A dedicated role to lead the golf business
Omni Hotels & Resorts is strengthening the leadership of its golf division with the appointment of Roberto Castro as Vice President of the Omni Golf Collection. The group announced the hire from Dallas on 11 November 2026. It shows how important golf has become to the group’s business model. Omni wants to establish itself as the leading brand in upscale golf tourism.
Roberto Castro will work alongside Spencer Cody, Corporate Director of Club & Golf Operations, and Scott Abernathy, Corporate Director of Agronomy. The three will set strategy, oversee operations and agronomy, and strengthen key partnerships across the portfolio’s 13 golf destinations and 28 courses. The new Vice President will also be responsible for revenue opportunities and the guest experience.
Kurt Alexander, President of Omni Hotels & Resorts, said the Omni Golf Collection had grown remarkably and that bringing in Roberto to lead the golf business was an exciting milestone for the brand. In his view, Roberto Castro’s experience in professional golf, corporate strategy and technology will help the group build on its success and keep raising the standard of both the Omni Golf Collection and the wider guest experience.
The appointment follows a series of changes in the group’s leadership team, after the promotion of Robert Kupchynsky, Clinton Gulick and Aaron Busick to key roles in finance and facilities.
From the PGA Tour to strategy consulting
Roberto Castro graduated in industrial engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology in 2007. While a student, he received the Byron Nelson Award and the NCAA Top VIII Award, two honours that recognise both sporting and academic excellence. He went on to spend 14 years as a professional golfer, including nine seasons on the PGA Tour.
On the American tour, he made 192 starts, qualified twice for the Tour Championship and played in 13 major championships, including two Masters and six US Opens.
In October 2021, he joined consultancy CapTech as Managing Director. Over five years, he advised sports and hospitality organisations on strategy and technology. Among other things, he helped build the firm’s partnerships with the PGA of America and TMRW Sports, and was part of the team that developed and launched TGL.
He co-founded Castro Golf Consulting in 2016 and is a member of the PGA of America. He has also worked as a consultant for ESPN and hosts the “Course Record Show” podcast. From 2022 to 2026, he served on the advisory board of Georgia Tech’s H. Milton Stewart School of Industrial and Systems Engineering. He lives in Atlanta.
More than €225 million invested in golf since 2016
Omni is the official hotel partner of the PGA Tour and the PGA of America. Since 2016, it has invested more than €225 million (over $250 million) in its golf business. The portfolio includes historic destinations as well as newer resorts. The newest is the Omni PGA Frisco Resort & Spa in Texas, where the PGA of America has its headquarters.
The group has a busy tournament calendar. This month, the Fazio Canyons course at the Omni Barton Creek Resort & Spa in Austin is hosting the 2026 PGA Tour Austin Championship. In 2027, Fields Ranch East at the Omni PGA Frisco Resort & Spa will host the PGA Championship. The course previously hosted the Senior PGA Championship in 2023 and the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship in 2025.
Roberto Castro said he had been fortunate to work with leading organisations throughout his career, and was delighted to continue that tradition with Omni by bringing his lifelong passion for golf to this new chapter. Beyond the group’s investment and the quality of its courses, what struck him most was the brand’s genuine hospitality. His aim is to make sure that the same level of hospitality is felt in every golf experience.
Analysis – Omni is entrusting the Omni Golf Collection to a former top-level player who is also a strategy and technology consultant. The choice shows that the group treats golf as a business line in its own right, one that drives revenue and brand awareness, rather than as just another resort amenity. The appointment comes as Omni prepares to host one of men’s golf’s four major championships in 2027.
The group has already made changes to other strategic roles, including the appointment of Laura Trussell McKoy as Chief Creative Officer.
At a glance by The Hospitality Tribune
Omni names former PGA TOUR player Roberto Castro VP of the Omni Golf Collection
Nine PGA TOUR seasons, 192 starts and 13 major championship appearances
Former Managing Director at CapTech, part of the team behind TGL’s development and launch
Oversees strategy, operations, agronomy and partnerships across 13 golf resorts and 28 courses
Omni has invested more than $250 million in golf since 2016
Fields Ranch East at Omni PGA Frisco to host the 2027 PGA Championship
