Pinehurst, NC – The 2025 Golf Business Network (GBN) Leadership Summit wrapped up on November 13 after three transformative days at Forest Creek Golf Club, bringing together more than 40 leading professionals in the private golf and country club industry for an unparalleled blend of education, relationship-building, and world-class golf.
Hosted November 11–13 in the heart of American golf at Pinehurst, North Carolina, the event delivered high-impact sessions on leadership, trust, and resilience while fostering the deep personal connections that have become the hallmark of GBN gatherings.
The summit kicked off with a welcome dinner and keynote address featuring Col (R) Mark Ray and Col (R) Chris Black, who drew on their extensive military experience to illustrate the critical roles of trust, calculated risk, and cohesive teamwork in high-stakes environments.
Day two featured back-to-back interactive panels moderated by GBN VP of Education and Recruitment Col (R) Spencer Clouatre, PhD. The morning session, “Building Trust and High-Performing Teams,” was led by Matthew Brennan (Island Country Club), Wesley Forester (Reynolds Lake Oconee), and Jason Mills (Carmel Country Club). The afternoon continued the theme with Col Ray, Col Black, and Shad Kroeger, President of Industrial Solutions at TE Connectivity, delivering actionable strategies for communication and team alignment.
Attendees then took to Forest Creek’s acclaimed South Course, followed by the always-entertaining E-Z-GO Hog Hole Shootout. Six finalists competed for a brand-new E-Z-GO golf cart in front of an enthusiastic gallery. The day concluded with a lively stationed dinner and social hour in the Men’s Locker Room—complete with highly competitive ping-pong battles that ran late into the evening.
The final morning featured a forward-looking panel titled “Navigating Industry Challenges” with David Altemus (Trout National – The Reserve), Eric Dietz (The Tree Farm), and Heather Angell (The Golf Club at Fiddler’s Creek). The summit closed with an inspiring presentation by Dr. Aaron Phipps, Professor and Economic Leadership Program Director at the United States Military Academy at West Point, on leading effectively through uncertainty and ambiguity.
With all attendees staying on property, conversations that began in sessions seamlessly continued over meals, on the course, and during late-night gatherings—reinforcing why participants consistently rank the informal, relationship-driven time as the most valuable aspect of the summit.
“This year’s Leadership Summit once again demonstrated why in-person connection remains irreplaceable in our industry,” said Patrick Seither, CEO of Golf Business Network. “Forest Creek Golf Club provided an extraordinary backdrop, and the openness, candor, and commitment of every attendee elevated the experience to new heights. We are deeply grateful to our speakers, panelists, and members who made this one of the strongest summits yet.”
Planning is already underway for the 2026 GBN Leadership Summit.
About Golf Business Network
Golf Business Network (GBN) is the preeminent private-club networking organization connecting golf industry professionals, private clubs, and premier vendor partners. Through exclusive events, education, executive search services, and member-only benefits, GBN drives excellence and builds lasting relationships across the private golf community.
For more information about upcoming GBN events, visit www.golfbusinessnetwork.com.
