Mark Peterson named IAGA President
The International Association of Golf Administrators (IAGA) elected Mark E. Peterson as the 2020 IAGA President during its Annual Conference held Nov. 3-6 in Monterey, Calif. Peterson serves as the Golf Association of Philadelphia (GAP) Executive Director. He also is the ED for the Pennsylvania Golf Association and the J. Wood Platt Caddie Scholarship Trust. He will lead IAGA’s nine-member Board of Directors.
“I am honored to serve as the President of the IAGA,” said Peterson. “The IAGA has provided me with the platform to learn and grow in golf administration since I started. It has provided me with mentors and educational opportunities that continue to enrich programming in GAP and the Pennsylvania Golf Association.”
Peterson, 44, a resident, Berwyn, Pa., began with GAP in 1996 as an intern. He took over as Executive Director in April 2000 at the age of 24. At the time, Peterson was believed to be one of the youngest executive directors ever hired. GAP has expanded by more than 100-percent in terms of Members and Member Clubs since Peterson started. He has served on various USGA committees (Green Section, Regional Associations and current co-chair of the AGA Council). Peterson has been the Executive Director of the Pennsylvania Golf Association and J. Wood Platt Scholarship Trust since 2000.
“GAP has a long relationship with the IAGA, which started with Peg Burnett. She attended the meeting to form the Association in 1968. She along with my predecessor Jim Sykes both served as President of IAGA. I am so proud to join them in this leadership role,” said Peterson.
Peterson has a lifetime affiliation with the game starting as a kid in Brookfield, Wisc. He grew up at Westmoor Country Club with his father and two brothers. Peterson walked onto the University of Villanova golf team and competed for three years (1994-96). He turned to the administrative side of the game thanks to a P.J. Boatrwight Jr. Internship with the Wisconson State Golf Association in 1993. He served the WSGA as intern for three consecutive years. Thanks to the netowork of the IAGA, Peterson took his skills East, and interned with GAP from 1996-97. He was later named Director of Operations in 1998, which he served as until taking over for Sykes.
Peterson has attended almost every IAGA Conference since 1997.
“During my time on the IAGA board, we have seen many advancements of the Association, highlighted by the hiring our Executive Director Bill Walker. Over the next year we will continue to focus on the expansion of member services while holding true to our heritage of providing an opportunity for association leaders and staff to advance their industry skillsets,” said Peterson.