David MacMullen took over as head pro at Duddingston in October of last year, having held the same position at Shotts Golf Club immediately prior to that. Originally from West Lothian, he completed his PGA training at Dalmahoy before moving into resort roles with Marriott in the Middle East, where he progressed to director of golf managing several five-star venues and academies.
He returned to Scotland and worked for a spell with Macdonald Hotels & Resorts, and then Shotts. Now, working alongside assistant professional Katie Graham, Mr MacMullen is tasked with enhancing the player experience for both visitors and Duddingston’s 850 members.
(Image: Damian Shields)
Why did you decide to join Duddingston?
Joining Duddingston Golf Club was an incredibly easy decision for me – it’s a club I have always wanted to be attached to. It is widely recognised as one of the leading courses in the region, which makes this a brilliant opportunity for any professional.
I am also very fortunate to be stepping into a role where my predecessors, Alastair and Stewart, have already done a fantastic job. They worked tirelessly over the years to build such a strong foundation here.
I see my role now as helping to continue that positive journey. I am absolutely thrilled to build upon their legacy, elevate our services, and deliver a truly outstanding golfing experience for all members and guests.
How does your background in resort golf operations translate into what you’re now trying to achieve at a traditional members’ club?
While my background leans toward resort golf, those venues featured a combined model of both members and guests, rather than just pay-and-play. That experience translates perfectly here because the objective remains the exact same: delivering amazing customer service.
Duddingston is seeking to become ‘the leading’ golf course in its area (Image: Supplied)
At a traditional club, I understand that members might sometimes struggle to balance their own access with the necessity of visitor green fees. My goal is to navigate this by clearly explaining things to our membership while ensuring their core benefits are always respected.
Ultimately, it is about providing a truly exceptional experience for both our loyal members and visiting guests. By balancing those needs, we will cement Duddingston as a leading place to play golf.
Dougie Melville joined Duddingston as course manager in November of last year – what part does his role play in the bigger game plan?
His role is absolutely vital to our overarching strategy. Duddingston is already recognised as a top course in the area, but Dougie’s specific remit is elevating our playing surfaces to the level that our members and visiting guests expect from a leading destination.
His focus is on delivering outstanding course quality, consistency, and that all-important “wow factor” every single day. As a major priority within our wider strategy, he has placed significant emphasis on perfecting the greens. We are already seeing his hard work paying off, with playing conditions improving by the week.
The 16th hole at Duddingston (Image: Supplied)
What were the first things you felt needed to change when you came into the job?
To enhance the overall experience, we have focused on improving communication and expanding our core services. We kicked off the year with a highly successful “meet the team” event, and we are really looking forward to hosting more dedicated member days like that.
For visitors, we have a caddie programme, and I absolutely love seeing our own members volunteer to showcase our fantastic course.
On the game-improvement side, we are continuing to elevate our teaching by utilising the Trackman technology available in our studio. We are also hosting dedicated fitting days, bringing in industry experts to help members find the best equipment. Finally, our assistant professional Katie and I are working closely together to actively develop our junior section.
How do you balance boosting visitor revenue and coaching income with protecting member access and the club’s traditional character?
It ultimately comes down to clear communication and shared values. We have transparent communication with our members so they know what is going on at the club and understand our goals.
At the same time, we place a heavy emphasis on staff training. It is crucial that our team understands the club’s core values and is equipped to deliver the best experience for our members.
Ultimately, all of these efforts work together to create a warm, welcoming environment where both our members and visiting guests feel truly valued.
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(Image: Damian Shields)