Seignosse Golf Course: The Secrets to Progress and Excellence

Making the transition from day-to-day operations to managing a site as iconic as the Seignosse Golf Club is a challenge that Karine Labarrere tackles with quiet determination—a determination rooted in her deep knowledge of the field. Less than a year after her promotion, she has already led her staff to a historic double victory at the 2026 59club Excellence Awards. In this interview, Karine reveals how her “Seignosse” DNA and her participatory management style transform every point of contact—from the front desk to the 18th-hole terrace—into a driver of collective performance.

After many years at Seignosse, you were promoted to the position of director less than a year ago. How has this in-depth knowledge of the site and the teams been your greatest asset in continuing to rally your entire staff around this pursuit of excellence?

After spending many years at Seignosse and progressing through various roles, my knowledge of the business, the site, and the teams served as a solid foundation when I took on this new role. It allowed me to approach this new role with an understanding of the realities on the ground, each person’s strengths, and the facility’s DNA. This closeness naturally fosters a climate of trust and open communication, which is essential for uniting the teams.

Every day, I strive to engage all employees in a collective effort by relying on the “pillars”—that is, the department heads, who play a vital role. It is by involving everyone in our projects that we continue to move forward together, committed to quality and the customer experience.

The Seignosse Golf Club received the “Most Improved” award at the 2026 59club Excellence Awards. In your opinion, what were the key drivers (organization, mindset, 59club tools) that enabled you to reach this milestone so quickly?

This recognition is above all the result of a collective and consistent effort focused primarily on one clearly identified area: customer service—both in-person and over the phone. The goal was to put everything in place to deliver a flawless customer experience at every touchpoint. The process we implemented enabled everyone to work more efficiently and with greater peace of mind on a daily basis.

This work was made possible thanks to the tools and support provided by 59club, which played a key role. Audits and feedback from “mystery” shoppers allowed us to quickly identify areas for improvement. This data-driven approach, combined with on-the-ground experience, accelerated our ability to make adjustments and achieve sustainable progress.

Your food and beverage manager was also honored with the “Food and Beverage Manager of the Year” award. In the overall experience of a golfer at Seignosse, how important is the synergy between the course and the bar/restaurant to offering a truly comprehensive customer experience? What measures have you implemented to encourage customers to stay and enjoy all the facilities, including the restaurant?

At Seignosse, we believe that a golfer’s experience doesn’t end with the final putt. The course and the dining experience are two inseparable pillars of a successful outing, and the synergy between these two elements is essential to offering a truly comprehensive and memorable experience.

The award received by our food and beverage manager further underscores this shared vision: the bar and restaurant are a true extension of the course, a place for socializing and relaxing after a round of golf.

A vibrant, high-quality clubhouse plays a key role in shaping the site’s image and contributing to our guests’ overall satisfaction. A warm, welcoming atmosphere is the hallmark of Golf de Seignosse.

The goal is for guests to feel welcomed and valued, whether they’re on the course or relaxing on the terrace; we consistently prioritize hospitality and service. Just as with the golf course, it’s thanks to the tools and recommendations from 59club that we’ve been able to improve day by day by addressing every detail and paying special attention to the quality of service in addition to the quality of the products we offer.

Furthermore, we offer a warm and welcoming atmosphere. The terrace overlooking the 18th hole, with a view of the ocean on the horizon, is a must-visit spot at our facility.

Having experienced this both as an employee and now as a director, what would you say to a manager who is still hesitant to integrate the 59club solution into the core of their management strategy?

I’ve been the Chief Operating Officer at Golf de Seignosse for six months now. I’d tell a manager that 59club is an indispensable tool—a powerful driver of team growth and engagement.

It helps everyone understand what’s expected, why, and—most importantly—how to improve. It recognizes a job well done and helps people feel valued in their roles. From a management perspective, 59club provides a data-driven foundation for steering, decision-making, and support. The audits and metrics provide a foundation of concrete, measurable, and comparable data. This facilitates communication with teams, makes feedback more constructive, and gives meaning to the actions taken. Everyone is involved in the process.

Adopting 59club means equipping yourself with the tools to structure your service strategy, unite your teams around clear objectives, and enhance the customer experience while helping employees grow—it’s a performance accelerator.

Thank you to Karine for her time and trust!