A Masterpiece in Motion: The Turf Team Behind the 2025 Memorial Tournament
At Muirfield Village Golf Club, every blade of grass tells a story. And this week, that story is being authored by Chad Mark, GCSAA, and his team of turfgrass professionals as they prepare Jack Nicklaus’ iconic design for the 2025 Memorial Tournament.
The Memorial has long been a showcase of championship golf, but what truly sets it apart is the attention to agronomic excellence. Behind the scenes, Mark—a 27-year GCSAA member and Director of Grounds at Muirfield for the past nine years—is orchestrating a turf symphony that’s been fine-tuned through experience, science, and an unrelenting pursuit of perfection.
Turf Trials and Triumphs
Ohio’s erratic spring delivered an extra challenge this year, with above-average snow cover and April rains complicating early-season preparations. But for Mark and his crew, that’s just part of the craft. PrecisionAire subsurface systems breathe life into the USGA-spec greens, maintaining elite conditions regardless of the whims of Mother Nature.
This year brought some changes to the course layout too. The 16th tee was shifted 25 yards to the right and a greenside bunker removed—small tweaks with big impact for shot strategy. Yet through it all, the agronomy team’s mission remains the same: present a playing surface that demands greatness from the world’s best golfers.
A Crew Built for the Moment
Behind every championship course is a championship team. At Muirfield, that includes assistants Seamus Foley and Connor Quigley, infrastructure manager Andrew Kaprosy, and equipment manager Bill Claytor. They're joined by a 50-person full-time maintenance staff and a crew of 35 tournament volunteers. Add in 10 turf interns from programs around the world—from South Africa to SUNY Delhi—and you have a globally influenced workforce united by turf passion.
Let’s not forget Duke, the 2-year-old golden retriever who keeps spirits high while roving the fairways and offering moral support (and maybe a few friendly distractions).
Built by Nicklaus. Maintained by Masters.
Muirfield Village is more than a golf course—it’s a living canvas of turf artistry. Designed by Jack Nicklaus in 1974 and renovated by the Golden Bear himself in 2020, the club sits on a foundation of native clay with fairways that have been carefully topdressed over the years to optimize playability and drainage.
Every grass type is tuned to its environment: bentgrass across greens, tees, collars, approaches, and fairways. Kentucky bluegrass, ryegrass, and fescue stand tall in the rough, cut to a penal 4 inches. With 13 water hazards in play and 68 bunkers, shotmaking demands precision—and so does the turf maintenance behind it.
Legacy on the Line
This is Chad Mark’s 9th Memorial Tournament, but what makes his story remarkable is his legacy beyond the ropes. Eight of his former assistants have moved on to become superintendents themselves—a testament to the mentorship baked into Muirfield’s maintenance culture.
This tournament isn’t just about golf; it’s about growth. Growth of the turf. Growth of the profession. And growth of a community of agronomy experts who help the game flourish from the ground up.
The Takeaway
As the eyes of the golf world turn to Dublin, Ohio, this week, remember that greatness doesn’t just happen. It’s grown. It’s cut. It’s rolled. It’s irrigated, aerified, and nurtured by professionals who live in the margins between “good” and “unforgettable.”
That’s the quiet power of the superintendent. And at Muirfield Village, that power is on full display.
Follow the conversation:
Superintendent X: @chadmark614
Tournament X: @MemorialGolf
GCSAA X: @GCSAA
Learn more: GCSAA Tournament Fact Sheets
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