Mark J. Woodward, CGCS, is the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America’s (GCSAA) seventh chief executive. He joined the association’s staff April 8, 2008 after serving as golf operations manager for the city of San Diego.

 

After fulfilling his obligations in hosting the 2008 U.S. Open at Torrey Pines Golf Course in La Jolla, Calif., Woodward began work at GCSAA headquarters in Lawrence, Kan., July 1, 2008.

 

Woodward is the first golf course superintendent to serve as GCSAA’s permanent chief executive. A familiar face to GCSAA, he has been actively involved as a committee participant, a member of the board of directors and 68th president of the association in 2004.

 

He is in his 32nd year as a GCSAA member and first achieved the status of certified golf course superintendent in 1986. Woodward succeeds Steve Mona, who served as GCSAA’s CEO from November 1993 until he assumed the same position with the World Golf Foundation, March 3, 2008.

Woodward also serves as CEO of The Environmental Institute for Golf, GCSAA’s philanthropic organization. He is a member of the LPGA Commissioner’s 2009-10 advisory council. Woodward has been named to Golf Inc. magazine’s “Most Powerful People in Golf” list of top 35 individuals who impact the business of golf the last two years, including 2008, after only three months on the job as GCSAA CEO.

Woodward was tapped by the World Golf Foundation in 2009 to lead the environmental committee for Golf 20/20, which is a collaboration of all segments of the golf industry, from the associations and manufacturers to golf course owners/operators and the media, designed to galvanize the industry around strategic initiatives and grass-roots activation to ensure the future vitality of the game.

In his capacity in San Diego (beginning January 2005), Woodward developed a five year business plan that generated an additional $3 million in revenue from 2006 to 2007, including the implementation of the Advance Tee Time program that added $500,000 in revenue in the first year. His department hosted numerous high profile events including three junior world golf championships, three city amateur championships, three PGA Tour events and the 2008 U.S. Open -- on top of the three golf facilities annually hosting 260 golf outings. His plan created 20,000 additional rounds for the public golfer. From a golf course standpoint, Woodward implemented a management plan that produced drastically improved course conditions and enhanced environmental stewardship. He was named to Golf Inc. magazine's 2006 Most Admired Operators list.

Woodward was named to his position in San Diego after serving 31 years in various capacities with the Phoenix suburb of Mesa, Ariz. His last position there was parks and recreation administrator, which included the oversight of two golf courses, a tennis facility, the Chicago Cubs spring training home, a minor league baseball training site, a park ranger program and a cemetery.

He is a 1974 graduate of Arizona State University with a degree in environmental resources and holds a master’s degree in Business Administration from the University of Phoenix.In addition to his past volunteer service to GCSAA, Woodward is active in the National Institute of Golf Management sponsored by the National Golf Foundation. He joined the NIGM board of regents in 1992, serving as its chair in 1999.

Woodward has a strong golf course management background. He began his career as an assistant golf course superintendent at Mesa’s Dobson Ranch Golf Course, helping to construct the layout. Two years later he assumed the superintendent position and then in 1987 assumed the additional duties of managing Mesa’s Riverview Golf Course. His grandfather Jay is one of only three superintendents to have been inducted into the Arizona Golf Hall of Fame and was recognized as one of 11 GCSAA members to be recognized for outstanding service at the association’s 50th anniversary celebration. Other family members to have served in the superintendent profession include his son Matt, son-in-law Cody Swirczynski, a cousin, Mike Pock, and his sons, Ernie and Jay.

 

Woodward, 57, (born Sept. 6, 1952) is a native of Phoenix, Ariz. He and his wife Amy reside in Lawrence, Kan. They have six children including Mark’s son Matt and his daughter Erin and Amy’s daughters, Rachel, Christine, Nicole and Jessie. They currently have seven grandchildren.