selling point is much broader than just golf. People see JGE as a community — a place to bring their families, enjoy individual activities, and spend time together. And at the centre of that is the food and beverage experience, which brings everyone back together at the end of the day.
What’s always stood out to me is that within a family, everyone might have different interests — one might enjoy the gym, another prefers swimming, someone else loves tennis, and maybe one person is just starting golf lessons. But at the end of the day, they all want to reconnect over lunch, share their stories, and enjoy time together. That’s where we can strike the right balance: maintaining some of the traditions of a golf club, while also embracing what it means to be a full lifestyle destination.
JGE is home to two world-class courses and hosts the DP World Tour Championship. What’s your vision for enhancing the member and guest experience around these flagship assets?
One thing I’ve taken from my time working in hotels and hospitality is how well that industry handles guest profiling — especially through loyalty programmes. When you only have a short window to make an impression, you have to know your guest quickly and tailor the experience accordingly. I think that’s an area where golf clubs, in general, can do better, and it’s something I’m keen to enhance here at Jumeirah Golf Estates.
Our team has strong relationships with members, and many colleagues have been here a long time. They know our members incredibly well —but often, that knowledge stays in their heads and isn’t shared across the wider team. I want to build systems and protocols that allow us to capture those personal preferences and insights so we can deliver a consistent, personalised experience — no matter who’s serving a member or guest. That kind of attention to detail is what creates memorable, lasting impressions.
We’re also at an exciting point as a club. We’ve reached our membership capacity and now have an active waiting list — which is a fantastic position to be in. It’s new territory for us, and managing it well is going to be important.
Alongside that, we’re continuing to invest in our facilities through long-term capital improvement plans. We’re focused on maintaining and enhancing the quality of our two outstanding golf courses, while also upgrading the surrounding amenities that support our community feel.
Our member events programme is another major focus — both on-site and through away trips, which are always popular. We’ll continue building on that, finding new ways to connect members and deliver experiences that go beyond just the golf.
What excites you most about working in Dubai’s golf scene right now? How do you see it evolving over the next few years?
What excites me most about Dubai’s golf scene is the sheer demand for the game at all levels. I remember in my first week here, I walked past the Tommy Fleetwood Academy at 7am and the driving range was completely full — it was just incredible to see.
Yes, it’s fantastic that our golf courses are busy on weekends, that our membership is full, and that we have a waiting list — but what really stands out is how many people are taking up golf from the grassroots level. People relocating to Dubai aren’t just experienced golfers — they’re also individuals and families interested in learning the game, which is such a positive sign for the sport’s future here.
Across the city, clubs have developed world-class academy facilities, and we’re fortunate to have the Tommy Fleetwood Academy here at JGE, which is doing amazing work. Whether someone goes on to become an avid golfer and joins a club or just enjoys the game recreationally, the important thing is that we’re creating pathways into the sport and helping to grow the game.
The growth isn’t limited to traditional golf either. We’re seeing a rise in indoor golf venues across Dubai, which offer people the chance to play and practice year-round — even during the summer months when the heat can be intense.
With Dubai’s ongoing population growth and its ambition to become a global lifestyle hub, more golf facilities are not only expected — they’re necessary. The next few years will see continued expansion, both in terms of infrastructure and in making golf more accessible, diverse, and appealing to a broader audience.
What kind of legacy do you hope to leave at Jumeirah Golf Estates?
The main focus for me at Jumeirah Golf Estates is to continue building on the strong foundations already in place. I want to create a healthy, vibrant culture for our team — an environment where people feel safe, supported, and motivated to challenge each other in the pursuit of excellence.
It’s about delivering the best possible experience to our members and guests every single day. If that results in a legacy, then great — but ultimately, it’s not about personal recognition. It’s about making sure everyone who interacts with JGE, whether they’re a long-standing staff member, a loyal member, or a guest visiting for the first time, feels valued and leaves with a memorable experience. That’s what I’m here to achieve.
