Harry Cloke — Golf Course Analysis, Design Support and Construction

About

Harry Cloke at the Himalayan Golf Course, Pokhara — Me at the Himalayan Golf Course in Pokhara, Nepal, 2023

I combine a deep passion for golf course architecture with applicable experience across the breadth of the golf industry. I have worked in greenkeeping, construction, golf operations and club management in the UK, Continental Europe, US and Middle East. In 2018 I founded Shorehill Golf; a consultancy working with facilities and architects, using GPS player-tracking to document and analyse how golfers of different ages, genders and handicaps really engage with a site.

Part of the joy of my work at Shorehill is helping clubs of all shapes, sizes and budgets elevate their offering. I love being involved in helping golf courses become more compelling, and I want to further expand my skills and knowledge to help create great golf.

Experience

2018 — Present · UK, Europe & USA

Founder & Director

Shorehill Golf

I founded Shorehill to give architects, course managers and clubs better evidence to make project decisions with. Tour courses use Shotlink data to plan on-course projects; what if we documented how ordinary golfers play the other 51 weeks of the year? Shorehill have now worked with facilities in the UK, Continental Europe and the US, informing everything from sustainability policy to large-scale renovation and redesign work using player data.
We use GPS player tracking to report on playing, walking and pace of play patterns by age, gender and handicap. We show where golfers really play from; identifying areas of high (and low) usage, documenting which hazards are in play and for whom, analysing forward tees and playability, and reviewing how golfers of all standards experience intended hole strategies.
Producing the pre-design analysis and member-presentations that support redesign or renovation discussions, using player data to justify and explain proposed changes. We also overlay historic course imagery and redesign plans to simulate the impact of proposed changes.
Presenting findings to greens committees, boards and member forums. Course change is usually lost on communication rather than merit, and statistics outlining how a course is played carry huge value in growing buy-in.
Contributed to the GEO sustainable renovation guidelines; our analysis supports reductions in total maintenance areas, water and inputs.
I have spoken at the EIGCA annual meeting, attended conferences run by the ASGCA, BIGGA and The PGA, and been a guest on industry podcasts, discussing the application of technology to course design and sustainability.

2025 — Present · London, UK

Assistant General Manager

Wyke Green Golf Club

Second in command, managing a 30-person team spanning golf, food and beverage, course maintenance and administration, with P&L reporting. Delivered a 13.1% increase in membership income in my first year while reducing member churn to its lowest level on record.
Working with the Course Manager, I designed and priced a new short-game practice facility, presenting concepts to the board and setting them within a 10-year facility plan.
Capital project appraisal, contractor and supplier negotiation, and budget oversight across operations, maintenance and infrastructure.

2017 · Co. Donegal, Ireland

Assistant Director of Golf

The Rosapenna Resort

Second-in-command of golf operations across the resort’s two links courses at the time, delivering premium experiences to high volumes of international guests.
Played a small part in the early-stage planning of St Patrick’s Links, now ranked within the world’s top 50 courses. I gave tours to potential architects and investors, walking the linksland and seeing how such dramatic links terrain can be developed into world-class golf.
Studied many of Ireland’s best golf courses; expanding my appreciation for routing courses through heaving dunes at places such as Carne and Enniscrone, navigating hillier terrain at Royal Portrush and Rosses Point, and seeing the finer detailing at places such as Portmarnock. The Rosapenna now has three distinctly different courses, each with its own identity while maintaining a uniform sense of place; getting to know the intricacies of all three has been an education in architecture in itself.

2016 · UK & Germany

Project Secretary

Conor J Walsh Golf Construction

Oversaw course redesign and historic renovation projects in the UK and Germany: managing site teams, daily operations, budgets, machinery hire and material ordering.
Managed client relationships and supported new business development. An early education in turning strategic ideas and concepts into on-the-ground features.

2013 · Kent, UK

Golf Course Maintenance

The London Club

Greenkeeping across a 36-hole site, working on tournament preparation ahead of the Volvo World Match Play Championship.
Learned the basics of greenkeeping, and witnessed how large maintenance teams are motivated and managed, particularly through tournament preparation cycles.

2015 · Massachusetts, USA

Golf Operations

TPC Boston · PGA Tour

Golf operations and group coaching, plus the delivery of the 2015 Deutsche Bank Championship from preparation to set-up, tournament week and the post-tournament return to member-centric club management.

2014 · Abu Dhabi, UAE

Golf Operations

Abu Dhabi Golf Club · Troon

Front-of-house operations at Troon’s 27-hole flagship, delivering five-star standards to national and international guests.

2022 · UK

Customer Success Manager

Kiplot

Helped large financial institutions such as TSB and ADIB improve their portfolio and project management through tech adoption and data analysis.

Education

BSc (Hons) Applied Golf Management Studies — The PGA of GB&I with the University of Birmingham · PGA Level 1 & 2 Coaching Certificates · GCMA Associate Member · Full UK driving licence

References

Available on request.