A sad farewell to Gerhard Patzer from Durban Country Club

By Kasia Yoko

Three years ago Mr. Gerhard Patzer was hired on a three-month contract to help the financially strapped Durban Country Club turn a profit. He stayed for three years and helped to turn the cash strapped Golf Club into a profitable business.

Mr Gerhard Patzer is handing the reins over to Pascale van Maris the new CEO.

Mr Patzer recalls that in the first week he was approached by one of the DCC’s members and asked, “What makes you think that you can run one of the best country clubs in South Africa, you’re a hotelier?”
Mr Patzer, looked at the gentleman and replied, “I don’t know but when I find out I will let you know.”

Mr Patzer told The Bugle of the outcome saying, “A few weeks later I came across the member and said I think I am ready to give you an answer,” Said Mr Patzer with a slight grin, “As a hotelier I was selling a perishable item and that perishable item was a room night, a maximum timespan, not even 24 hours, because you need to clean it up, on average its about sixteen hours.”

“I have discovered that in running a golf course that I actually have something even more perishable because I am selling a round of golf and that round of golf is about five hours. So I actually have to sell two rounds of golf per day to be successful. So as a hotelier I believe I am more than efficacious to running a golf club.”

Mr Patzer’s major dilemma has always been how can we sell the product that we have to members as well as outsiders. After many months of trying new things and changing systems, in 2013 Durban Country Club finally turned a profit.

Mr Patzer is handing the reins over to Pascale van Maris the new CEO. Pascale grew up in Holland and came to South Africa on holiday, fell in love with this country and stayed working at various hotels, the coffee industry and followed her passion for teaching.

“I am extremely passionate about people, it’s all about our members and our staff.We have to look after both and create a winning culture going forward.” Said Pascale.

Pascale has excellent credentials in terms of her tertiary education and work experience in the hospitality industry. Her formal tertiary education was undertaken in Holland at the Hotel School in Amsterdam where she obtained diplomas in hotel and catering management and her work experience entails all aspects of the hospitality industry relevant to undertaking the general management of the Durban Country Club. In 2008 Pascale set up her own consulting company which involved her in consulting with and assisting hotels, clubs and restaurants in increasing profits, improving controls and general management.

Clients with whom she was involved during her period of consultancy were The Beverly Hills Hotel, Country Club Johannesburg, Royal Durban Golf Club and she also consulted for Durban Country Club from 2008 until her appointment as Operations Manager in July 2013.

Mr Patzer has been a mentor to me, looking at the club as an overall business, looking at where we can improve our profits, where we can grow and how we can move forward.”

“Being a woman in this environment is definitely an advantage and there are more women in the industry as we are made to believe.”

“The team that we have at the moment is a young vibrant team and lets be honest you are as good as your team.” Mr Patzer tells Pascale, “There is no recipe to run a successful hotel or a golf club – you need a bit of luck or as a famous golfer once said the more I try the luckier I get. For me the saying changes a little, the harder I work the luckier I get.”

Pascal has a big job on her hands when she takes over the reins. Her skills lie in the controls, now all she needs is support from the team so she can look after the players and the members.

The Bugle wishes Pascale all the success in her new position as the CEO of Durban Country Club. And also wishes to extend best wishes to Mr Patzer who is relocating and retiring in Malta.

Courtesy of The Bugle