Colin Burns

Colin Burns is a seasoned leader in the world of private club management and hospitality. He began his career in 1991 when he joined Winged Foot Golf Club as its General Manager. It was a position he would hold for over three decades.

During his Winged Foot tenure, Burns played an integral role in hosting multiple major golf championships, including the 2006 and 2020 US Opens, the 2004 US Amateur and the 2016 Four-Ball Championship. He also oversaw more than $100 million in capital projects, including the complete restoration of both golf courses.

Most recently, Burns served as Director at GGA Partners, an international consulting firm to many of the world’s most successful golf courses, private clubs, resorts, and residential communities, as well as Chief Operating Officer of APOGEE, a 1,200 acre amenity-rich, exclusive private club. At APOGEE, he worked with the owners and developers to establish operating standards and systems before transitioning to a senior advisory role.

Burns spent 30 years “on the other side” as a client of search firms, the benefit of which is a clear understanding of what makes a good search. He has spent countless hours in board meetings which has provided the ability to identify both club and board room culture. He has an incredible network of professional contacts from which to recruit the right individual who views your goals strategically and has the knowledge of how to get there.

Burns’s passion for golf is only exceeded by his passion for giving back. He serves on the board of The Gladney Cup and as a national advisor to the Gladney Center for Adoption, playing a crucial role in raising over $13 million for the organization over the last twenty years. He also serves as a Trustee at the Metropolitan Club Foundation, an organization providing education and hardship assistance to people in the club and hospitality fields.