Colin Burns

Age: 53

Place of birth: Passaic, New Jersey.

Where you live: Greenwich, CT.

Name of Company you work for: Winged Foot Golf Club.

City you work in: Mamaroneck.

Profession: General Manager

Why I chose this career: We chose each other. I believe that some of us are born with the hospitality DNA. My father was the consummate host who lived the life of a successful third generation restaurateur. Frankly, being in the hospitality business is more than a career. Being “hospitable” is part of what makes us special as human beings. Being able to care for a stranger, thank someone for visiting, holding a door open and saying, “after you…” that means so much to me. Over the years I was asked to consider other careers, but none of them ever had any appeal to me.

Status: Married

Family: Janet, spouse. Colin, Jr., Brielle Anne, Christian, Cameron and Stefen.

The proudest moment of my career: When, as a 32 year old hospitality professional I was asked to be the General Manager of Winged Foot Golf Club. My dear late father was so very proud of me. The successful completion of the 2006 U.S. Open still provides me with a great deal of pride as well. The event required years of focused, hard work and the result was spectacular.

Biography: Born to Harry and Dolores Burns, May 4 1959, the same date as my dear grandfather who lived a very healthy 101 years. Raised along with my four brothers in Clifton, NJ, not far from Upper Montclair. Enjoyed 12 years of Catholic education and then moved on to American University and then Fairleigh Dickinson where my father and eldest brother attended previously. Lived in Europe on and off, and learned to love traveling. My children remain the absolute loves of my life. From eldest to youngest I love them all for their uniqueness, their passions and their goodness.

Janet, my dear wife of many years, and I met on a job interview many years ago. I did not offer her the job, but instead asked her for dinner. And the rest, as they say is history. Thankfully, my mother is still with us. My parents met when they were 15 years of age and were together 67 years when my father passed this past March. My father, Harry Patrick Burns, Jr., remains my idol in the hospitality business.