Scottsdale, Arizona, United States: Troon Executive Vice President Mark Chapleski will retire at the end of July, following 24 years with the golf and club management leader.

Chapleski has led the Troon International division since 2017, growing the company’s international portfolio to 40-plus facilities in 20 countries.

“In leading our international efforts, Mark has certainly left his fingerprints across the globe, growing the sport and the locations where golf can be enjoyed,” said Bruce Glasco, Chief Operating Officer at Troon, an Executive Member of the Asian Golf Industry Federation.

“Mark’s passion for the game is surpassed only by his compassion for people and those providing first-class service to our many members and guests. While I am sad to see him retire, I know he will be making an impact in whichever community he settles in,” added Glasco.

Prior to joining the business side of the golf industry, Chapleski enjoyed a successful collegiate golf career at Miami University in Ohio, where he earned All-American honours during his junior year.

After a brief stint on the PGA Tour in the mid-1980s, the Michigan native hung up his golf spikes to pursue a career in club management. He entered the PGA programme while working at Yuma Country Club in Arizona and became a PGA of America member.

After serving as an assistant golf professional at public and private facilities in the Southern California desert, Chapleski moved to Hawaii to work at Ko Olina Golf Club. He would later be promoted to Director of Golf Operations at Ko Olina, working nearly 10 years at the property.

In 1999, Chapleski joined Troon as the Director of Operations in Asia as part of the company’s start-up team in Japan. Five years later, in 2004, Chapleski was appointed Area Managing Director for Troon Middle East and relocated to Dubai.

In 2017, Chapleski became President of Troon’s International division, a role in which he oversaw the division’s growth and helped expand golf and golf opportunities across the globe. He was promoted to his current position of Executive Vice President in July 2021.

“Throughout my time at Troon, growing the game of golf has always been my number one passion. I have always believed that the work we do is having a positive and life-changing impact, not just for the properties we oversee and the countries they operate in, but most importantly of all, our colleagues,” said Chapleski.

He added: “The growth we have experienced has been nothing short of phenomenal. When I started in late 1999, I believe we had just under 40 golf courses, and the only international ones were a few in Australia. Today we are at 750+ worldwide and 40+ in the International region.

“As part of that expansion, we have been fortunate to have been involved in several projects that we were either first in market or new in a very immature market and realising the immediate positive impact we are able to make in these locations is very satisfying.

“Bringing a completely different level of operation and event experience to countries like Morocco, Egypt, India, Czech Republic, Cambodia and the UAE, to name a few, has been very rewarding for all of us in the International division.

“It has been a privilege to work alongside some of the most forward thinking, creative and devoted Troon associates both in the field and in our office.”

Chapleski’s replacement will be named in the coming months.