As the new general manager of Riddell's Bay Golf & Country Club, Dennis Paul has a wide swath of responsibility. A tad more than he had at his last job in Bermuda — which was as a waiter at the long gone Once Upon a Table restaurant.

But that was 22 long years ago, and Mr. Paul has since put in considerable time training for his dream position while working at country clubs across the United States. When he left Bermuda for an extended holiday in Atlanta, he thought he would be gone just six weeks. In the end, he would meet and marry in the United States, and spend over two decades there.

He found a home for his career ambitions in "club life", managing golf and country clubs. This work would take him from Atlanta to Toledo, Charlotte, Chickasaw Country Club in Memphis, Medina Country Club in Illinois and even to Wichita, Kansas.

"It was very beautiful in Wichita. When I left after three years, I was very sad," he said. "I had thought it would be the middle of nowhere, but it was a very beautiful city."

One benefit of club life is certainly the outstanding beauty of the workplace, Mr. Dennis said. All you have to do is look around you club and enjoy the greenery and Riddell's Bay is no exception. Mr. Paul was delighted to take over the GM's reins in June of this year. The position was certainly attractive enough to lure him home. "I've never before been the GM of a country club and to be back home too, that was a selling point," he said.

When he first heard that former GM Dave Warren's work permit would not be renewed, Mr. Paul said he was interested in the position but not overly. "I thought of Bermuda as a nice place to visit but had come to consider the US home," he said.

A few months later he got a call asking if he would apply and Mr. Paul decided to pursue it and make the professional jump from club house manager to general manager.

He did two phone interviews and then an in-person interview with Riddell's Bay's president and vice-president, as well as Mr. Warren, in June 2008. "The rest is history," he said. He joined the club in October 2008 to fill the role of club house manager until Mr. Warren's departure. Mr. Paul returned to Bermuda as a single man, after he and his wife split amicably.

In addition to a his long experience in the position of club house manager with various clubs, Mr. Paul has professional designations from the Club Management Association of America (CMAA) and will soon be sitting his exams for the Certified Club Manager (CCM) title.

"To obtain this designation you must be a CMAA member for five years and accumulate 300 course credits. As most courses are only two credits, it can take awhile," Mr. Paul said.

"Only in February did I get over 300 credits."

Being home with his family and friends, especially his nephew whom he calls "his pride and joy", has been wonderful, Mr. Paul said. He's been surprised by some of the changes in Bermuda over the past two decades, however.

He is most concerned by the considerable rise in violent crime on the Island. "I would have never imagined Bermuda would be like that," he said. " I have no specific solutions to offer but I feel we all have to make a concerted effort as members of society to do what we can."

At Riddell's Bay, Mr. Paul is working to introduce young Bermudians to the hospitality industry and to try and combat the notion that service work is somehow "subservient" work. "That's such a misunderstanding," he said. For Mr. Paul, almost no other career could be as rewarding as he has found his industry.

Since joining Riddell's Bay — where he has responsibility for everything from the quality of the BLTs to ensuring the immaculate condition of the greens — Mr. Paul has focused on exposing Bermudians to the industry.

"Every new hire since I have been GM has been Bermudian," Mr. Paul said. "We have a core group of five young men, all high school students, who are working for banquets, etc. They all love it. They are pleasant, great students who do an outstanding job for us and in a small way we hope we make a difference in their lives."

Mr. Paul believes so much in the hospitality industry's importance to the Island that he would like to meet with members of the Government to discuss ways that Riddell's Bay could play a role in promoting the industry and working with young people.

His vision for Riddell's Bay is a one of a stellar club offering the utmost in member value with a welcoming and inclusive membership policy. The club is one of Bermuda's oldest with the golf course dating back to 1922. It has more than 600 members of various levels and is currently offering a half-price promotion for golf memberships.

Membership has its advantages, in addition to golf and the social side, members receive a slew of privileges at the Fairmont Southampton including membership at that golf course, access to the resort's beaches and pools, tennis facility and preferred access to its fitness centre. Members also enjoy discounts at Fairmont's restaurants and the Willowstream spa.

For his part, Mr. Paul wants the members to know his name and to know that he is at their service. He even moved his office from the lower portion of the clubhouse to immediately off the club's front door.

"I want the members to know I am very accessible," said Mr. Paul. "I don't only say I have an open-door policy, I live it. My door is open to the members at all times. I want to communicate to the members that we are here to serve their needs and will be fiscally responsible as a club."

And he would like the community to shed its outdated ideas of what kind of a club Riddell's Bay is. This is the new Riddell's Bay, he said, and it's better than ever. Mr. Paul also hopes to add new social activities to the club's calendar such as the inaugural club boat cruise which took place last Friday on the Aristicat. He intends to work hard in pursuit of these goals.

"I really believe that in any organisation, the actions of the employees are dictated by the person leading the team," Mr. Paul said. "If you have a take-charge attitude, people will follow. I didn't think there was enough 'let's go get it' attitude when I got here. Now it has gotten much better. That's an expectation that I not only set, but live up to myself."