GCMA Support Manager of the Year nominee Owain Hoskins reflects on his decade in golf and his passion for people.
For Owain Hoskins, it’s the sense of belonging and shared purpose that makes golf club life so rewarding. What began as a favour to a friend at Builth Wells Golf Club in mid-Wales has become a fulfilling career built around people, service and connection.
At Olton Golf Club, Owain found the platform to grow, developing his leadership skills and progressing to the role of House Manager. He later took on a new challenge at Moseley Golf Club, overseeing food and beverage operations and introducing creative initiatives to enhance the member experience. Those efforts have now been recognised through his nomination for GCMA Support Manager of the Year.
Owain believes the recognition is as much about the spirit of club life as it is about personal achievement, reflecting the values of community, teamwork and care that underpin everything he does.
Now in a new role at Shirley Golf Club as Membership and Events Coordinator, he reflects on the career highlights, learning experiences and motivations that continue to drive him.
Can you give a quick overview of your career path that’s led you to this point?
I’ve been in the golf industry for about 11 or 12 years now. I started off when a friend took over a stewardship at a local golf club in my hometown in mid-Wales and asked for some help. From there, I moved to the Midlands, where I got involved behind the bar at Hollywood Golf Club. I bounced around a couple of others until I got to Olton Golf Club, where I stayed for six years.
In that time, I really started to create a career pathway for myself. I started as Deputy House Manager, went to Bar Manager, then to House Manager, all through Covid, which was obviously a tricky time. Then the Chair of House at Moseley Golf Club, who I’d been speaking to for a while, convinced me to move over and become Food and Beverage Manager. I’ve recently left that role.
What first appealed to you about working in golf clubs, and what skills helped you build a career in this area?
The first golf club I worked at was the same club my granddad had been captain of in 1954. He died before I was born, but so many members still remembered him. That really opened my eyes to the sense of belonging and community within a private members’ club. That’s what’s always attracted me to the environment.
At Olton, I realised this could be a real profession, not just a casual bar job. I had a very supportive Honorary Secretary who told me I was good at managing people. We had a young team, and it was things like asking about their day, school or uni that made a difference. That made me want to be a supportive manager too.
He introduced me to the GCMA and the courses available. I did the Principles course, and then the Diploma in Golf Club Management. When I moved to Moseley, the challenge was appealing and I was really keen to make an impact. It was a smaller budget but bigger targets, which made it exciting.
What do you think helped earn you your nomination for Support Manager of the Year?
A couple of things stand out. During one of my professional development opportunities, one of the tutors mentioned how he’d received a birthday card from his gym, and how much that small touch meant. That struck a chord with me.
At Moseley, I didn’t have the budget to buy hundreds of cards, so I created digital birthday messages on Canva. Every Monday night, I’d send a personalised message to members with a small discount for an event. Hardly anyone used the offer, but 10 to 15 members emailed or stopped me to say thank you and that nobody had ever done that before. It showed the impact of small gestures that make members feel valued.
Another thing was sorting out our waste management. The club was with Birmingham City Council, who were unreliable and expensive. I reviewed it and switched providers, and six months later, the council went on strike. If we’d still been with them, it would have been a disaster.
And then there are the small things, like one member who used to come in early every morning. I’d make him a cappuccino before the bar opened, and it became routine. He later asked how he could support me, and that’s how he ended up nominating me for the award.
What key skills do you think are essential for anyone looking to succeed in club management?
You have to be a people person. One chairman once told me I was a good chameleon, able to adapt to different types of people, and that’s vital in a golf club. You have older members who like things formal, and younger members who just want to relax and chat. You need to communicate with all of them effectively.
When I became Bar Manager, I had a Chair of House who really taught me to understand finances and numbers. Especially in hospitality, you have to watch everything on the bottom line. So, I’d say people skills, financial awareness, and a connection to the community are all crucial.
What would it mean to you to win the award?
To get to the final three was absolutely amazing. To have my name read out as the winner, having worked in the industry for over 10 years and gone through all the qualifications, would be incredible recognition. It would mean a great deal.
GCMA Awards 2025
The winners will be crowned at the Gala Dinner during the Golf Club Management Conference & Exhibition on 17th November 2025 at Cotswold Water Park, Wiltshire. It promises to be a memorable evening of celebration, reflecting the vital role golf club managers and their teams play in the growth and success of the game.
