Mark Woodward brings more than 50 years of experience in many facets of the golf industry to GSI Executive Search, where he specializes in Golf Course Superintendent and Director of Agronomy searches, and assists with agronomic consulting and other related projects. His diverse career has included stints as an assistant superintendent, superintendent, golf administrator, golf operations manager, business development manager, and senior vice president of a golf management company. Before retiring in December 2020, Mark served as Director of Agronomy at the prestigious Whisper Rock Golf Club in Scottsdale, Arizona. Prior to that, he served as a Senior Vice President for OB Sports Golf Management where he managed 12 golf courses in three different states. 

In a nationwide search in 2005, Mark was selected by the City of San Diego to serve as the Golf Operations Manager to prepare Torrey Pines Golf Course for the 2008 U.S. Open Golf Championship. While at Torrey Pines, Mark also hosted three Buick Invitational PGA Tour tournaments and three Junior World tournaments.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE INCLUDES:

• Elected to the GCSAA board of directors in 1999, serving seven years and ending as President of the association in 2004 and Past President in 2005
• In 2008, became the first-ever golf course superintendent to be selected as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the GCSAA in the 90+ year history of the association
• Played a key role in starting the “WE ARE GOLF” coalition and the “NATIONAL GOLF DAY” programs
• Served as contributing editor/writer for Golfdom magazine
• Taught golf-related classes at Jiao Tong University in Shanghai, China and at the National Institute for Golf Management (NIGM) in Wheeling, West Virginia
• Recognized by Golf Inc. magazine as one of golf’s “MOST ADMIRED OPERATORS” in 2006 and in the top 35 “MOST POWERFUL PEOPLE IN GOLF” in 2008 and 2009
• Inducted into the Arizona Golf Hall of Fame in 2021
• Bachelor of Science (BS) degree from Arizona State University (ASU) in Environmental Resources in Agriculture and a master’s degree in business administration (MBA) from the University of Phoenix