<p>This week on PaddyTalks Golf, powered by ForeGolf Custom, I sit down again with Mark Ruddy, a leading voice in golf club management and participation, whose work behind the scenes is shaping how golf clubs think about culture, community and long-term sustainability.</p><p>Mark previously joined us on Episode 145 to lift the lid on life as a General Manager. Since then, his focus has evolved with the creation of Grow Sport, a project designed to help clubs grow participation, improve culture and build environments where people genuinely feel welcome.</p><p>From early experiences in golf, to going all in on the sport, to challenging long-held assumptions about what “growing the game” actually means, Mark’s journey offers a rare and honest look at the <em>engine room</em> of Irish golf.</p><br><p>We dive into:</p><p>⛳ Mark’s earliest memories of golf and the moment he fully committed to working in the game.</p><p>🧠 The reality of golf club culture, the signals clubs send (often unintentionally), and why good intentions so often fall short.</p><p>🎯 What Grow Sport is, why it exists, who it’s really for, and the <em>real</em> return it offers golf clubs beyond membership numbers.</p><p>🔥 Why participation, atmosphere, and belonging matter more than ever for the future of clubs.</p><p>🎒 What golf can learn from other sports and what it has overcomplicated.</p><p>😂 Quick-fire moments, honest confessions, and a Candle-Lit Dinner Six to round out the show.</p><br><p>A real, thoughtful and insightful conversation about golf clubs, culture, participation and how the sport can grow without losing its soul.</p><p>🎧 Listen now:</p><p><a href="http://www.paddytalksgolf.com" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">www.paddytalksgolf.com</a></p><br><p>Available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and all major podcast platforms.</p><br><p>The PaddyTalks Golf Podcast is powered by ForeGolf Custom</p><p>Book your tour-level custom fitting session now at:</p><p> <a href="http://www.foregolf.ie/booking" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">www.foregolf.ie/booking</a></p><br><p>Check out all GrowSport have to offer and how they work here: </p><p>https://www.growsport.ie/</p><p><br></p><hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>