Headline: Longtime Walpole Country Club Superintendent Mark Gagne Named the MGA's Director of Member Services

For Immediate Release: February 25, 2016

Mark Gagne

Norton, MA — Continuing its commitment to expanding and enhancing its service to member clubs and golfers across the Bay State, the MGA announced the addition of Mark Gagne to the full-time staff.

Gagne, who served as both general manager and golf course superintendent at Walpole Country Club dating back to 1989, was named director of member services and assumed his new role on February 22.

In what is a newly-created position at the MGA, Gagne will be charged with managing relationships with the 360 member clubs that make up the MGA membership and helping to develop programs that serve the more than 84,000 individual golfers in the Bay State.

“We could not think of a more qualified person to fill this new role at the MGA,” said Jesse Menachem, the MGA’s executive director. “Mark’s experience at the club level, his dedication and passion towards golf and his unique and diversified skill set made him an ideal choice.”

An avid golfer who played both junior and collegiate golf, Gagne is a graduate of the University of Massachusetts where he earned an A.A.S. degree in turf management. He worked at numerous courses across the country before accepting a position at Walpole Country Club where he would stay for nearly 27 years.

After serving 10 years as superintendent, Gagne was asked to take on the role of general manager – the first such position in the club’s history – and was responsible for overseeing all club relations and a major renovation of the clubhouse.

Following a period of record growth at the club, Gagne resumed his role as golf course superintendent where he could execute a long-term strategy of continuous refinement of the 18-hole championship layout. During his tenure, Walpole CC served as host of the 2012 Massachusetts Open Championship, a first in club history.

“I am grateful for the relationships and experiences I have enjoyed in the family of golf over the years and especially during my time with the membership at Walpole,” said Gagne. “Throughout my journey, I have been energized by new challenges and new opportunities to grow the game. My role at the MGA will allow me to continue to make a difference with an even broader audience of golfers.”

In addition to his professional service, Gagne served as a board member for the Golf Course Superintendents Association of New England (GCSANE) and the UMass Alumni Turf Group. He is also a Class A member of the Golf Course Superintendent’s Association of America (GCSAA) and served on several GCSAA committees in recent years.

During his appointment as president of the GCSANE, Gagne spent two years on the MGA's Executive Committee from 2013-2014.

“Mark is going to make a huge impact here at the MGA,” said Menachem. “His passion is golf, and his appointment is further evidence of our commitment to growing the game and expanding our member services program.”

Gagne can be reached by email at mgagne@mgalinks.org.