Hall-of-Famer Phil Owenby on the Importance of Relationships in Golf and Business
A North Carolina native, Phil Owenby spent his childhood mulling around the private golf course his uncle built in the 1960s. Phil’s father had left the banking industry to manage the property, and young Phil became immersed in the hospitality, service, and culture of private golf.
“I’ve been picking up practice balls and driving golf carts since I was six,” he laughs. After playing on the North Carolina State University golf team, Phil became a member of the PGA of America in 1979 and has served as golf professional and general manager at several top private clubs in Virginia.
“It’s not really a particular teaching method I followed, but a focus on increasing enjoyment of the game as the player gets better,” Phil explains. Lessons gravitated toward the short game, with drills to develop putting, chipping, and bunker play, because, as he advises, “that’s where we all see the most progress.”
Phil’s commitment to impeccable hospitality and relationship-building just may have started with his mentor Davis Love, Jr., whose own teaching approach built confidence and comfort rather than specific skills. “There was something about him that you trusted,” Phil remarks of Davis.
“When it was my turn to teach, I'd watch the golfer’s swing and sequences, and explain the causes and effects. If they naturally tried to curve right or left, or if they gravitated toward a certain club in the bag—we could use these preferences to accentuate what they’re most comfortable with,” he said. “It was always most important to me to get to know the person and develop that relationship.”
After more than 10 years at Roanoke Country Club, Phil had the opportunity to be a part of the initial planning and execution stages at Kinloch Golf Club, where he directed operations for the Top 100 club. After 15 years with the organization, Phil became general manager at Chechessee Creek Club near Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, and served the club for over a year prior to becoming an independent advisor for several influential companies in the golf industry.
With decades of knowledge, passion, and experience behind him, Phil began working with Dormie Network in its earliest stages, helping lay a foundation for the above-and-beyond service and hospitality at the organization’s core.
“Dormie Network’s ownership has a sense of excellence in everything they do,” he explains, noting that there’s a constant drive to ask: How can we do better? “That’s something I’m especially passionate about, and a core philosophy that enhances everything we do concerning hospitality, service, and operations.”
As Dormie Network’s Chief Development Officer, Phil oversees the operational components and commitments to service across every Dormie Network club—from the way staff prepare for every guest’s arrival to the successful execution of hosted corporate outings. “Our mission is to create and maintain an environment that is people-oriented, where every member of our team enthusiastically offers world-class service for our members, guests, and each other.”
In October 2022, Phil will be inducted into the Virginia Golf Hall of Fame—a suitable distinction following a career establishing rapport through the game. “I’m very honored and gratified to be known for my passion for the industry. More than anything else, to see that my peers recognize that I've made this my life’s work, and that it’s had an impact on others, is very humbling.”
