One Superintendent’s Perspective on Woodward’s Resignation

Members deserve to know what really happened

Ever since Mark Woodward left his post abruptly and unexpectedly as CEO of the Golf Course Superintendent’s Association of America in June, I’ve been waiting for something of an explanation as to what exactly transpired with his so-called “resignation.” I’m still waiting.

There has been little information reported on the matter from GCSAA’s headquarters in Lawrence, Kan. Other than the matter-of-the-fact press release stating that Woodward “resigned, effective immediately,” no further information has been released. Woodward has also declined to elaborate on the matter.

But I feel — as a dues-paying member of the GCSAA — I should have a right to know what happened. As members, we’re constantly told the GCSAA is “our” association. But when something like this troubling state of affairs rears its ugly head, we’re intentionally left in the dark. And I find this silence extremely deafening.

Woodward’s swift exit also hasn’t sat well with some of our industry partners. In more than one conversation with key people who work for companies who participate in the GCSAA’s Partner Recognition Program, I’ve repeatedly heard the phrase — “The turmoil within the GCSAA.”

Obviously, there are legal reasons that will be cited as the reason for not informing the membership about the reasons for Woodward’s departure. These same legal reasons are cited as to why, as members, we never get to see the voting records of the board of directors. Individual votes made during board meetings are kept secret. Yet, come election time, we’re supposed to vote for these members without being privy to past decisions made by them. By examining voting records, we would have an exceedingly better understanding of whether or not we feel these candidates are actually representing our best interests. Even the U.S. Congress allows that level of information to be known.

So is the GCSAA really the members’ association? Or is it the association of only a select few who get to know what’s going on inside the headquarters’ hallways? This is the question I’ll ask myself the next time I receive my regular–as-clockwork dues-renewal form in the mail. I get the sense I’m expected to plunk down my $320 annual dues and allow the powers that be to run the association without any checks and balances in place. Not being informed on why Woodward “resigned” feels like further justification of that sense.

I love the association and take great pride in being a member. But that doesn’t mean I’m going to agree with everything the GCSAA does and, in this particular case, doesn’t do.

Gray is golf course superintendent and general manager of the Marvel Golf Club in Benton’s Ky. He has been a GCSAA member for 11 years.