Mark, We Hardly Knew Ye

I've already had a pile of calls and e-mails 20 minutes after it was publicly announced that Mark Woodward is gone as CEO of the GCSAA.

Here's what I know...absolutely nothing except that we all know what leaving to "pursue other career interests" means. I'm sure I'll get all the juicy details in a day or so, but this really was a surprise to me too. Mainly, because I wasn't paying any attention to them because I do not care what they do internally anymore.

There was a time when I paid a great deal of attention to the internal politics of the GCSAA. The whole PDI thing. Board members losing their positions. The saga of Steve Mona applying for other jobs. Their inability to lure several other prime candidates before the job eventually went to Woodward. Staff dissention and downsizing. It was a lot of fun for a while, but it's just gotten old.

Frankly, I've come to the conclusion that the GCSAA is largely irrelevant to the average superintendent -- and therefore to our editorial interests -- these days. Yes, they run a fine education program. Yes, the show is still an important -- if somewhat smaller -- platform for the industry. But does anything else that GCSAA does or says really mean a lot?

Where's the PR program? Where's the serious lobbying? Where's the much-vaunted effort to promote the role of the superintendent to owners? Where's the strategic research on how golf courses positively impact the environment?

I wish Mark well and I wish them well. But seriously, does this have any impact on your business?