Cabarita Beach Bowls and Sports Club has announced the appointment of Chris Watson as the new general manager.
“I’m super excited by the appointment,” Watson told Club Management.
With over 35 years of experience in the hotels and clubs industry, Watson joins the club following his most recent role as general manager at Bangalow Bowling Club, a role he held for six-and-a-half years.
“Bangalow was a great experience for me, and we achieved a lot there. Being back further up in this part of the Northern Rivers is exciting. The club is in a good space here and there’s a lot we can do at Cabarita,” Watson said.
During his time at Bangalow, Watson oversaw the club’s amalgamation with Sydney club group Norths Collective.
“That was a really big intense program and process to go through,” he said.
“Following the success of it, the club is now trading really well. But from there, I’ve moved on for a new challenge, which is Cabarita.”
Taking on the general manager role, Watson succeeds Steve Penfold.
“Over the past four years, Steve has led the club through significant transformation, taking it to new heights. His dedication, vision, and hard work have left a lasting impact, and we sincerely wish him all the best in his next chapter,” the club stated.
Joining Cabarita Bowlo marks Watson’s third club. Prior to Bangalow, he was the general manager of Cudgen Surf Club for six years. Before that, he was the general manager of Kingscliff Beach Hotel. Watson described working in hotels and clubs as “same, same but different”.
“They are certainly different worlds. I loved my time with hotels; I dreamt as a young man of owning a hotel and I almost got there, and I worked with some very good people,” he said.
“When I was running Kingscliff, I got approached by Cudgen because they were struggling. To me, I was a hotel-pub man but this role was going and I thought, I might have a crack at it, and I had a great time.”
He acknowledged that clubs are following in the footsteps of pubs, adding there’s a noticeable shift in clubs reinventing themselves.
“A lot of clubs are looking tired and there’s an ageing population, but the smarter ones are reinventing themselves,” he said.
“I’ve noticed a lot of clubs and club groups that are watching the hotel space, and how they do things and are pushing themselves more that way in terms of diversifying their events, live entertainment, and food.”
When asked what Watson has planned in the new role, he said he looks forward to building on the hard work left by his predecessor.
“There’s been a lot of hard work by the GM in the last four years before I came … and I just think the place is in a really comfortable position. They spent a couple of million dollars over the last four years to give us a bit of a base,” he said.
“The club is in the position to really put forward things in food and beverage. We’re working on a new, multi-outlet food offering, outdoor entertainment, and we’ve got a separate function space that we aim on expanding.”
The recent addition of pickleball courts to the club has also been keeping Watson busy since he started.
“The pickleball court was created before my time; I’m just the lucky one who gets to enjoy the fruit of the labour. I’m in the middle of it all trying to put it together and coordinate it.”