Pros
Easy to get started, welcoming onboarding and generally good work environment. A lot of autonomy and trust to run your area without micromanagement. Opportunities for progression if you perform well (I had multiple promotions and salary increases over three years).
Cons
The “hands-off” leadership style at state level often turns into “no support at all” when issues arise. At UNSW FAC in particular, centre management (Scott) created a toxic culture where experienced GMs felt set up to fail rather than supported. Strong focus on loyalty and compliance over expertise – preference for people who “just follow orders” instead of professionals who ask questions or challenge poor decisions. From my experience, good capability in golf, but a serious lack of understanding of the fitness and aquatics sector. This leads to poor decisions, unrealistic expectations, and a lot of frustration for industry professionals.