Bob James (2017)

Bob James spent nearly 40 years serving in administrative roles at Met Area clubs before he stepped down in 2017 as Executive Director of Westchester Country Club. His receiving of the Distinguished Service Award marked the first time in the award’s history that it was presented to someone in the club management profession.

James, taking after his father who ran a swim and catering club on Long Island, graduated from Cornell University where he studied Hotel Administration. His senior year he was elected president of the Student Chapter of the Club Managers Association. He went on to pursue an MBA at Pace University, and shortly after accepted his first position at Philadelphia Country Club. James returned to the Met Area working at The Stanwich Club, Sleep Hollow Country Club, and eventually Westchester Country Club, where he served as Executive Director for 26 years.

Westchester is by far one of the biggest club operations in the Met Area with over 1,400 members and 500-plus employees, but it was no match for James, who lead the club effortlessly. In his career there, Jones oversaw more than $80 million in capital projects and nineteen PGA Tour events.

James has been an active member of the MGA Presidents Council Advisory Committee for decades and helped create the Metropolitan Club Foundation after serving as the president of the Met Club Managers Association. James efforts also go beyond the Met Area. He teaches a hospitality class as an adjunct professor at Cornell, is a sough-after speaker on club management, and has mentored dozens of collogues who have gone on to successful careers in the club industry.