Mark Peterson Honored

Peterson led Pennsylvania Golf to New Heights

By Martin D. Emeno

Opportunity knocked. Mark Peterson answered. Pennsylvania golf is better for it.

Peterson became Executive Director of the Pennsylvania Golf Association (PAGA) in April 2000, just days shy of his 25th birthday.

Widely respected and long-time Executive Director James Sykes stepped away from PAGA and the Golf Association of Philadelphia (GAP) because of health issues. Peterson, then serving as Director of Operations for both organizations, got the call.

“I was a young man, and when Jim got sick I thought the Pennsylvania Golf Association was going to move in a different direction,” said Peterson, 50, of Berwyn, Pa. “But based on the support of then GAP President Craig Ammerman and GAP, the Pennsylvania Executive Committee extended an opportunity to Mike Schanne (PAGA tournament director) and me to guide the association.”

That decision reverberated with great rewards throughout the Keystone State for 23 years. Peterson stepped away from PAGA in February 2023.

PAGA recognized Peterson with a Resolution of Appreciation and honored him at the dinner capping the organization’s spring meeting April 6 at Moselem Springs Golf Club in Fleetwood.

“He to me is the consummate professional. He’s one of the most knowledgeable and influential people in the game of golf,” said Jeff Ranck, 73, of Lewisburg, Pa., current PAGA President and longtime friend. “I and the Pennsylvania Golf Association have great admiration and respect for Mark. It is time to recognize him. People like Mark don’t come along very often.”

Peterson’s tenure led to an expansion of championship and qualifying opportunities; enhanced the on-course player experience; elevated the Association’s administrative processes and guided PAGA through continuous technological advances in the golf space.

The creation of the R. Jay Sigel Match Play in 2004 and the Art Wall Jr. Memorial in 2005 honored two Pennsylvania golf legends and defined two new Keystone State champions.

Peterson also expanded qualifying opportunities for the Pennsylvania Amateur, Open and Middle-Amateur.

“We went from three qualifiers to five or six across various parts of the state to make it easier for individuals in certain sectors of the state to stay close to home,” said Peterson. “We didn’t want distance to be a deterrent in qualifying."

During Peterson’s tenure, the administration of championships and the player experience advanced. Course marking and setup, the availability of rules officials, starting and scoring-area presentations and internal media coverage all improved. Players quickly recognized Pennsylvania Golf Association events as among the best in the country.

“We wanted to make certain everyone playing in a Pennsylvania event knew it was a big deal,” Peterson said. “The list of champion golfers from Pennsylvania is incredible. Winning a state championship should be special.”

In 2019, Peterson facilitated the merger with the Pennsylvania State Women’s Golf Association (PSWGA). He later introduced the James J. Callaghan Gold Star Award to recognize long-tenured, outstanding volunteers.

In the rapidly evolving technological landscape, Peterson can be credited with launching the association’s website. He led PAGA into the era of online registration and live scoring.

Peterson takes most pride in the relationships built. He served as a mentor for six Tournament Directors: Neil Gilman, Dave Prinz, Justin Reasy, Cory Reighard, Tyler Riggin and Schanne. Two remain in golf. Riggin is a USGA Director, Regional Affairs. Reighard is Executive Director of the Society of Seniors. During his remarks at the dinner, Peterson also extended thanks to his wife, Sonia, and serveral past presidents during his tenure, including some in attendance.  

Ironically, Peterson and any golf leadership in Pennsylvania almost never happened.

He worked three years as a P.J. Boatwright Intern for the Wisconsin State Golf Association (WSGA) from 1993-95. A student at Villanova University, and part of the golf team, he applied for a PAGA/GAP internship in 1996. Sykes said he didn’t have a place for him.

Peterson called his former boss, Gene Haas, the Executive Director of the WSGA. Haas told Peterson to give him five minutes. Later that Friday he got a call from Haas: report to the GAP Office at 8:30 a.m. Monday morning.

The rest is history.